Moving to Kenya
16 ways to move to Kenya in our guide: 1 nomad / remote-work visa, 3 investor routes, 1 pay-to-stay route, 2 business / startup routes, 6 work visas, 1 student visa, 2 spouse visas.
Remote workers: Class N · Digital nomad, $55k+ a year. Smallest investment: Class A · Mining, $100k+. Tax for newcomers: Kenya: income tax on income accrued in or derived from Kenya, 35% tax. Checked against official sources on .
Kenya offers a range of permits for people who want to live, work, or invest. The right route depends on your situation: remote worker, professional, business owner, or employee.
Nomad / Remote work · 1
Class N · Digital nomad
Income needed: $55k+ a year
Investing · 3
Class A · Mining
Investment needed: $100k+
Class B · Farming
Investment needed: $100k+
Class F · Manufacturing
Investment needed: $100k+
Retire or live on savings · 1
Class K · Ordinary resident
Income needed: $24k+ a year
Business / Startup · 2
Class C · Prescribed profession
First stay: 5 yrs
Class G · Business
Investment needed: $100k+
Work · 6
Student · 1
Spouse visas · 2
For people married to, or in a partnership with, a citizen or permanent resident.
Free movement and visa-free stays · 2
East African free movement · Lets you live here
Open to 6 passports: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania.
Visa-free stay (6 months) · Up to 6 months without a visa
Open to 6 passports: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania.
Tax
Kenya taxes income that accrued in or was derived from Kenya, for both residents and non-residents. Income arising wholly outside Kenya is generally outside that charge, except employment or service pay to a resident, which is deemed Kenyan-source wherever the work is done. Residency depends on having a permanent home in Kenya or meeting day-count tests.
Standard rules
Kenya individual income tax bands (PAYE)
Details
- On: Taxable employment income (cash pay plus non-cash benefits above KES 5,000 (≈ $39) a month)
- Who: Employers register for PAYE and deduct tax from emoluments
- Limit: KES 288k/yr ≈ $2,220
Employment income is taxed in five bands from 10 percent to 35 percent; PAYE applies to residents and non-residents, and the personal relief of KES 28,800 (≈ $220) a year is granted to resident individuals only.
Taxed on
Taxable employment income (cash pay plus non-cash benefits above KES 5,000 (≈ $39) a month)
Who it applies to
- Employers register for PAYE and deduct tax from emoluments.
Limits
- KES 288,000 a year (≈ $2,220) · First band taxed at 10 percent; next KES 100,000 (≈ $770) at 25 percent; next KES 5,612,000 (≈ $43,300) at 30 percent; next KES 3,600,000 (≈ $27,800) at 32.5 percent; above KES 9,600,000 (≈ $74,000) at 35 percent.
- KES 28,800 a year (≈ $220) · Personal tax relief.
Visas
Tax is separate from the permit class.
Other taxes
Capital gains tax is 15 percent of the net gain on transfer of property in Kenya, a final tax (gains on Kenyan immovable property, and foreign-entity shares deriving more than 20 percent of value from Kenyan immovable property from 1 July 2023).
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Standard rules
Kenya: income tax on income accrued in or derived from Kenya; 10-35% bands
35% tax
Details
- On: Income accrued in or derived from Kenya (Income Tax Act s.3)
- Limit: KES 288k/yr ≈ $2,220
Kenya charges income tax on all income, of residents and non-residents, that accrued in or was derived from Kenya, at progressive rates from 10% to 35%; income arising wholly outside Kenya is outside that charge, except employment or service pay to a resident, which is deemed Kenyan-source wherever the work is done.
Taxed on
Income accrued in or derived from Kenya (Income Tax Act s.3), including amounts paid to a resident person for employment or services rendered in Kenya or outside Kenya (deeming provision). Bands from 1 July 2023: 10% on the first KES 288,000 (≈ $2,220) a year (KES 24,000 (≈ $190) a month), 25% on the next KES 100,000, (≈ $770) 30% on the next KES 5,612,000, (≈ $43,300) 32.5% on the next KES 3,600,000, (≈ $27,800) 35% on income above KES 9,600,000 (≈ $74,000).
Who it applies to
- Resident individuals receive a personal relief of KES 28,800 (≈ $220) a year (KES 2,400 (≈ $19) a month) and an insurance relief of 15% of premiums up to KES 60,000 (≈ $460) a year; non-residents get no personal relief.
Exclusions
- Non-residents are taxed on employment income paid by a Kenyan-resident employer or a Kenyan permanent establishment.
Limits
- KES 288,000 a year (≈ $2,220) · Upper limit of the 10% band (KES 24,000 (≈ $190) monthly).
- KES 9,600,000 a year (≈ $74,000) · Income above this amount is taxed at 35%.
Days in the country
- At least 183 days in year of income · Individual with no permanent home in Kenya is resident if present 183 days or more in the year of income.
- More than 122 days in year of income and each of the two preceding years (average) · Alternative test for an individual with no permanent home in Kenya: present in the year and averaging more than 122 days per year over the three years.
Tax residence
An individual with a permanent home in Kenya who was present for any period in the year of income is resident; otherwise the 183-day or 122-day-average tests apply.
Visas
Residence or work permits do not set tax residence; the permanent-home and presence tests in the Income Tax Act do.
Checked against official sources on Change log
Checked against official sources on Change log
Kenya in pictures
Switch to later · 1
Spouse visas
PR via marriage
Path to permanent residence · 1
- PR after 7 years · Permanent residence — long-term work permit holders (Category B)
Arriving in Kenya: first steps
- Arrange health cover for yourself and any dependants.
- Secure proof of accommodation, such as a lease or letter from your host.
- Obtain a police clearance certificate from your home country.
- For some permits, get a letter of no objection from your home-country embassy.
- Open a Kenyan bank account if you will need to manage funds locally.
- Register with the relevant professional body if you are in a prescribed profession.
Questions people ask
What is the Kenya digital nomad visa income requirement in 2026?
Kenya has 1 nomad or remote-work visa. Class N · Digital nomad asks for an income of at least $55,000 a year and gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed.
How much do you need to invest for residency in Kenya?
Kenya has 3 investor routes. Class A · Mining asks for an investment of at least $100,000 and gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. Class B · Farming asks for an investment of at least $100,000 and gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. Class F · Manufacturing asks for an investment of at least $100,000 and gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed.
Can I retire or live in Kenya on my savings or pension?
Kenya has 1 retirement or pay-to-stay route. Class K · Ordinary resident asks for an income of at least $24,000 a year and gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed.
Can I move to Kenya by starting a business?
Kenya has 2 business or startup routes. Class C · Prescribed profession gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. Class G · Business asks for an investment of at least $100,000 and gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed.
What work visas does Kenya offer foreigners?
Kenya has 6 work visas. Class D · Employment gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. Class I · Religious work gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. Class P · International staff gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed.
How do I get a student visa for Kenya?
Kenya has 1 student visa. It is Student pass.
Can I join my spouse or partner in Kenya?
Yes. Kenya has 2 spouse visas. There is also Spouse of a citizen and Spouse of a permanent resident.
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