Kenya · Student
Kenya Student pass
Student's Pass
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Student pass is a student route for Kenya. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $100/yr
- Processing
- 15 working days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee $100/yr; decision: 15 working days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees$100/yr
- $100 a yearStudent pass fee per year; citizens of East African Community states are exempt from the fee.
RenewalRenewable
Student passes can be renewed with progress reports or transcripts from your institution and a copy of the pass you hold.
Processing15 working days
Service standard: 15 working days.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Your institution applies for the pass on your behalf; the form also asks for your current immigration status if you are already in Kenya.
Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of KenyaKenya Law
Presence rulesStay rule
The pass lapses if you do not enter Kenya within 30 days of issue, do not take up your place within 30 days of entry, or leave or are dropped by the institution.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a place at a school or university in Kenya
What you'll need
What you must show1
- The student pass fee is USD 100 a year; East African Community citizens pay no fee.
Documents5
- Form 30 stamped by the institution is required.
- An institution cover letter states the course and duration.
- A sponsor commitment letter is required.
- Certified academic certificates are required for tertiary entrants.
- The school's Ministry of Education registration certificate is required.
When you become tax resident
How Kenya decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a year of incomeIndividual 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 Tax records checked
Full official text
Pass for a foreign student accepted by an approved education or training institution in Kenya, applied for through the institution. 1 2 3 4 5
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $100 a year · Student pass fee per year; citizens of East African Community states are exempt from the fee. 5 3
Requirements
- The student pass fee is USD 100 a year; East African Community citizens pay no fee. 5 3
- Form 30 stamped by the institution is required. 1
- An institution cover letter states the course and duration. 1
- A sponsor commitment letter is required. 1
- Certified academic certificates are required for tertiary entrants. 1
- The school's Ministry of Education registration certificate is required. 1
Stay
- Renewals require transcripts or progress reports.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
No trade or employment, paid or unpaid, while holding a student's pass.
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.
Fine print
The fee follows the Immigration Directorate service charter (USD 100 a year); the published Regulations schedule still shows KES 5,000 (≈ $39).
Official sources
- Student, Internship/Research, Special and Dependant passes · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10
- Work Permits and Passes · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10
- The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 (Legal Notice 64 of 2012), consolidated · Kenya Law (National Council for Law Reporting) · checked 2026-10-11
- EAC Partner States · East African Community · checked 2026-10-11
- Directorate of Immigration Services Delivery Charter 2025 · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-12
Student pass and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student pass | – | – | – |
| Student card Morocco | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |
| Exchange visa South Africa | – | 1 yr | Limited |
| Student residence Cabo Verde | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Academic exchange (R8A) Nigeria | – | 2 yr, renewable | No |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Student pass?
A fee of $100 a year. Student pass fee per year; citizens of East African Community states are exempt from the fee.
How long can I stay on the Student pass?
Renewals require transcripts or progress reports.
How long does the Student pass take to process?
Service standard: 15 working days.
Can I work on the Student pass?
No trade or employment, paid or unpaid, while holding a student's pass.
Can I bring my family on the Student pass?
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 Student pass holders taxed in Kenya?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Student pass. 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
Study visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 5 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.
- Student, Internship/Research, Special and Dependant passes · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10
- Work Permits and Passes · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-10
- The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 (Legal Notice 64 of 2012), consolidated · Kenya Law (National Council for Law Reporting) · checked 2026-10-11
- EAC Partner States · East African Community · checked 2026-10-11
- Directorate of Immigration Services Delivery Charter 2025 · Directorate of Immigration Services, Government of Kenya · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.