Kenya Digital Nomad Visa (Class N permit)

Key requirements

We use USD 24,000 per year (about USD 2,000 per month) for planning. Officers still judge whether your income looks stable across the full file.

• Income we use for estimates~$2,000 / month (estimate)
• SavingsNot modeled as required
• Accepted income typesRemote salary, Freelance income
• Remote work allowedYes
• Local employment allowedNo
• Health insuranceNot flagged in model
• Criminal record checkUsually required
• Accommodation proofUsually required
• Bank accountNot flagged in model
• Processing (rough)Weeks (eFNS review)

Incomplete cover letters, mismatched bank statements, or weak employer letters are the usual delays. Match every name and date across Form 25 and supporting papers.

1. 1

   Confirm Class N fits your work story

   Check that your employer, clients, and income are all outside Kenya and that you are not taking local gigs on the side.

2. 2

   Prove USD 24,000 annual foreign income

   Collect bank statements or payslips for the last three months that support at least USD 24,000 per year from abroad.

3. 3

   Gather remote work evidence

   Prepare employment contracts, client agreements, or company papers showing work performed for entities outside Kenya.

4. 4

   Draft cover letters

   Write your signed letter to the Director General of Immigration and, if employed, an employer letter confirming the offshore arrangement.

5. 5

   Secure accommodation proof

   Provide a lease, rental agreement, or other lodging proof covering your intended stay in Kenya.

6. 6

   Obtain police clearance

   Get a criminal record certificate from your country of habitual residence in the format immigration expects.

7. 7

   Complete Form 25 on eFNS

   Create or log into your eFNS account, fill Form 25 online, upload passport photos, and attach the full document set.

8. 8

   Pay processing and issuance fees

   Pay the non-refundable processing fee and the annual issuance fee through the portal and keep every receipt.

9. 9

   Respond to immigration requests

   Reply quickly if officers ask for clearer income proof, embassy letters, or updated accommodation papers.

10. 10

    Keep status current during your stay

    Report material job or address changes, renew before expiry, and avoid local employment that would break Class N rules.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Kenya Class N fees, forms, and document lists can change. Use the official eFNS portal and immigration.go.ke guidance before you apply.

Pathway last reviewed: 2026-06-15

Citizenship & nationality

Class N was added under Kenya’s 2024 immigration amendments for remote workers whose income and clients stay outside Kenya. It is a work permit, not a tourist visa extension.

• •Assured annual income of USD 24,000 from foreign sources is the published threshold after 2025 regulations cut the earlier USD 55,000 figure.
• •Apply online through eFNS (Form 25) with passport copies, remote-work contracts, three months of bank statements or payslips, and accommodation proof.
• •You must commit not to take paid or unpaid work for Kenyan employers or companies domiciled in Kenya.
• •Common fees include a USD 200 processing charge and USD 1,000 per year for issuance. Permits are often granted for one or two years and may renew.

Confirm live fees, forms, and any embassy letter requirements on fns.immigration.go.ke before you submit payment.

Best for

• •Remote workers looking for a formal digital nomad visa
• •Remote employment or freelance income from outside the host country

Long-term path

• Permanent residence: No
• Citizenship: No

Class N is a renewable work permit, not permanent residence or citizenship. Other Kenyan permit classes apply if you want to settle long term.

Practical difficulty

medium

Rough guide only. Your case depends on papers, timing, and rule changes.

Rated medium because eFNS paperwork, employer letters, and income proof must tell one consistent remote-work story.