Chinese ordinary passport holders must apply online for, and receive, a Kenyan Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before departure. The eTA only covers entry. It does not allow you to work or do business. To take a job or run a company in Kenya you need a separate work permit, usually Class D (employment) or Class G (trade, business or consultancy).
Work permits are issued by the Directorate of Immigration Services under the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, through the online Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) portal. Do not start work before the permit is approved. Working without one is the most common violation among Chinese nationals in Kenya.
Entry: Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)
Kenya introduced the eTA on 1 January 2024, replacing most visas [3]. In January 2025 the Kenyan Cabinet exempted citizens of African countries (except Somalia and Libya) from the eTA [4]. This exemption does not apply to Chinese citizens. The Chinese Embassy’s January 2026 notice states that everyone except diplomatic and official passport holders must apply for and obtain an eTA before arriving, at etakenya.go.ke [6].
Fees, timing and documents
| Item | Details (official site, as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard fee | From USD 30 [2] |
| Expedited | Additional USD 100, processed immediately [2] |
| Standard processing | Usually within 3 business days (72 hours), may take longer [2] |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months with at least one blank page [2]; the embassy adds it must be valid 6 months beyond the end of the trip, with no alterations [6] |
| Other items | Selfie or passport photo, email and phone, travel itinerary, accommodation booking, payment method [2] |
Apply only through the official website or the official “Kenya Travel Authorisation” app, and show the approved eTA at departure and arrival. Travellers without one may be denied boarding or fined on arrival [2]. Many look-alike agency sites charge more, so check the domain. Media reports say the eTA is valid for 90 days [5]; the length of stay is set by the immigration officer at entry.
What the eTA does not allow
The MOFCOM guide quotes the Chinese Embassy: people who enter on a tourist visa (now an eTA) may not invest, do business, run retail or carry out other activities that do not match their entry purpose [1]. In practice, problems arise when someone enters “to look around” and then starts selling in a shop or working on a site, and is checked by immigration or police. Keep your entry status and your actual activity consistent.
Types of work permit
The Directorate of Immigration Services lists these classes [7]. Most Chinese employees apply for Class D; investors running their own company apply for Class G [1].
| Class | Scope |
|---|---|
| A | Prospecting and mining |
| B | Agriculture and animal husbandry |
| C | Prescribed profession |
| D | Employment with a specific employer |
| F | Specific manufacturing |
| G | Specific trade, business or consultancy |
| I | Approved religious and charitable activities |
| K | Ordinary residents |
| M | Refugees |
If you are setting up a company first, see registering a company in Kenya. A Class G permit needs your company registration documents and tax PIN.
Class D and Class G: conditions and fees
| Class D (employment) | Class G (business/investment) | |
|---|---|---|
| Processing fee (non-refundable) | KES 20,000 [8] | KES 20,000 [9] |
| Issuance fee | KES 500,000 per year [8] | KES 250,000 per year [9] |
| Key condition | Skills not available in Kenya; a named Kenyan understudy [8] | Proof of capital investment of at least USD 100,000 [9] |
| Main documents | Forms 25 and 27, employer’s letter to the Director General, passport bio-data page, photo, company tax compliance certificate (plus personal one on renewal), certified academic and professional certificates, CV, evidence that local recruitment failed, the understudy’s ID and qualifications, registration certificate of the organisation [8] | Forms 25 and 27, company letter, passport bio-data page, photo, company tax compliance certificate, proof of capital, certificate of incorporation and articles, KRA PINs for company and individual, CR12 shareholder certificate; audited accounts for two years on renewal [9] |
Note: these are the fees shown on the immigration website in October 2026. The 2025 MOFCOM guide gives KES 220,000 a year for Class D and KES 280,000 for Class G [1], which does not match. Pay what the official site and the eFNS system show. Nationals of East African Community states pay nothing; this does not apply to Chinese citizens [8][9].
Other requirements
- According to the MOFCOM guide, foreign staff generally need a bachelor’s degree and should be aged 24 to 45; the employer must first advertise the job locally and can apply only if no suitable local hire is found after one month [1].
- If a position can later be filled locally, the foreign holder’s permit may not be renewed when it expires [1].
- The guide says Kenya has no quota on foreign workers, but vetting is strict and costs are high [1].
- Licensed Special Economic Zone enterprises can obtain work permits for up to 20% of their full-time staff, with more possible on the SEZ Authority’s recommendation for special sectors [1].
How to apply
- Register on the eFNS portal, complete the application for your class and upload all documents [7].
- Wait for approval. The MOFCOM guide says you then obtain a security bond from an insurer or similar institution, usually about KES 10,000 [1].
- Pay the issuance fee.
- Print the permit from the portal and take it to an immigration office for endorsement [7].
- Fees are charged yearly; renew before expiry. Renewals need tax compliance certificates, and Class G also needs two years of audited accounts [8][9].
Immigration headquarters is at Nyayo House, Nairobi, tel. +254 20 2222022 [1][7].
Family members
Spouses and children of work permit holders can apply for a Dependant’s Pass on eFNS. The issuance fee is KES 10,000 [10]. Documents include Form 28, a letter to the Director General, passports of both parties, proof of relationship (marriage or birth certificates, translated if not in English), proof of income, and the principal’s work permit with at least six months’ validity left [10]. A Dependant’s Pass is not a work permit; a spouse who wants to work needs one of their own.
The immigration website also lists a Special Pass, Student’s Pass and Internship/Research Pass [7]. Check conditions and fees with the Directorate. This site does not yet have a page on permanent residence.
Common problems
Working before approval
The MOFCOM guide warns: do not work before your permit is approved. Immigration investigators may gather evidence, and offenders can be detained, prosecuted, fined or deported [1].
Document checks
If immigration officers or police check your papers, stay calm and cooperate [1]. The embassy advises carrying your passport and eTA, keeping a copy of the passport bio-data page, and, when police ask for documents, asking to see their ID first and noting their badge number and vehicle number [6]. See also the Kenya safety guide.
Passport problems
Work permits and dependant’s passes require a valid passport. If yours is expiring or lost, see renewing a Chinese passport in Africa. In an emergency, contact the Chinese Embassy in Kenya on its 24-hour consular protection line +254-20-2711222, or the MFA global hotline +86-10-12308 [1][6].
Business, tax and Chinese community information is on the other Kenya pages, starting from the Kenya guide for Chinese residents.
References
- Country Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Kenya (2025 edition) (PRC Ministry of Commerce, 2025)
- Kenya eTA – FAQs (Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya, accessed October 2026)
- ETA entry system in force since 1 January 2024 (Embassy of the Czech Republic in Nairobi, 2024)
- Kenya grants ETA exemption to African countries as Libya and Somalia left out (Citizen Digital, 22 January 2025)
- Kenya exempts more countries from eTA rules (The EastAfrican, 7 June 2025)
- Chinese Embassy in Kenya reminds Chinese citizens to travel safely during the Spring Festival holiday (China News Service, reproducing the embassy notice, 8 January 2026)
- Work Permits (Directorate of Immigration Services, accessed October 2026)
- Class D: Employment (Directorate of Immigration Services, accessed October 2026)
- Class G: Specific Trade, Business or Consultancy (Directorate of Immigration Services, accessed October 2026)
- Dependant’s Pass (Directorate of Immigration Services, accessed October 2026)