Immigration
Work permits (Class A through K), dependant passes, special passes, permanent residence applications and citizenship matters before the Department of Immigration Services. We advise multinational employers on bulk work-permit processing for project teams, expatriate quota planning, and compliance with the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act.
What we advise on. We advise on the full range of immigration permissions: work permits across all classes (A to K), dependant passes, student and special passes, permanent residence, and citizenship by registration or naturalisation. For corporate clients we manage bulk and project-based work-permit programmes, expatriate quota planning, and immigration-compliance audits; for individuals we handle investor and high-net-worth residence applications.
Governing law and regulators. Our work is governed by the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act 2011 and its regulations, administered by the Department of Immigration Services and the Directorate of Immigration. We coordinate immigration with our Employment and Tax teams so that the permit, the contract and the payroll position are aligned.
Who we act for. We act for multinational employers deploying staff to Kenya, infrastructure and energy contractors mobilising project teams, NGOs and development partners, and individual investors and professionals. Our corporate clients value a single point of contact who can move dozens of applications in parallel against a project timetable.
Why OLM for immigration. Immigration delays stall projects and frustrate hires. We prepare applications that are right first time, we track them through the Department of Immigration Services, and we keep employers compliant so a routine audit never becomes a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which work permit class do I need to work in Kenya? The class depends on the activity — for example, Class G covers specific employment by a named employer, Class M covers investors in approved enterprises, and Class I covers religious workers. We assess the right class for your role and employer before applying.
How long does a Kenyan work permit take? The Department of Immigration Services targets 21 working days from a complete application, though processing times vary. We submit complete, well-documented applications to minimise delays and follow up regularly on progress.
Can a foreign national work in Kenya on a business visa? No. A business visa allows attendance at meetings and conferences but not employment or performance of services for compensation. A work permit or special pass is required before commencing employment activities.
What is an expatriate quota in Kenya? Certain regulated sectors and government departments require employers to obtain an approved expatriate quota — a pre-authorisation for a fixed number of foreign workers — before applying for individual work permits. We obtain and manage quotas for corporate clients.