Foreign Workers Must Appear at Department of Immigration to Submit Fingerprints by July 21

The situation

Foreign work permit holders in Kenya must appear at the Department of Immigration by July 21, 2018 to submit their fingerprints and required documentation to prove their immigration status, according to new guidelines issued by the Department of Immigration.

A closer look

• Registration process. Foreign workers must make an appointment to appear at the Department of Immigration (Fragomen can assist with the appointment-scheduling process). At the appointment, each foreign worker will have their fingerprints and a photograph taken and must present the following documents to verify their immigration status:
  • Original work permit;
  • Valid visa endorsement on their original passport;
  • Valid foreigner certificate (alien card); and
  • Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PIN Certificate.

 

• E-Permit. Following submission of the appropriate documents and verification of immigration status, the Department will issue each foreign worker an e-Permit. The e-Permit allows foreign workers to use one card to evidence both their work authorization and residency status, whereas those without it must present their foreigner certificate and work permit to do so. It also allows the government to better track foreign workers using electronic security features available on the card.

 

Impact for employers

Employers should ensure that all foreign employees appear at the Department of Immigration for the verification process by July 21.

Impact for foreign nationals

Foreign workers should arrange to appear at the Department of Immigration and complete the verification process by July 21. Those who fail to do so will not benefit from the e-Permit, and will need to prove their immigration status with two documents instead of one. It is not clear whether there are other penalties associated with not appearing at the Department by July 21.

Background

The government of Kenya announced its intention to implement an e-Permit in April 2018 in tandem with its announcement for foreign nationals without proper work authorization to regularize their status. This is also in line with the new Minister of Immigration’s commitment to better track foreign nationals and to ensure all foreign workers in Kenya are authorized to work.

Fragomen in Kenya is Fragomen Kenya Limited, operating exclusively as an immigration consultancy and not as a law firm in Kenya. This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].