---
title: "Kenya Class G · Business requirements 2026: $100k+ needed"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-g-business/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Kenya · Business / Startup

# Kenya Class G · Business

**Investment needed:** $100k+

Class G Permit (Specific trade, business or consultancy, KEP/G)

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Record corrected 11 Oct 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/corrections/#change-ke-class-g-business) [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **Investment needed:** $100k+ (An investment of at least $100,000 · Documentary proof of capital to be invested of at least USD 100,000, with a bank statement verification form and proof of the offshore transaction. A fee of KES 20,000 (≈ $150) · Non-refundable processing fee. A fee of KES 250,000 a year (≈ $1,930) · Issuance fee per year of the permit.)
- **First stay:** 5 yrs (Validity is set by the Director of Immigration Services, up to five years per issue or renewal.)
- **Who can apply:** Any passport

## Key facts

Class G · Business is a business / startup route for Kenya. Applicants need an investment of $100k+. You can stay 5 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

- **Money needed:** $100k+
- **Government fees:** KES 20k ≈ $150 · KES 250k/yr ≈ $1,930
- **Processing:** 21 working days
- **First stay:** 5 yrs

## Cost, time and long term

To apply: 2 government fees listed below; investment $100k+; decision: 21 working days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

**Government fees: KES 20k ≈ $150 · KES 250k/yr ≈ $1,930**

- KES 20,000 (≈ $150) Non-refundable processing fee.
- KES 250,000 a year (≈ $1,930) Issuance fee per year of the permit.

**Invested and held: $100k+**

- $100,000 Documentary proof of capital to be invested of at least USD 100,000, with a bank statement verification form and proof of the offshore transaction.

**Renewal: Renewable**

Can be renewed for further periods on payment of the renewal fee. No single issue or renewal can run longer than five years.

[Kenya Law](https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/ln/2012/64/eng@2025-05-30) [Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya](https://fns.immigration.go.ke/infopack/permits/classG/)

**Permanent residence: After 7 years of residence**

Holders of Kenyan work permits for at least seven years who have lived in Kenya continuously for the three years before applying can apply for permanent residence, together with their spouse and children.

[Kenya Law](https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/2011/12/eng) [Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya](https://immigration.go.ke/permanent-residence/)

**Citizenship: After 7 years of residence**

Registration as a citizen needs seven years of continuous lawful residence under a valid permit, including the 12 months just before applying. You also need to speak Kiswahili or a local language, know Kenya's citizen duties and rights, and be able to contribute to national development.

[Kenya Law](https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/2011/12/eng)

**Processing: 21 working days**

Service standard: 21 working days for a new work or residence permit and 10 working days for a renewal.

[Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya](https://immigration.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/DIRECTORATE-OF-IMMIGRATION-SERVICE-DELIVERY-CHARTER-2025.pdf)

**Where to apply: Where to apply**

Apply online through the eFNS portal. The Act says a permit application is made before entering Kenya, and the form also asks for your current immigration status if you are already in the country.

[Kenya Law](https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/2011/12/eng) [Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya](https://fns.immigration.go.ke/infopack/permits/classG/)

**Presence rules: Stay rule**

A permit issued while you are outside Kenya stops being valid if you do not enter within 90 days of issue; the Director can extend that by up to 90 days on written application. The permit also stops being valid if you stop the activity it was issued for or take up a different one.

[Kenya Law](https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/ln/2012/64/eng@2025-05-30)

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The engagement must be of benefit to Kenya.

#### What you must show

- Sufficient capital and other resources must be at the applicant's free disposal.
- The issuance fee is KES 250,000 (≈ $1,930) for each year of the permit.

#### Documents

- Licences or registrations needed for the activity are required.
- Police clearance certificate is required.
- Nigerian nationals only must also provide an NDLEA clearance certificate.
- A tax compliance certificate of the organisation is required, and of the individual on renewal.

## When you become tax resident

How Kenya decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 5 years at first, renewable**
- **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in a 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 a 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.
- **Foreign-source income:** **Territorial** 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.

[All tax rules for Kenya](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

Permit for a person who will engage in a specific trade, business, consultancy or non-prescribed profession, alone or in partnership, with proof of at least USD 100,000 capital. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

#### What you must show and pay

- An investment of at least $100,000 · Documentary proof of capital to be invested of at least USD 100,000, with a bank statement verification form and proof of the offshore transaction. (source 1)
- A fee of KES 20,000 (≈ $150) · Non-refundable processing fee. (source 1)
- A fee of KES 250,000 a year (≈ $1,930) · Issuance fee per year of the permit. (source 5)

#### Requirements

- The engagement must be of benefit to Kenya. (source 1)
- Sufficient capital and other resources must be at the applicant's free disposal. (source 1)
- The issuance fee is KES 250,000 (≈ $1,930) for each year of the permit. (source 5)
- Licences or registrations needed for the activity are required. (source 1)
- Police clearance certificate is required. (source 2)
- Nigerian nationals only must also provide an NDLEA clearance certificate. (source 2)
- A tax compliance certificate of the organisation is required, and of the individual on renewal. (source 2)

#### Stay

- Validity is set by the Director of Immigration Services, up to five years per issue or renewal.
- First stay: up to 60 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

#### Work

Work in the licensed activity, alone or in partnership.

#### Family

Dependant passes are issued to dependants of permit holders; the holder's work permit must still be valid for at least six more months when the dependant applies.

Checked 2026-10-12

## Official sources

1. [Permit Class G (specific trade, business or consultancy)](https://fns.immigration.go.ke/infopack/permits/classG/) · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Immigration Permit Information Pack (permit classes)](https://fns.immigration.go.ke/infopack/permits/) · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Work Permits and Passes](https://immigration.go.ke/work-permits-and-passes/) · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10
4. [The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 (Legal Notice 64 of 2012), consolidated](https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/ln/2012/64/eng@2025-05-30) · Kenya Law (National Council for Law Reporting) · checked 2026-10-11
5. [Directorate of Immigration Services Delivery Charter 2025](https://immigration.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/DIRECTORATE-OF-IMMIGRATION-SERVICE-DELIVERY-CHARTER-2025.pdf) · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-12
6. [Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011](https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/2011/12/eng) · Kenya Law (National Council for Law Reporting) · checked 2026-10-11
7. [Permanent Residence](https://immigration.go.ke/permanent-residence/) · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10

## Class G · Business and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Class G · Business | Needs an investment of $100k+ | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| [Class C · Prescribed profession](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-c-prescribed-profession/) | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| [Self-employed card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/morocco/regulated-activity-card/) Morocco | – | 10 yr, renewable | Limited |
| [PR · Business](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/pr-business/) South Africa | Needs an investment of ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k | – | Yes |
| [Innovator Occupation Permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/innovator-occupation-permit/) Mauritius | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Class G · Business?

An investment of at least $100,000. Documentary proof of capital to be invested of at least USD 100,000, with a bank statement verification form and proof of the offshore transaction. A fee of KES 20,000 (≈ $150). Non-refundable processing fee. A fee of KES 250,000 a year (≈ $1,930). Issuance fee per year of the permit.

### How long can I stay on the Class G · Business?

Validity is set by the Director of Immigration Services, up to five years per issue or renewal.

### How long does the Class G · Business take to process?

Service standard: 21 working days for a new work or residence permit and 10 working days for a renewal.

### Can I work on the Class G · Business?

Work in the licensed activity, alone or in partnership.

### Can I bring my family on the Class G · Business?

Dependant passes are issued to dependants of permit holders; the holder's work permit must still be valid for at least six more months when the dependant applies.

### Does the Class G · Business lead to permanent residence in Kenya?

Time on the Class G · Business counts toward permanent residence in Kenya, which the rules allow after 7 years of residence. Time on the Class G · Business counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 7 years of residence.

### How are Class G · Business holders taxed in Kenya?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Class G · Business. The standard rules apply: 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.

## More in Kenya

[Class N · Digital nomad](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-n-digital-nomad/) [Class K · Ordinary resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-k-ordinary-resident/) [Class A · Mining](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-a-mining/) [Class B · Farming](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-b-agriculture/) [Class F · Manufacturing](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-f-manufacturing/) [Class D · Employment](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-d-employment/) [Class I · Religious work](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-i-religious/) [Class P · International staff](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-p-international-staff/)

## Business / startup visas elsewhere

[🇨🇻 Freelancer residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/independent-work/) [🇷🇼 Entrepreneur A2 · Mining](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/rwanda/a2-entrepreneur-mining/) [🇿🇲 Investor's Permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/zambia/investors-permit/) [🇪🇬 Investor residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/egypt/investor-residence-investment-law/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-12 against 7 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Permit Class G (specific trade, business or consultancy)](https://fns.immigration.go.ke/infopack/permits/classG/) · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Immigration Permit Information Pack (permit classes)](https://fns.immigration.go.ke/infopack/permits/) · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Work Permits and Passes](https://immigration.go.ke/work-permits-and-passes/) · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10
4. [The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 (Legal Notice 64 of 2012), consolidated](https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/ln/2012/64/eng@2025-05-30) · Kenya Law (National Council for Law Reporting) · checked 2026-10-11
5. [Directorate of Immigration Services Delivery Charter 2025](https://immigration.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/DIRECTORATE-OF-IMMIGRATION-SERVICE-DELIVERY-CHARTER-2025.pdf) · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-12
6. [Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011](https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/2011/12/eng) · Kenya Law (National Council for Law Reporting) · checked 2026-10-11
7. [Permanent Residence](https://immigration.go.ke/permanent-residence/) · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.