Considerations for Applying for Permanent Residency in Kenya

Similar to many countries across the world, Kenya offers permanent residency status to foreign nationals intending to make the country their home for the foreseeable future.

Permanent residency offers a multitude of opportunities, as it allows a person to own property, change jobs without a need for authorization, settle anywhere in the country and access social services with comparative ease. Employers also benefit by having access to diverse talent in an increasingly competitive market and avoiding work permit processes.

Permanent Residency Categories in Kenya

Kenya’s Constitution of 2010 and the Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011 make provisions for lawful residents in Kenya to apply for permanent residency.

There are several categories for eligible foreign nationals, such as if you have held a work permit for at least seven years. In this instance, you must have resided in the country for three years immediately preceding the permanent residency application. Family members can be included in the application, provided they are younger than the age of 21 and unmarried.

Another category is for foreign nationals married to a Kenyan national. This category promotes family unity and provides stability for families.

Considerations for Applying for Permanent Residency in Kenya

The most important consideration for the permanent residency process in Kenya is the length of the process. It takes significant time as multiple government agencies are involved, including the security department, which may look at whether the prospective permanent resident poses security issues to the state.  

Another consideration is the document-intensive nature of the process. Documents such as police clearance certificates are required and must be procured ahead of time, and, in the event a document is in a different language, it must be translated.

The Government of Kenya also gives permanent residency priority to investors. They are believed to be of more economic value to the country as they create a surplus of jobs.

Applicants are required to remain on legal residency status throughout the entire duration of the processing period. Foreign nationals must therefore ensure their work permits remain valid while they await the outcome of their applications.

Conclusion

When considering applying for permanent residency, it is important to have a trusted immigration provider for professional end-to-end support and peace of mind.

Fragomen Kenya Limited can partner with you to gather the information required, draft the application and make the final submission, all the while keeping you updated.

Need to know more?

For further information, please contact Willys Mac’Olale at [email protected]. This blog was published on 30 September 2022, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please subscribe to our alerts and follow  us on LinkedIn, twitter, Facebook and Instagram.