Work Permit Support Letter (Kenya)
[Employer Name]
[Employer Address]
Tel: [Employer Phone] | Email: [Employer Email]
BRS No: [Employer BRS Number] | KRA PIN: [Employer KRA PIN]
[Letter Date]
The Director of Immigration Services
Directorate of Immigration Services
Nyayo House, Kenyatta Avenue
P.O. Box 30191-00100, Nairobi
RE: SUPPORT LETTER FOR WORK PERMIT APPLICATION — [Permit Class] — [Applicant Name] ([Applicant Nationality])
Dear Director of Immigration Services,
[Employer Name] (BRS Registration No. [Employer BRS Number]; KRA PIN: [Employer KRA PIN]), a company duly incorporated and registered in Kenya under the Companies Act No. 17 of 2015, hereby writes in strong support of the application by [Applicant Name] (Passport No. [Passport Number], valid until [Passport Expiry Date], Nationality: [Applicant Nationality], Date of Birth: [Date of Birth], currently residing at [Applicant Current Address]) for a [Permit Class] Work Permit under Section 32 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011 and the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations 2012.
1. PROPOSED EMPLOYMENT
1.1 Job title: [Job Title]
1.2 Department: [Department]
1.3 Employment start date: [Employment Start Date]
1.4 Contract duration: [Contract Duration]
1.5 Permit duration sought: [Permit Duration Sought]
Principal duties and responsibilities:
[Job Description]
2. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
2.1 Gross monthly salary: [Gross Monthly Salary]
2.2 Additional allowances and benefits: [Additional Benefits]
2.3 The employer undertakes to comply with all obligations under the Employment Act No. 11 of 2007, including payment of PAYE tax to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) under the Income Tax Act Cap. 470 and statutory contributions to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
3. JUSTIFICATION FOR FOREIGN HIRE
3.1 [Skills Justification]
3.2 National Employment Authority Compliance: The employer registered the vacancy with the National Employment Authority (NEA) under the National Employment Authority Act No. 3 of 2016. NEA approval reference: [NEA Approval Reference].
4. LOCALISATION AND TRAINING COMMITMENT
[Localisation Commitment]
5. EMPLOYER UNDERTAKINGS
The employer hereby undertakes to:
(a) ensure that [Applicant Name] does not engage in any employment or business activity in Kenya outside the scope of the work permit if granted;
(b) notify the Directorate of Immigration Services of any material change in the terms of employment, including a change in job title, salary, or duties, within 14 days of such change;
(c) notify the Directorate of Immigration Services within 14 days of the cessation of employment of the permit holder for any reason;
(d) repatriate [Applicant Name] and their dependants to their country of origin or last country of residence at the employer's cost if employment ends before the work permit expires, pursuant to Section 32(7) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011; and
(e) comply with all conditions attached to the work permit as directed by the Directorate of Immigration Services.
Repatriation commitment accepted: [Repatriation Commitment]
6. CLOSING STATEMENT
[Employer Name] requests the Directorate of Immigration Services to grant the [Permit Class] Work Permit to [Applicant Name] (Passport No. [Passport Number]) for a period of [Permit Duration Sought]. The employer confirms that all information provided in this letter and the accompanying application documents is true and accurate.
Yours faithfully,
___________________________
[Signatory Name]
[Signatory Designation]
For and on behalf of [Employer Name]
Date: [Letter Date]
Company Stamp: ___________________________
Employer Authorised Signatory
________________
Signature
What Is a Work Permit Support Letter (Kenya)?
A Work Permit Support Letter in Kenya records the particulars needed to apply for the registration, permit or approval it concerns.
Kenya issues seven classes of work permits — Classes A through G — under the First Schedule to the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011. The most common classes are Class G (for persons employed in a specific occupation by a specified employer), Class A (for investors and persons with financial interests in Kenya), and Class M (for members of the immediate family of permit holders). A Work Permit Support Letter is primarily used in Class G applications, where a Kenyan employer is sponsoring a specific foreign national for a named role within the company.
The Work Permit Support Letter confirms that the employer has made genuine efforts to recruit a Kenyan citizen for the role before resorting to hiring a foreign national, consistent with the Government of Kenya's policy under the National Employment Authority Act No. 3 of 2016 to prioritise local employment. The letter provides the Directorate of Immigration Services with the employer's justification for seeking foreign skills, the nature and duration of the employment, the remuneration to be paid, and the employer's commitment to comply with all conditions of the work permit.
The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011 replaced the Immigration Act Cap. 172, the Kenya Citizenship Act Cap. 170, and the Aliens Restriction Act Cap. 173, consolidating all immigration and citizenship matters under a unified statute. The Act is supplemented by the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations 2012 made under Section 61 of the Act, which prescribe the application forms, fees, and procedures for work permit applications. The Immigration Appeals Board, established under Section 56 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011, handles appeals against refusals of work permit applications.
The National Employment Authority (NEA), established under the National Employment Authority Act No. 3 of 2016, regulates the employment of foreign nationals in Kenya by maintaining a Skills Register of available local talent. Employers seeking to hire foreign nationals must first register the vacancy with the NEA and demonstrate that no suitably qualified Kenyan citizen is available to fill the role. The NEA issues an approval letter confirming the unavailability of local talent, which is submitted together with the Work Permit Support Letter to the Directorate of Immigration Services as part of the Class G work permit application.
Foreign nationals working in Kenya on an expired permit or without a valid work permit commit an offence under Section 34 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011 and are liable to a fine or imprisonment. Employers who knowingly employ foreign nationals without valid work permits are similarly liable under Section 35 of the Act. A Work Permit Support Letter, as part of a timely and complete application, confirms that the employer and the foreign national remain within the law during the processing period, particularly where the foreign national is already in Kenya on a business visa or prior permit that is approaching expiry.
When Do You Need a Work Permit Support Letter (Kenya)?
A Work Permit Support Letter in Kenya is required whenever a Kenya-registered employer intends to hire a foreign national for employment within Kenya and the foreign national does not hold a valid work permit or pass authorising that specific employment.
A Work Permit Support Letter is needed when a multinational company registered in Kenya under the Companies Act No. 17 of 2015 is transferring an expatriate employee from its overseas parent or affiliate to its Kenyan subsidiary or branch. The Kenyan entity must issue the support letter confirming the transfer, the role, and the justification for the intra-company transfer, alongside evidence that the role requires skills not readily available locally.
A Work Permit Support Letter is required when a Kenyan company is recruiting a foreign national with specialist technical skills — for example, a petroleum engineer, a fintech software architect, or a medical specialist — that are in short supply in the Kenyan labour market. The employer must demonstrate to the Directorate of Immigration Services that the NEA search was conducted and that no suitably qualified Kenyan citizen applied for or was available to fill the vacancy.
A Work Permit Support Letter is needed when a non-governmental organisation (NGO) registered under the Non-Governmental Organisations Co-ordination Act Cap. 134 or the Public Benefits Organisations Act No. 18 of 2013 is bringing in a foreign specialist — such as a humanitarian programme coordinator, a public health officer, or a governance expert — on a defined-term contract. NGOs operating in Kenya must comply with the work permit requirements under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011 for all foreign staff, regardless of whether the role is funded by a foreign donor.
A Work Permit Support Letter is required when an existing work permit holder changes employer within Kenya. Under Section 32(4) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011, a Class G work permit is employer-specific and cannot be transferred between employers without a fresh application. The new employer must issue a Support Letter confirming the offer of employment and the new employer's details before the permit holder can lawfully commence work with the new entity.
A Work Permit Support Letter is needed when renewing a Class G work permit that is approaching its expiry date. The renewal application requires a fresh Support Letter from the employer confirming the continued employment relationship, any changes in remuneration or role, and the employer's continued compliance with the conditions of the original permit. Renewal applications should be submitted to the eFNS portal at least 60 days before the permit expires to avoid a lapse in the permit holder's authorisation to work.
What to Include in Your Work Permit Support Letter (Kenya)
A Kenya Work Permit Support Letter under Section 32 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011 must contain the following elements to be accepted as part of a complete work permit application by the Directorate of Immigration Services.
Employer Identification: The full legal name of the employer, the Companies Act registration number (Certificate of Incorporation number from the Business Registration Service), the registered office address in Kenya, the KRA PIN of the employer company, and the employer's contact details. Government ministries or State corporations sponsoring a foreign national must provide the ministry name, the relevant administrative reference, and the name and designation of the authorised signatory.
Employee Identification: The full name of the foreign national as it appears in their passport, the passport number, nationality, date of birth, and current address. The letter must specify the class of work permit being applied for — typically Class G for employer-sponsored employment — and the duration of the permit sought (one or two years, subject to the maximum permitted by the Directorate).
Role and Justification: A precise description of the position offered to the foreign national, including the job title, department, reporting line, principal duties, and the specific skills, qualifications, and experience required. The letter must explain why the role requires a foreign national and demonstrate that the employer has complied with the NEA requirement under the National Employment Authority Act No. 3 of 2016 by advertising the vacancy locally and confirming that no suitably qualified Kenyan citizen was available.
Remuneration and Benefits: The gross monthly or annual salary payable in Kenya Shillings (KES), any allowances (housing, transport, medical), and benefits (annual leave, medical cover). Disclosure of remuneration is required because the Directorate of Immigration Services assesses whether the salary package is commensurate with the qualifications required and confirms the employer is not underpaying a foreign national relative to Kenyan market rates for similar roles.
Employment Duration: The start date of employment, the initial contract period, and, where the appointment is for a fixed term, the end date. For indefinite contracts, the letter should state that the employment is on a continuing basis subject to the continued validity of the work permit. The work permit duration applied for must align with the contract period.
Local Training Commitment: Confirmation that the employer will identify and arrange for a Kenyan citizen to be trained to eventually assume the role currently filled by the foreign national, in accordance with the localisation policy encouraged by the National Employment Authority Act No. 3 of 2016 and the Directorate of Immigration Services guidelines. This commitment is a standard requirement in the Directorate's assessment of Class G applications.
Compliance Undertaking: A statement by the employer undertaking to comply with all conditions attaching to the work permit if granted, including: confirming the foreign national does not work outside the scope of the permit; notifying the Directorate of any change in employment terms or termination; and repatriating the foreign national at the employer's expense if employment ends before the permit expires, under Section 32(7) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011.
Authorised Signatory: The letter must be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, Human Resources Director, or other authorised officer of the employer, with their full name, designation, and contact details. The letter must be on the employer's official letterhead and bear the company stamp or seal. The forms-legal.com Work Permit Support Letter Kenya template provides the complete structure required by the Directorate of Immigration Services, covering all mandatory fields. Related documents used alongside this letter include the Appointment Letter (ke-appointment-letter), which sets out the formal terms of employment; the Confirmation of Employment (ke-confirmation-of-employment) for existing employees seeking renewal; and the Dependent Pass Application (ke-dependent-pass-application) for the permit holder's family members who will accompany them to Kenya.
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Reference this free template in an article, syllabus, or research note:
Forms Legal. (2026). Work Permit Support Letter (Kenya) (Kenya) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/kenya/personal/immigration/work-permit-support-letter-kenya
"Work Permit Support Letter (Kenya) (Kenya)." Forms Legal, 2026, https://forms-legal.com/kenya/personal/immigration/work-permit-support-letter-kenya.
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author = {{Forms Legal}},
title = {Work Permit Support Letter (Kenya) (Kenya)},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/kenya/personal/immigration/work-permit-support-letter-kenya}},
note = {Free legal document template}
}Also available for these jurisdictions:
Frequently Asked Questions
A Class G work permit in Kenya is issued to a foreign national who is to be employed in a specific occupation by a specific employer in Kenya, under the First Schedule to the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011. Class G is the most common work permit for employer-sponsored foreign employees. To apply, the employer submits an application through the eFNS (Electronic Foreigner Notification System) portal managed by the Directorate of Immigration Services. The application package must include: a completed application form; the Work Permit Support Letter from the employer; the foreign national's passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond the permit period sought); certified copies of the foreign national's academic and professional qualifications; the National Employment Authority (NEA) confirmation that no Kenyan citizen is available for the role; the employer's Certificate of Incorporation from the Business Registration Service; proof of the employer's KRA tax compliance; and payment of the prescribed permit fee. As of the most recent fee schedule under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations 2012, the fee for a Class G work permit is KES 100,000 for a two-year permit. Processing typically takes 30 to 60 working days.
A foreign national in Kenya may not lawfully engage in employment while their work permit application is pending, unless they hold a Special Pass issued by the Directorate of Immigration Services under Section 33 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011. A Special Pass is a temporary authorisation issued for a specific purpose and duration — typically up to 30 days, renewable — that may permit the holder to carry out limited work activities while a formal work permit application is being processed. The employer should apply for a Special Pass at the same time as submitting the work permit application if the foreign national is already in Kenya and needs to commence work urgently. Working without a valid permit or pass is an offence under Section 34 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011. Both the foreign national and the employer who knowingly permits unpermitted employment risk prosecution, fines, and, for the foreign national, deportation. Employers should plan work permit applications well in advance of the intended start date to avoid this situation.
A work permit in Kenya under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011 is typically issued for a period of up to two years for a Class G permit, subject to renewal. The Directorate of Immigration Services has discretion to issue permits for shorter periods — for example, one year — particularly for new applicants or where the employment contract is for a fixed term of less than two years. Renewal applications must be submitted to the eFNS portal before the current permit expires — the Directorate recommends submission at least 60 days before expiry to ensure continuity of the permit holder's lawful status. A renewed permit may be issued for up to two further years. There is no statutory limit on the number of times a Class G permit may be renewed, provided the employment continues, the employer continues to meet its obligations, and the permit holder has complied with all conditions of the permit. Holders of a valid work permit in Kenya for a continuous period of at least seven years may be eligible to apply for permanent residence under Section 43 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011.
A work permit in Kenya does not automatically authorise the permit holder's family members to reside in Kenya. Dependants — typically a spouse and minor children — must apply separately for a Dependant's Pass under Section 36 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011. A Dependant's Pass is tied to the principal permit holder's work permit and must be renewed each time the work permit is renewed. The Dependant's Pass allows the spouse and children to reside in Kenya for the duration of the holder's work permit but does not authorise the spouse to take up employment in Kenya. If the spouse wishes to work in Kenya, the spouse must obtain their own separate work permit or pass. The application for a Dependant's Pass should be submitted concurrently with or shortly after the work permit application, and the ke-dependent-pass-application template available on forms-legal.com provides the structured letter format required by the Directorate of Immigration Services.
Where an employer in Kenya terminates the employment of a foreign national holding a Class G work permit, the employer must notify the Directorate of Immigration Services of the termination within 14 days under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011 and the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations 2012. The work permit, which is employer-specific, ceases to be valid for employment purposes upon termination of the sponsoring employment relationship, even if it has not formally expired. The former permit holder must either depart Kenya, apply for a change of permit class, or obtain new employment and have the new employer apply for a fresh Class G permit. The original employer is responsible for the repatriation costs of the foreign national and their dependants if the employment ends before the permit expires under Section 32(7) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011. Employers should record the notification to the Directorate in writing and retain copies for at least 5 years as evidence of compliance.
Kenya does not prescribe a fixed numerical quota on the total number of foreign employees a company may hire, but the localisation policy enforced by the National Employment Authority (NEA) under the National Employment Authority Act No. 3 of 2016 requires employers to justify each foreign hire by demonstrating that no suitably qualified Kenyan citizen is available. The Directorate of Immigration Services assesses each Class G work permit application on its merits. In practice, the Directorate and the NEA expect employers to maintain a predominantly Kenyan workforce and to hire foreign nationals only for specialist, senior, or technical roles where genuine local skills shortages exist. Some sector-specific regulations — for example, those governing financial institutions under the Banking Act Cap. 488 — may include localisation requirements for certain roles such as Chief Executive Officers of licensed banks, requiring Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) approval for the appointment of non-citizens. Employers in Kenya should maintain a skills localisation plan and provide the Directorate with evidence of training commitments to improve approval rates for work permit applications.
A self-employed foreign national wishing to work in Kenya independently — rather than as an employee of a Kenyan company — would typically apply for a Class A or Class G work permit depending on the nature of their activity. Class A is intended for persons with a financial interest in a business enterprise in Kenya, such as a foreign investor or entrepreneur who owns or co-owns a Kenyan-registered business under the Companies Act No. 17 of 2015 or the Business Names Act Cap. 499. Class G is employer-specific and requires a sponsoring Kenyan employer; it is not suitable for self-employed persons. For Class A, the applicant must demonstrate investment in a Kenya-registered business, provide audited accounts or a business plan, and show that the business generates or will generate employment for Kenyan citizens. Applications for Class A permits are submitted through the eFNS portal. Foreign nationals operating in Kenya under a contract with a single client should take legal advice on whether they are classified as self-employed or as an employee for purposes of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011 and the Employment Act No. 11 of 2007.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer
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