Kenya relocation guide 2026

01The country in 30 seconds

Kenya is the easiest country in East Africa to live in. Nairobi is a big business city with coworkings, good cafés and an international airport. The coast (Diani, Watamu, Mombasa) has Indian Ocean beaches and a cheaper life.

Since 2024 Kenya has no visas for anyone. Instead you get an online Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). It lets you stay up to 90 days, and immigration can extend your stay to 6 months in total.

There is no confirmed legal status made for remote workers right now. For a long stay there is Class K — a permit for people aged 35+ with income from abroad of at least $24,000 a year. But it is expensive: about $2000 a year in fees alone.

• No visa, but you need an eTA (from $30) and, since 5 October 2026, mandatory Kenyan travel insurance
• Up to 90 days per entry, extension up to 6 months
• No confirmed digital nomad visa being issued
• Russian cards don't work — bring US dollars in cash or a card from another country
• Budget — about $900-1800 per month per person
• Time zone UTC+3, same as Moscow
• Facts checked in November 2026. Rules change — check again before you go

02Who it's for

Kenya is a good fit if:

• You want to live in Africa for 3-6 months, not a week, without visiting an embassy
• You work remotely and want the same time zone as Moscow
• You love nature: safaris, mountains and the ocean are a couple of hours apart
• You want a travel hub: Nairobi has direct flights to Zanzibar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Kigali, Entebbe and Johannesburg
• You are fine with thinking about safety every day

What to see in Kenya:

• Maasai Mara — the country's main reserve. From July to October you can see the Great Migration of wildebeest
• Amboseli — elephants with Kilimanjaro behind them
• Nairobi National Park — giraffes and rhinos right at the edge of the capital
• Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate — you can cycle among zebras
• Mount Kenya — trekking up to 4985 m (Point Lenana)
• Diani and Watamu — beaches, kitesurfing, diving
• Lamu Island — an old Swahili town; go there only by plane (see Safety)

Nearby: Zanzibar and climbing Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda, Seychelles and Mauritius.

Not for you if:

• You need a clear residence permit for remote workers without big costs
• You are under 35 and need legal status for more than six months — you can't get Class K
• You don't want to think about safety: no walking at night, no phone out in the street
• You rely on Mir cards or bank transfers from Russia

03Entry & visa

Since January 2024 Kenya has no visas for any country. But you can't just show up: you need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) in advance on the official site etakenya.go.ke. Russian citizens get an eTA, with a stay of up to 90 days.

How it works:

• Apply online. Immigration recommends doing it at least 2 weeks before your trip
• It is usually processed in 3 working days, sometimes longer. There is an urgent option for an extra fee ($100 on the site)
• The fee starts at $30 according to the official FAQ. Other sources say $32.50 — the difference is probably service charges. The fee is not refunded, even if you are refused
• The eTA is single entry. But according to Wikipedia, while it is valid you can visit another East African Community country (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda) and come back

What you need: a passport valid for at least 6 months, a photo or selfie, phone and email, tickets in and out, and a hotel or flat booking. The UK Foreign Office says you need 2 blank passport pages, the eTA site says one. Better to have two.

Yellow fever: you need a vaccination certificate if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. Russia is not one of them. But if you have a long layover in such a country, or plan to travel from Kenya to neighbouring countries, get the vaccine in advance.

Right now there is extra health screening at the border because of Ebola (see Health), especially for people coming from Uganda, Ethiopia and DR Congo.

If 90 days is not enough, you extend your visitor's pass online at fns.immigration.go.ke. The total stay can be up to 6 months. The official page is contradictory about the price: one place says "$50", another says "no charges". Apply early, before your first 90 days end.

About border runs: we did not find an official rule like "leave and get another 90 days". A new eTA after leaving will probably be approved, but if you clearly live in Kenya as a tourist, border officers may ask questions. It's a grey zone.

04Residency & legalization

In short: for a remote worker, the most realistic option is to stay on an eTA for up to 90 days and extend to 6 months. Staying longer legally means Class K — and only if you are 35+ with income from abroad of at least $24,000 a year.

1. eTA + extension — up to 6 months

The simplest route. You enter on an eTA and extend online at fns.immigration.go.ke to 6 months in total. Then you have to leave. Remote work for foreign clients on this status is not clearly allowed or banned — it's a grey zone (see Work and taxes).

2. Class K (Ordinary Resident) — one year and longer

This is the main legal way to live in Kenya long term without working on the local market. According to the official page:

• Age — 35 or older
• Assured income — at least $24,000 a year (about $2000 a month). It can be income from abroad sent to Kenya, or a pension/annuity
• Processing fee — 20,000 shillings (about $155), not refundable
• Issuance fee — 250,000 shillings per year (about $1900)
• Apply online through eFNS: Form 25, a cover letter to the Director General of Immigration, a photo, your passport, current immigration status (if you are already in Kenya), and proof of income

The page doesn't state how long the permit lasts, but the fee is per year. So plan to renew and pay every year. You can apply from inside Kenya while on an eTA.

Can Russians get it? There are no nationality limits. The main problem is proving the income and showing that money comes into Kenya. Transfers from sanctioned Russian banks to Kenya are hard. You need statements from an account that can actually send money to Kenya.

3. Class N — digital nomad permit (status unclear)

In 2024 the Kenyan government announced a new permit for remote workers — Class N. But in November 2026 the official immigration website does not list this class. We found no confirmed data that it is actually issued, and no official requirements. If an agent offers to "get" it for you, check that the category really exists on the eFNS portal.

4. Other routes — not for remote workers

• Class G (business) — you must invest at least $100,000 in a Kenyan company, plus 250,000 shillings a year
• Special Pass — up to 6 months for short-term work or business in Kenya, $200 per month, needs a Kenyan organisation
• Dependant's Pass — if your spouse lives in Kenya on a work permit

What Kenya gives you for travel

Kenyan status doesn't give you visa-free entry anywhere else — not Schengen, not other countries. But Kenya itself is a great hub. According to Wikipedia (visa requirements for Russian citizens):

• Tanzania (including Zanzibar) — e-visa or visa on arrival, up to 90 days
• Uganda — e-visa, up to 3 months
• Rwanda — e-visa or visa on arrival, 30 days
• Ethiopia — e-visa, up to 90 days
• Seychelles — no visa for up to 3 months, but you need an online registration (€10)
• Mauritius and the Maldives — no visa, up to 90 days
• South Africa — no visa, 90 days
• UAE — no visa, 90 days in 180

05Work & taxes

There is no confirmed "remote worker" status in Kenya right now. On an eTA you are a visitor. Working for Kenyan clients or employers without a permit is not allowed — that is a clear violation.

Remote work for a foreign employer or foreign clients is a grey zone. We found no direct ban for visitors, but no permission either. In practice there are many foreigners with laptops in Nairobi and on the coast, and they usually have no problems as long as they don't work for the local market.

Taxes. You become a Kenyan tax resident if:

• You spend 183 days or more in Kenya in a year, or
• You were in Kenya this year and the two previous years for more than 122 days a year on average

If you have a permanent home in Kenya, you can become resident even sooner.

According to PwC (reviewed July 2026), Kenyan residents pay tax on employment income worldwide — including work done abroad. Rates are progressive: from 10% to 35% (35% on income above 9.6 million shillings a year, about $74,000).

Class K and other permits need a KRA PIN (tax number). You get it on the iTax portal.

Don't forget the Russian side: the rules for taxing remote work for Russian employers have changed. If you are paid from Russia, check separately what tax is withheld.

06Banks, cards & money

Mir cards don't work in Kenya. Visa and Mastercard from Russian banks don't work either because of sanctions. Don't rely on them at all.

What works:

• US dollars in cash. Easy to exchange at exchange offices and banks. Bring new notes — old ones (especially before 2009) and damaged notes are often refused or get a bad rate
• A card from a bank in another country (if you have one) — Visa and Mastercard work in cities, malls, hotels, Uber and Bolt
• M-Pesa — the main way to pay in Kenya. It's mobile money from Safaricom. You can pay with it almost everywhere: shops, taxis, markets, rent. The wallet is linked to a SIM card registered with your passport. You top it up with cash at M-Pesa agents — they are everywhere

A foreigner can open an account in a Kenyan bank (Equity, KCB, Stanbic and others), but banks usually ask for a KRA PIN and a residence or work permit. On an eTA you will probably be refused. We found no confirmed data that banks open accounts for Russians without a status — it depends on the bank and branch.

Exchange rate — about 130 shillings per dollar (late 2026, check before you go).

07Renting a place

People look for housing on BuyRentKenya and Property24 Kenya, in expat Facebook groups and through agents. For the first weeks it's easier to book Airbnb or Booking, then look at places in person.

Rough rent for a one-bedroom flat per month (Numbeo data, autumn 2026, plus a margin for expat areas):

• Nairobi, centre and expat areas (Westlands, Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Lavington) — $400-900, more if furnished
• Nairobi, further out — $200-400
• Mombasa — $160-350
• Diani and Watamu — $300-800, depends a lot on the season and distance to the beach

In Nairobi, choose a building with guards, a fence and a generator or backup power — that's standard in expat areas, not luxury. Power cuts happen.

Landlords usually ask for a deposit of 1-2 months' rent plus the first month in advance. Leases are usually for a year; monthly rent costs more.

08SIM card & internet

The main operators are Safaricom (best coverage and M-Pesa) and Airtel (often cheaper). You can buy a SIM at the airport and in official shops. Registration is required — bring your passport.

• A mobile plan with 10+ GB — about $10-16 per month (Numbeo: 1200-2000 shillings)
• 4G coverage is good in Nairobi, Mombasa and on the coast. In parks and mountains the signal can be weak

Home internet is fibre from Safaricom Home Fibre, Zuku, Faiba and others. A typical plan is about 4500 shillings a month (around $35). In Nairobi's expat areas the speed is fine for video calls.

Starlink also works in Kenya — people use it in coastal houses and outside cities where there is no fibre.

09Healthcare & insurance

Good healthcare in Kenya is private. Public hospitals are overloaded, and foreigners rarely use them.

Strong private hospitals:

• Nairobi — Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, MP Shah Hospital
• Mombasa — Aga Khan Hospital Mombasa
• On the coast (Diani, Watamu) — small clinics. For anything serious people go to Mombasa or fly to Nairobi

A visit to a private clinic usually costs around $30-80. A hospital stay costs hundreds to thousands of dollars. The mandatory Kenyan insurance (since 5 October 2026) is only the minimum for entry. For proper treatment and evacuation you still need your own international insurance — the UK Foreign Office advises the same.

What to do before you go:

• Yellow fever vaccine — you may be asked for the certificate on arrival (if you come from a risk country) and when you travel from Kenya to neighbouring countries
• Malaria — there is a risk on the coast and around Lake Victoria. In Nairobi the risk is lower because of the altitude. Use repellent and a net, and talk to a doctor about prevention
• Routine vaccines and, if your doctor advises, hepatitis A and typhoid

Kenyan authorities share health information through the Jali WhatsApp bot: save +254 700 719 719 and send "Hello". It's an automated bot, not a helpline.

Also: Nairobi is at about 1700 m, and Mount Kenya is almost 5000 m. Don't underestimate altitude sickness.

10Transport

Getting there from Russia. There are no direct flights from Moscow to Kenya. People usually fly with one stop:

• via Dubai (Emirates, flydubai) or Sharjah (Air Arabia)
• via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines)
• via Doha (Qatar Airways)
• via Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines)
• via Abu Dhabi (Etihad)

To Mombasa there are flights from Dubai (flydubai), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopian). The main airport is Jomo Kenyatta in Nairobi (NBO).

In the city:

• Uber and Bolt — work in Nairobi and Mombasa, the easiest and safest option. Yandex Go doesn't work in Kenya
• Matatu — minibuses. Cheap, but crowded, loud and crash-prone. Better not at night
• Boda-boda — motorbike taxis. Fast in traffic but dangerous. If you ride, ask for a helmet

Between cities:

• Madaraka Express train (SGR) Nairobi — Mombasa — comfortable and safe, a few hours
• Domestic flights — Kenya Airways, Jambojet, Safarilink: to Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Maasai Mara
• The UK Foreign Office warns against long bus and matatu trips — there have been serious crashes

Traffic in Nairobi is heavy. Choose housing close to where you go most often.

11Safety & important laws

Kenya is not a place to fully relax. Millions of tourists visit with no problems, but you need to follow safety rules every day.

Nairobi. The UK Foreign Office says muggings, armed robbery and carjacking are frequent. The riskiest areas are Eastleigh, the Central Business District (CBD), and the Kibera and Mathare slums. What helps:

• Don't walk after dark, even a short way — take Uber or Bolt
• Don't hold your phone in the street or near an open car window
• In a car keep windows closed and doors locked
• Don't carry your passport and lots of cash — keep a copy of your passport on your phone

Scammers sometimes pose as police or security guards to take your passport or things. Ask for ID. On-the-spot fines without paperwork are illegal. Don't accept food or drinks from strangers. The UK Foreign Office also warns about methanol poisoning in alcohol — drink only in proper bars.

Protests are common in Nairobi and sometimes turn violent. Stay away from rallies and large crowds.

The terrorism threat is high — mainly from Al Shabaab. Targets include malls, hotels, beaches and restaurants. Security checks at entrances are a normal part of life.

Also: drug laws are strict. Don't photograph government buildings, soldiers or police. The emergency number is 999.

12How much money you need per month

totalAbout $900-1800 per month per person, not counting safaris and regional trips

13Step-by-step moving plan

1. Check your passport: valid for at least 6 months after arrival and at least 2 blank pages.
2. Find a non-Russian bank card (yours or a close person's) — you'll pay for the eTA and insurance with it.
3. Get a yellow fever vaccine and certificate, and talk to a doctor about malaria prevention.
4. Buy tickets (via Dubai, Istanbul, Doha or Addis Ababa) and book housing for the first 1-2 weeks.
5. At least 2 weeks before you fly, apply for an eTA at etakenya.go.ke and buy the Kenyan travel insurance in the same application.
6. Get your own international health insurance with evacuation cover.
7. Bring US dollars in new notes for the first months.
8. At the airport buy a Safaricom SIM with your passport and set up M-Pesa right away.
9. Look for long-term housing in person in a safe area — with guards and backup power.
10. If you need more than 90 days, apply early for an extension at fns.immigration.go.ke (up to 6 months in total).
11. If you want to stay longer and you are 35+, collect proof of income of $24,000+ a year and apply for Class K through eFNS.

14Useful links

• Kenya eTA — official portal
• Mandatory Kenyan travel health insurance — eCitizen portal
• eFNS — stay extensions and permits
• Kenya Immigration — extension of visitor's pass
• Kenya Immigration — Class K
• Kenya Immigration — all work and residence permits
• KRA iTax — KRA PIN tax number
• PwC — tax residence in Kenya
• GOV.UK — Kenya entry requirements
• GOV.UK — Kenya regional risks
• Numbeo — Cost of Living in Nairobi
• Numbeo — Cost of Living in Mombasa

15Other countries

Every guide follows the same structure, so they're easy to compare. Comparison table: all countries.

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