To change your tourist visum into a working permit is not that easy.. First of all there are not a lot of jobs available in Kenya. If someone want to employ you the company who applies for your working permit has to prove why they cant employ a Kenyan for the same vacancy.
They want to discourage foreigners to get a working permit as Kenyans have as understandable, priority.
If you would be lucky to get a job then you apply for a working permit which can take months to get it. There is also a fee for it and it depends which class your job belongs to how much the fee will be. Approx between 50.000 ksh and 200.000 ksh a year.
I went through it all myself and I would definetly not risk to stay or work without a permit.
I wish you good luck
Regards Irene O
Oct 26, 2010
Work permit in Kenya by: Arjen (webmaster)
I understand you are encouraged to use a tourist visa when making short visits to Kenya, also as a business traveler, but indeed you need a work permit or Special Pass if you want to work as a foreigner in Kenya.
I think finding a job will be harder than getting the permit (or am I too optimistic about bureaucracy in Kenya now?).
You can get a work permit, or a Special Pass for short-term assignments in Kenya, from the Office of the Director of Immigration Services in Nairobi.
