Class D Work Permit — Specific Employment in Kenya
For an individual offered specific employment by a Kenyan employer.
What Makes This Hard
Uncertain Processing Timelines
HR teams planning a start date often don't know whether Class D approval will land in weeks or months, which pushes back onboarding and stalls the business case for a hire.
Rejected Employer Justification
Applications are frequently delayed or rejected because the employer's justification for hiring a foreign candidate isn't built to the standard authorities expect.
Renewal Blind Spots
Once a Class D permit is issued, it's easy for a busy HR team to lose track of the renewal date until the deadline is already close, putting the employee's authorized status at risk.
Overview
A Class D permit authorizes a foreign national to take up a specific role with a named Kenyan employer. It is the most common route for multinational companies placing foreign professionals into operational, technical or leadership roles in Kenya, and requires the employer to demonstrate that the position could not reasonably be filled by a qualified Kenyan candidate.
Who It's For
- Foreign professionals offered a specific role by a Kenyan-registered employer.
- Employers placing specialist or leadership talent into a Kenyan entity.
- HR teams managing a pipeline of foreign hires into operational roles.
Our Difference
A Class D Application Built to Withstand Scrutiny
We give HR and mobility teams a Class D process backed by a specialist immigration desk, so your hire starts on time, with a defensible file from day one.
Our Process
Role & Eligibility Review
We assess whether the role and candidate meet Class D requirements.
Employer Justification
We help build the case for why the role requires foreign expertise.
Application & Submission
We prepare and lodge the application with the relevant authority.
Decision & Onboarding Support
We track the decision and support onboarding once approved.
Why Work With Us on This
Specialist Focus
Corporate immigration is our exclusive practice area, so every Class D application benefits from deep pattern recognition across similar cases.
Employer Justification Built Right
We build the employer justification case as carefully as the application itself, addressing the exact grounds authorities scrutinize most.
One Dedicated Case Manager
A single, named case manager owns your Class D matter from first consultation through to renewal — no hand-offs, no repeated explanations.
Required Documents
- Signed offer letter / employment contract
- Candidate's academic and professional qualifications
- Employer's company registration documents
- Current fee and timeline information, confirmed during your consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Class D permit take to process?
Processing timelines vary and depend on current government workload — your advisor will confirm an estimate specific to your application.
Can a Class D permit holder bring family members?
Dependants typically require a separate Dependant Pass. Speak to an advisor about your specific family circumstances.
Ready to move forward with Class D Permit?
Speak with a senior advisor and get clarity on your next step.