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Hi. It can be in any of the above currency as long as it meets the required amount.

Ksh 10m or 100,000 usd

Thank you for making things extremely clear for me. Cheers!

Is it possible to get residential status in Kenya if you are working online independently and making your own money without extracting employment from the natives?

For example, if I am able to earn 1000 USD per day online and it goes directly to the Kenya economy such as an Investment Account like Kenyan Government Security and Bonds five days per week?

zeresearcher wrote:

Is it possible to get residential status in Kenya if you are working online independently and making your own money without extracting employment from the natives?

For example, if I am able to earn 1000 USD per day online and it goes directly to the Kenya economy such as an Investment Account like Kenyan Government Security and Bonds five days per week?

Hello Andrew,

Residential status largely depends on the duration of time you plan to stay in Kenya. For short term stays of less than a year I would recommend getting either a special pass or a multiple entry visa. This will allow you to conduct your online business without going through the bureaucracy.

However, since you have plans of trading with the government through treasury bills and bonds, this will be considered 'work' and you are constrained to obtain a work permit. The two options available to you would be work permit classes D and G.

A class D  work permit (employees) is granted to persons who will be working as employees of a company duly registered in Kenya. You say 'the company' will provide you with accommodation and also say that you will be 'working independently' online, maybe clarify on your employment status in Kenya for better assistance.

A class G work permit (investors) is granted once you provide financial statements as documentary proof of $ 100,000 capital (audited accounts for the last 2 years from your foreign bank and signed bank statements from a local bank). You would also need to incorporate a Kenyan company and obtain tax PIN registration. A security bond will be required upon approval of the work permit. You may also require other business licences depending on the nature of the business.

You may consider to seek professional help should you feel overwhelmed or get stuck.

PS: It is not polite to refer to local citizens as 'natives'. While 'native' is generally not considered offensive, it may still hold negative connotations for some.

Thank you for your response and I am sorry if you found the word native offensive

I will get back to you shortly.

Regards,

Andrew

Hi, If you are intending to establish an Internet cafe, then you will have to obtain a KRA PIN, register the business and then apply for a Class G.  For the initial application, proof of $100,000 minimum capital is required (the audited accounts are required for renewal after 2 years).  Having applied for a Class G a few years ago, you need a solid and convincing business plan to accompany your application, with evidence of benefit to Kenya.  For an Internet cafe, this may be difficult as there are many of these already established.

If you do something like work entirely online and your income is entirely derived from outside Kenya, then you may be able to apply for a Class K.  For this you need an income of $24,000 per annum, derived from sources other than work in Kenya.  Although the Kenyan government really like this income to come from foreign investments, as it boosts the GDP, there is nothing in the law which states that the $24.000 cannot come from saving and investments within Kenya.

Working online for a company based outside Kenya is a bit of a grey are though, as the 'rules' were drawn up before online working became 'a thing'.

@suniltri247 did   you go  KENYA.

Yes, why?

Do you help get me hired in these difficult times? What is your track record and fee?