Last updated: 26 April 2026. Fees and requirements should be confirmed against the live eFNS / Directorate of Immigration Services invoice on the filing date.
A Class G investor permit in Kenya is the main immigration permit route for a foreign investor, entrepreneur, founder, business owner or consultant who intends to engage in a specific trade, business or consultancy in Kenya.
Quick answer: Kenya Class G investor permit
The official Class G fee lines are KES 20,000 processing fee, non-refundable, and KES 250,000 per year issuance fee after approval. A strong application usually needs documentary proof of at least USD 100,000 capital to be invested, company registration documents, CR12, company and individual PIN details, tax compliance evidence, Form 25, Form 27 and a signed cover letter addressed to the Director General of Immigration Services.
Non-refundable; paid at filing/invoicing stage.
Paid after approval before issuance.
Documentary proof of capital to be invested.
Application, invoice, payment and tracking route.
Class G investor permit cost in Kenya
The cost question should be answered before the document checklist because most users searching for “investor permit Kenya cost” or “Class G permit Kenya fees” want the official payable amounts immediately.
| Fee / cost item | Amount | When paid | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class G processing fee | KES 20,000 | At application / invoice stage | Non-refundable, even if the application is rejected, withdrawn or queried. |
| Class G issuance fee | KES 250,000 per year | After approval | Paid before issuance of the permit. A two-year approval may therefore require budgeting for two years of issuance fees if directed by Immigration. |
| East African Community member states | Gratis | Subject to live Immigration/eFNS confirmation | Confirm current portal treatment before filing because system invoices control the final amount payable. |
| Security bond / bond processing | Case-specific | Usually after approval or when requested | May be requested depending on Immigration instructions, nationality, permit profile or issuance stage. |
| Professional filing support | Quoted separately | Before application preparation | Covers document audit, cover letter, eFNS filing, query response and issuance support. |
| Document support costs | Variable | Before filing | May include certification, notarisation, translations, CR12, company compliance cleanup, tax compliance and bank verification support. |
Important fee note
Use the eFNS / Immigration invoice as the final payable amount at the time of filing. Immigration fees and payment handling can change; this page is structured for 2026 search intent but should always be checked against the live portal before advising a client.
Class G investor permit requirements in Kenya
For a new Class G application, Immigration normally expects both immigration documents and business/investment documents. The key ranking opportunity is to present the checklist in a clean, official-order format, not as general commentary.
- Duly filled and signed Form 25.
- Signed cover letter addressed to the Director General of Immigration Services.
- Copy of national passport bio-data page.
- Current immigration status if the applicant is already in Kenya.
- Recent coloured passport-size photograph.
- Copy of any previous permit or pass held.
- Duly filled Form 27 / Report on Employment.
- Documentary proof of capital to be invested of at least USD 100,000.
- Bank statement verification form for new cases where required.
- Proof of offshore transaction receipt or slip where applicable.
- Certificate of incorporation of the Kenyan company or relevant entity.
- Memorandum and Articles of Association or relevant constitutional documents.
- Shareholding certificate / CR12.
- Company PIN certificate and individual PIN certificate where applicable.
- Valid organization Tax Compliance Certificate for new cases.
- Certified English translations for foreign-language documents.
- Clearance letter from relevant institutions where the sector requires licensing or approval.
- Copy of the official checklist, where requested at filing or physical presentation stage.
What makes a Class G file strong?
The file should tell one consistent story: the applicant owns or controls the business, the capital is real and traceable, the company records match the application, the business is lawful in Kenya, and the investment is likely to create economic activity or employment.
How to apply for a Class G investor permit on eFNS
The user intent behind “how to apply for investor permit Kenya” is a filing workflow, not a generic paragraph. Use the following practical sequence.
- Confirm the business structure.
Decide whether the investor will operate through a Kenyan company, foreign branch, partnership or other recognized structure. Align this with the investor’s ownership, tax and sector licensing needs. - Prepare company and tax documents.
Obtain the certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, CR12, PIN certificate, organization tax compliance evidence and any sector licence or clearance letter. - Prepare the investment proof.
Package the USD 100,000 capital evidence, bank statement verification form, offshore remittance receipt/slip and any supporting bank or source-of-funds narrative. - Create or log in to Government of Kenya single sign-on.
Use the eCitizen / Government of Kenya single sign-on account to access the eFNS portal. - Select the permit workflow.
Inside eFNS, select Apply Now, then Submit Applications, then Permit Issuance/Renewal. - Complete the application and forms.
Complete the online application, prepare and sign Form 25, attach Form 27 where required and ensure the cover letter is correctly addressed. - Upload documents and generate the invoice.
Upload clear PDF scans, submit the application and generate the invoice through the eFNS dashboard payment tab. - Pay the processing fee and monitor the dashboard.
Pay the prescribed processing fee and monitor automatic notifications by email and through the eFNS account. - Respond to queries quickly.
If Immigration requests clarification, updated documents, bank verification, tax compliance or sector clearance, respond with a clean supplementary upload. - Complete approval and issuance steps.
After approval, pay the issuance fee, arrange any required security bond, complete endorsement/biometrics steps and proceed with foreign national registration where applicable.
USD 100,000 capital proof: what Immigration is checking
The USD 100,000 requirement is not just a number. The reviewing officer must be able to verify that the applicant has access to capital and that the capital relates to the business activity described in the Class G application.
| Evidence area | What to prepare | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| Bank evidence | Bank statements, verification form and account evidence showing available capital. | Funds are shown in an account that does not clearly belong to or benefit the applicant/company. |
| Offshore transfer evidence | Swift/remittance slip, transaction receipt, bank letter or transfer confirmation where applicable. | The transfer document does not connect clearly to the Kenyan company or investment plan. |
| Company ownership | CR12, shareholder records and company constitution documents. | The CR12 does not match the ownership narrative in the cover letter or application. |
| Business plan / activity | Clear description of trade, business or consultancy, licences and planned operations. | The application describes a vague business with no lawful activity, licensing pathway or local economic rationale. |
Best practice
Prepare a short capital-proof schedule before filing. It should list the bank account, currency, available balance, transfer date, source of funds, recipient company and the document proving each fact.
Class G investor permit processing time in Kenya
There is no guaranteed public processing SLA for a Class G permit. A practical planning range is 6–10 weeks or longer, depending on completeness, verification, workload and whether Immigration raises queries.
| Stage | Practical timing | What can delay it |
|---|---|---|
| Document preparation | 3–10 working days | Missing CR12, tax compliance, translations, bank verification or sector licence. |
| eFNS filing and invoice | Same day to a few days | Portal access problems, wrong user account, unclear PDFs or payment issues. |
| Immigration review | Several weeks | Capital proof verification, ownership mismatch, tax issues or unclear business activity. |
| Approval and issuance | Depends on payment and bond/endorsement steps | Delayed issuance fee payment, bond preparation, missing passport photo or missed appointment. |
Class G investor permit renewal requirements
Renewal is not just a repeat of the first application. Immigration is more interested in whether the business actually operated, complied with Kenyan tax obligations and created local economic activity.
- Updated Form 25 and signed renewal cover letter.
- Copies of previous permit(s) or pass(es) held.
- Valid company and individual Tax Compliance Certificates where required.
- Signed current audited accounts for renewals where requested.
- List of Kenyans already employed.
- Updated CR12 if shareholding or directorship changed.
- Updated business licences / sector clearances where applicable.
- Evidence of ongoing business operations and investment activity.
Renewal risk
A renewal can be weakened by dormant operations, missing tax compliance, no Kenyan employees, weak audited accounts or a company file that no longer matches the original investment narrative.
Class G permit vs company registration for foreigners in Kenya
A foreigner may register or own a Kenyan company, but company registration alone does not automatically grant immigration permission to live and run the business in Kenya. The Class G permit is the immigration permission tied to the investor’s approved business activity.
| User intent | Best page / route | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| “Register a company in Kenya as a foreigner” | Kenya company registration | This is a BRS/company law process, not an immigration permit. |
| “Open a branch of a foreign company in Kenya” | Foreign company / branch registration | Useful for foreign entities entering Kenya without forming a local subsidiary. |
| “Live in Kenya and run my business” | Class G investor permit | This is the immigration permission for the foreign investor’s approved trade, business or consultancy. |
| “Bring spouse or children” | Kenya dependant pass | Dependants apply separately after or alongside the principal’s lawful status strategy. |
Overview-ready summary
A Class G investor permit in Kenya is issued to a foreign national who intends to engage in a specific trade, business or consultancy in Kenya. The core requirements are Form 25, a signed cover letter, passport copy, current immigration status if already in Kenya, passport photo, Form 27, proof of at least USD 100,000 capital to be invested, company registration documents, CR12, PIN certificates, tax compliance evidence, bank verification form and offshore transaction proof where applicable. The common official fees are KES 20,000 processing, non-refundable, and KES 250,000 per year issuance after approval. Applications are filed through eFNS using the Government of Kenya single sign-on account, then tracked through the dashboard and email notifications.
Common reasons Class G applications are delayed or refused
| Risk | Why it matters | How to reduce the risk |
|---|---|---|
| Weak USD 100,000 proof | Immigration may not be satisfied that the capital is real, controlled by the applicant or intended for Kenya. | Use clean bank records, verification forms, transfer slips and a clear capital-proof schedule. |
| CR12 mismatch | Ownership or directorship mismatch creates credibility problems. | Update company records before filing and align CR12 with the application narrative. |
| Tax compliance gaps | Missing organization or individual tax compliance can slow or weaken the file. | Resolve KRA compliance early and keep PIN details consistent. |
| Vague business activity | Class G is for a specific trade, business or consultancy, not a generic intention to invest. | State the sector, licences, customers, premises and operational plan clearly. |
| Wrong immigration status | Being in Kenya without valid status can complicate filing and issuance. | Check current status before submission and regularize where necessary. |
| Foreign-language documents not translated | Immigration may reject or query documents that cannot be reviewed in English. | Use certified translations by an embassy, public notary or recognized institution. |
Official sources.
FAQs: Class G investor permit Kenya
Is Class G the same as an investor permit in Kenya?
Yes, in common usage. The formal category is Class G: Specific trade, business or consultancy. It is widely referred to as the Kenya investor permit because it is the main route used by foreign investors and business owners.
Can I apply for a Class G permit before registering a Kenyan company?
In most practical cases, the company or business structure should be ready first because the application requires company registration documents, CR12, PIN documents and business evidence. The correct structure should be decided before filing.
Is the USD 100,000 capital proof paid to Immigration?
No. It is not a government fee. It is documentary proof of capital to be invested. The applicant must show clean and verifiable evidence that the capital is available and connected to the Kenyan investment.
Can a Class G permit holder run more than one business?
The permit is tied to the approved trade, business or consultancy stated in the application. Additional activities should be disclosed and aligned with Immigration and sector licensing requirements.
Can family members join a Class G permit holder?
Eligible family members can usually pursue a separate dependant pass process. The dependant pass is not automatic and should be planned alongside the principal permit strategy.
Can I work while waiting for the Class G approval?
You should not start working, operating or earning income in Kenya unless your current immigration status legally allows it. If the business needs urgent setup activity before the permit is issued, seek advice on lawful interim options such as a special pass where appropriate.
Need help with a Kenya Class G investor permit?
Business and Immigration East Africa supports foreign investors with company structuring, CR12 alignment, KRA compliance, capital-proof packaging, eFNS filing, query response, issuance steps and dependant pass planning.