Does Kenya Have a Digital Nomad Visa?

Table of Contents

• So, does Kenya have a digital nomad visa?
• How can you legally enter Kenya for remote work?
• What about a Kenyan tourist visa?
• Alternatives to Kenya for digital nomads?
• The verdict: Does Kenya have a digital nomad visa?

So many freelancers and remote workers in different parts of the world are opting to travel while working, as part of a global community known as digital nomads.  

But does Kenya have a digital nomad visa? How do you enter Kenya legally to work as a remote worker? Read on to find out everything you need to know about whether Kenya has a digital nomad visa in 2023.  

So, does Kenya have a digital nomad visa?

No, Kenya does not have a digital nomad visa. If you wish to enter Kenya for work, you are legally required to apply for the relevant work permit. For short-term stays of up to ninety days, you can apply for a tourist visa. Read on to learn more about how to legally enter Kenya if you’re planning to live and work in the country as a digital nomad. 

How can you legally enter Kenya for remote work?

As is the case with many countries around the world, if you want to legally work in Kenya, you must obtain the relevant work permit. Currently, Kenya offers Class A – Class K work permits, ranging from prospecting & mining to approved religious or charitable activities. You can find a detailed breakdown of all of the available work permits, as well as details of how to apply for them, here, via the Kenyan Directorate of Immigration Services. 

Basically, to legally work in Kenya, you need to be sponsored by a Kenyan-registered company, as one of the main requirements is to provide an invitation letter. As most digital nomads are freelancers or self-employed business owners, this rules out the work permit option for the vast majority of remote workers looking to settle in Kenya. 

What about a Kenyan tourist visa?

A Kenyan tourist visa is extremely easy to apply for and you can do so online, via the government’s electronic visa portal. When I visited Diani Beach for a family holiday last year, I obtained my e-visa in less than two days, and it was an extremely easy and effortless process.  

Now, can you enter Kenya as a digital nomad on a tourist visa? Legally, no, you can’t, as the tourist visa clearly stipulates that any type of work is prohibited during your stay in the country. I’m a member of several online communities and I know of people who enter various countries around the world as digital nomads on tourist visas. However, it’s not legally permitted in Kenya, and I wouldn’t advise you to do so. 

If you’re planning to visit multiple East African countries on an upcoming trip, starting in Kenya, check out my complete guide to obtaining the East African Tourist Visa. 

Alternatives to Kenya for digital nomads?

Unfortunately, Kenya doesn’t currently offer a visa for digital nomads. This is also the case with most East African countries, as I explained in my guide to Uganda for digital nomads.  

Right now, the best country in East Africa for digital nomads is undoubtedly Mauritius – a stunning island off the East coast of the continent that has one of the easiest digital nomad visas to apply for.  

You can apply for a Mauritius digital nomad visa if you earn more than $1,500 per month and meet some other pretty basic requirements. Find out more about becoming a digital nomad in Mauritius here, if you have your heart set on working remotely in Africa. 

The verdict: Does Kenya have a digital nomad visa?

Right now, Kenya does not have a specific visa for digital nomads. If you wish to legally enter Kenya for work, you must apply for the relevant work permit, depending on the industry that you’re employed in. As more and more countries open their doors to digital nomads, I will update this article if Kenya decides to launch a digital nomad visa in the near future.