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When traveling to Kenya, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to Kenya, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
Most foreign nationals, including nationals of the United States and most European countries, are required to obtain an eTA prior to travel to enter Kenya and conduct ordinary business activities.
Certain restricted nationalities require additional security clearance and must obtain a Referred Business Visa prior to travel. In these cases, the Director of Immigration Services in Nairobi must approve the visa application in advance. Please consult with your immigration counsel to determine whether such restrictions apply.
Nationals of select countries, including Ghana, Malaysia and South Africa may be eligible for visa waiver status (i.e., exempt from obtaining an eTA), which allows visitors to enter and conduct business activities without a visa. Please consult with your immigration counsel prior to travel to verify your eligibility for a visa waiver or eTA.
The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Kenyan law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Kenya, even if conducted for a short duration.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work and on whether your employer has an entity in Kenya. The most common forms of work authorization for Kenya are:
Kenya does not offer work authorization exemptions.
Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.