Emigration to Kenya

Area: 580,367 km²
Residents: 47,615,739 (estimate July 2017)
Population density: 82 E / km²
Form of Government: Republic
System of Government: Presidential system
Neighboring countries: Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda
Capital: Nairobi National
language: Swahili, English
Religions:
26% Anglicans,
26% Catholics,
6% Muslims,
2.5% Orthodox,
27% followers of the numerous African churches
0.06% Jehovah’s Witnesses
Roads: Left-hand traffic
Currency: Kenya Shilling (KES)
1 KES = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
1 EUR = 131.75 KES
100 KES = 0.75 EUR
1 CHF = 121.26 KES
100 KES = 0.81 CHF
(rate from 02/22/2021)
Telephone area code: +254
Time zone: EAT (UTC + 3)
Mains voltage: 240 V, 50 Hz. Adapter required

In 2020, 182 Germans officially emigrated to Kenya and 294 returned to their homeland. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 2,434 Germans officially emigrated to Kenya and 2,838 moved back to Germany.

According to Best-medical-schools, Kenya is a Central African country between chaos and wild romance, with a unique flora and fauna. It makes a very big difference whether you go on vacation in this country or want to immigrate. Read what to consider to make emigrating to Kenya more than just an adventure.

Travel and Visa

Changed travel regulations during and after the corona pandemic

To enter Kenya from Germany, a certified negative PCR test (see below for instructions on certification) is required, which must not be older than 96 hours before departure. A 14-day quarantine follows after entry. This does not apply to persons who have their habitual residence in the states listed on the Kenyan negative list. Germany is currently on this negative list.

A quarantine for travelers staying in Germany is therefore not currently planned. People whose body temperature is more than 37.5 degrees Celsius on entry, or who have symptoms similar to COVID-19 or who sat in the two rows of seats in front of or behind such a person on the aircraft, must go into a 14-day quarantine.

Entrants from countries that are subject to quarantine must present a negative PCR test upon entry, which must not be older than 72 hours. In addition, one of these quarantine accommodations must be booked 24 hours before departure, and proof of this must be carried with you upon entry. The traveler bears the cost of accommodation.

All passengers must fill out the ” Travel Health Surveillance Form ” online prior to entry and show the received QR code upon arrival at the airport. The Jitenge MoH Kenya application from the Google Play Store can also be used for this purpose.

The Kenyan Ministry of Health publishes instructions for certification (generation of a travel code) of the PCR test for entry, exit and transit under No. 86: Travel Guide Simplified. The test results should be uploaded to the Trusted Travel Initiative website regardless of which laboratory they come from in Germany. It can be assumed that uploaded tests, even if they do not come from a Trusted Travel-certified laboratory, will be recognized.

Source: Federal Foreign Office on July 24th, 2021

General provisions for travel and residence (until the corona pandemic)

German citizens require a visa (fee 40 euros or 50 dollars). Visas can be issued upon entry (Visa on Arrival) via all official border stations, e.g. at Nairobi and Mombasa airports, and are valid for 90 days. An extension can only be requested on site.

The following documents must be presented for the Visa on Arrival:

Completed application form (form 22)
Passport valid for at least 6 months
Return ticket or proof of onward travel and a copy of your travel documents

The multi-entry visa can only be issued for business people and is valid for 1 year.

As soon as one enters Kenya from a country where there is a risk of yellow fever, it is mandatory to provide evidence of a vaccination.

Immigration and permanent residence

Work and residence permits are issued for the following purposes:

long-term employment relationships
Investments
trade
Professional practice

It must be proven that the stay or the work to be carried out really serves the well-being of Kenya. There are special permits with a validity of 90 days that are issued for short-term activities. As a rule, you travel in as a tourist and then take care of your residence and work permit on site. The available residence permits are divided into categories, determined by the respective activities.

For example, Category K can be obtained in the following circumstances:

Minimum age 21
secure annual income of at least 24,000 USD per year

This income may not come from employment, employment, commercial, business or professional activities as described in any of the remaining categories and must meet one of the following points:

Income comes from foreign sources and is remitted to Kenya
Property in Kenya or pensions payable on investments in Kenya
Capital that is brought to and invested in Kenya and is sufficient to generate an income of at least USD 24,000
No paid work is started
The applicant’s presence must be beneficial to the country

In addition, the following groups of people can apply for a residence permit: