The government has introduced significant amendments to the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, making changes to various permit categories and expanding opportunities for foreign nationals to work and reside in Kenya.
The key change, announced by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Acting Interior CS Musalia Mudavadi on Tuesday, is the creation of a new permit category, Class P.
This permit will be issued to staff of the United Nations, diplomatic missions, inter-governmental organizations, and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Mudavadi explained that the decision was made following frequent requests from the UN office in Nairobi, which highlighted the need for a special status for staff working in neighboring countries that are not classified as family stations.
Mudavadi emphasized that UN staff are highly paid and contribute to the local economy through rent, school fees for children, car expenses, and employing domestic staff.
He also noted that this aligns with Kenya’s goal of making Nairobi a hub for the UN and multilateral organizations.
The new Class P permit will be charged at a lower fee, payable in US dollars, taking advantage of the foreign currency income from these workers.
Additionally, the amendment revises the financial requirements for the Digital Nomad visa (Class N), reducing the minimum annual income requirement from USD 55,000 to USD 24,000.
This change makes it easier for international remote workers to live and work in Kenya.
Another new category, Class Q, is designed for professionals working with religious or charitable organizations, specifically those who contribute to the missions of these organizations without directly engaging in religious worship.
The new regulations also lower the annual fee for missionaries from sh 50,000 to sh 20,000, addressing concerns from churches about the previous high fees.
Mudavadi also explained that the Class I permit has been amended to exclude persons working for approved charitable organizations, who will now fall under Class Q.
The Class I permit, which was originally issued to individuals engaged in religious worship and rituals, has been redefined.
In addition, a new Class R permit has been introduced for citizens of East African Community (EAC) member states who wish to work or live in Kenya.
This permit consolidates various categories of EAC nationals, such as investors, skilled workers, traders, and farmers, under one simplified category.
EAC nationals will not be required to pay any fees for this permit, in line with the regional integration goals of the EAC.
Mudavadi stated, “This proposed Class R work permit will consolidate all East African applicants, regardless of their role, and will only require proof of citizenship from an EAC member state.”
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