--- title: "Kenya Class P · International staff requirements 2026" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-p-international-staff/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Kenya · Work # Kenya Class P · International staff **First stay:** 5 yrs Class P Permit (UN, diplomatic and international organisation staff, KEP/P) Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **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 P · International staff is a work route for Kenya. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **Government fees:** $200 · $1,000/yr - **Processing:** 21 working days - **First stay:** 5 yrs ## Cost, time and long term To apply: 2 government fees listed below; decision: 21 working days. No lawyer or agent fee is included. **Government fees: $200 · $1,000/yr** - $200 Non-refundable processing fee. - $1,000 a year Issuance fee per year. **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/classP/) **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/classP/) **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) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Needs a job offer from an employer in Kenya ### What you'll need #### What you must show and pay - **A fee of $200** · Non-refundable processing fee. - **A fee of $1,000 a year** · Issuance fee per year. #### Documents - Proof of employment is required. - A laissez passer or diplomatic passport is required. - A posting letter to the neighbouring country is required. - Proof of remuneration for the past three months is required. ## 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 staff of the UN, diplomatic missions and international organisations accredited to or based in neighbouring hardship countries. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of $200 · Non-refundable processing fee. (source 1) - A fee of $1,000 a year · Issuance fee per year. (source 1) #### Requirements - Proof of employment is required. (source 1) - A laissez passer or diplomatic passport is required. (source 1) - A posting letter to the neighbouring country is required. (source 1) - Proof of remuneration for the past three months is required. (source 1) #### 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 Employment with the international organisation. #### 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 P (UN, diplomatic and international organisation staff)](https://fns.immigration.go.ke/infopack/permits/classP/) · 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 ## Class P · International staff and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Class P · International staff | – | 5 yr, renewable | – | | [Class D · Employment](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-d-employment/) | – | 5 yr, renewable | – | | [Class I · Religious work](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-i-religious/) | – | 5 yr, renewable | – | | [Class Q · Faith/charity staff](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-q-religious-professionals/) | – | 5 yr, renewable | – | | [Class R · EAC nationals](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-r-eac-nationals/) | – | 5 yr, renewable | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Class P · International staff? A fee of $200. Non-refundable processing fee. A fee of $1,000 a year. Issuance fee per year. ### How long can I stay on the Class P · International staff? Validity is set by the Director of Immigration Services, up to five years per issue or renewal. ### How long does the Class P · International staff 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 P · International staff? Employment with the international organisation. ### Can I bring my family on the Class P · International staff? 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. ### How are Class P · International staff holders taxed in Kenya? No special regime in our records is tied to the Class P · International staff. 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 C · Prescribed profession](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-c-prescribed-profession/) [Class G · Business](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-g-business/) [Internship / research pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/internship-research-pass/) [Student pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/student-pass/) ## Work visas elsewhere [🇲🇦 Employee residence card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/morocco/employment-contract-visa/) [🇿🇦 Critical Skills visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/critical-skills-work-visa/) [🇲🇺 Professional Occupation Permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/professional-occupation-permit/) [🇨🇻 Highly qualified permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/highly-qualified/) [🇳🇬 Employment · Cleric (R6A)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/employment-r6a-cleric/) [🇷🇼 Skilled worker H1 (demand list)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/rwanda/h1-skilled-worker-occupation-on-demand/) ≈ 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 6 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 P (UN, diplomatic and international organisation staff)](https://fns.immigration.go.ke/infopack/permits/classP/) · 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 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.