Immigration laws are the least favorite adjustment of mine when moving countries, but one of the first you should wrap your mind around nevertheless. Kenyan law is not very straight forward, especially since the recent elections. Only yesterday, I was told there is a new type of work permit for dependent pass holders. I have tried to dissect my application process; below a few things required to work and live in Kenya.
Alien Card - everyone staying longer than 90 days in Kenya needs to register and apply for an Alien card, which is something like an ID card for foreign nationals in Kenya. The process takes about 5-6 weeks in normal circumstances. Along with your application, you need to hand in passport sized photographs, copy of your passport and get your fingerprints taken at the Immigration Office in Nyayo House.
There are two kind of registration types - permits and passes. If you are not working, i.e. a student, a dependent spouse or are working in Kenya for less than 3 months you apply for a pass. If you have any of these passes you don't need a visa to re-enter Kenya should you travel. However, you need a re-entry pass stamp in your passport. Ultimately, you should have two stamps in your passport, your pass and re-entry, or else you'll have to purchase a visa to re-enter Kenya.
If you plan to work in Kenya, you need to apply for a work permit. Needless to say, there are many types of permits. Some are easier to obtain and some require more bureaucratic work. In most cases, expats relocating to Kenya come with a job prospect and their work permits are applied for by employers. If you want to register your own company or consultancy, you need to apply for it yourself, though.
Finally, you need a PIN number from the KRA (Kenya Revenue Authority), which is required to open bank accounts, import and own a car and buy or rent property. The PIN is essentially a tax registration number.
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