An Expat’s Guide To Moving to Kenya
For many expats, Kenya has it all. With a combination of mountains, shorelines, and cities, the country would be irresistible even if it wasn鈥檛 home to some of the best wildlife on earth. Kenya is a medium-sized country with a large population. More than 51 million people live there. It鈥檚 also home to dozens of ethnic communities, each with its own language and customs.
For expats moving to Kenya, there is a lot to figure out before they make the leap to their new country. Sorting out visa requirements, opening a bank account, and finding a job are some of the important considerations for anyone relocating to Kenya.
Planning Your Move to Kenya? Start Here
From healthcare access to visa requirements, preparation matters. See which international heath insurance plan best fits your move abroad.
Visa Requirements for Moving to Kenya
Anyone staying in Kenya for more than three months must do so with a work and residence permit obtained before arrival.
Class D work visas are the most common kind of visa for expats looking to move to Kenya. Class D covers intra-company transfers and humanitarian workers.聽
Additionally, all specific employment with a specific employer falls under Class D. The typical approval time for a Class D visa is 2-4 months, so be sure to apply early. You can also expect to pay 10,000 Kenyan Shillings.
Other common visa types include Class I work visas (formerly known as Class E), which apply to foreign missionaries. Class K visas apply to independently wealthy foreigners who can prove sufficient income.
Learning the Language
It鈥檚 not necessary to know Swahili in order to live and work in Kenya. English is the country鈥檚 second language, especially in cities.
However, taking Swahili lessons will go a long way towards cementing friendships, bonding with colleagues, and traveling with ease in rural areas.
Finding A Job in Kenya
Kenya鈥檚 leading industries include tourism, banking, and IT. Kenya is also the most significant hub in East Africa for finance and communication.
Expats are working in these fields and many more, including infrastructure, agriculture, energy, education, aid management, grant management, and wildlife management.
The majority of expats come to Kenya by being sponsored by a company. It鈥檚 extremely challenging to face the immigration-related bureaucracy on your own.
Understanding the Cost of Living
The most significant expense in any expat鈥檚 budget is accommodations. While the cost of living in Kenya isn鈥檛 particularly high, accommodations and imported consumer goods are expensive.
On average, expats can expect to spend at least a third of their budget on housing. Many expats in Nairobi find it well worth spending extra to live close to their workplace, given the city鈥檚 notorious traffic.
Following accommodations, tuition fees at international schools are usually the second-largest expense for expats in Kenya. Utilities for water, electricity, fuel, phone services, and the internet also add up.
By contrast, local produce and services such as tailoring and carpentry are usually quite affordable.
Finding A Place To Live
The majority of expats moving to Kenya settle in major cities like Nairobi or Mombasa. Both cities are marked by stark inequality, with gleaming suburbs sharing space with desolate slums.
Expats favor neighborhoods on the outskirts of Nairobi, including Lavington, Kitisuru, Karen, Runda, Gigiri, Muthaiga, Spring Valley, and Lang鈥檃ta.
Before signing a lease, ask whether your costs include security. Most expats choose housing that comes with either a sophisticated alarm system or with on-site overnight security guards known as askari.
Other common services to inquire about are water storage tanks, backup generators in case of power shortages, and air conditioning. The temperature regularly creeps up to 40 degrees Celsius in the cities. Air conditioning definitely matters!
Find Health 91制片厂That Fits Your Budget Abroad
Whether you choose a major city or a more rural destination, international health insurance can help protect you from unexpected medical costs while living in Kenya.
Healthcare in Kenya
Healthcare in Kenya is provided by a mix of public, private, and charitable clinics, hospitals, and services. The first point of contact for patients is usually a dispensary.
Dispensaries are managed by registered nurses. They provide outpatient services for simple concerns like skin conditions, the common cold, and even uncomplicated cases of malaria.
For cases beyond the scope of the dispensaries, the health center is the next stop. Health centers are medium-sized units that cater to a population of about 80,000 people.
They鈥檙e staffed by administrators, nurses, and other medical personnel, including nutritionists, pharmacists, and laboratory technicians.
Doctors rarely work at health centers. Instead, they work in country and district hospitals in Kenya, where more specialized care is offered.
Public healthcare is average at best, and most expats and foreign residents opt for private health insurance in Kenya to access private hospitals and clinics that offer shorter waiting times and more comfortable accommodations.
Best Health 91制片厂for Expats Moving to Kenya
IMG Global Prima Medical Insurance
- Five flexible plan levels with optional add-ons
- Choose your coverage area based on where you live or travel
- Freedom to select your healthcare provider anywhere in the world
Best Health 91制片厂for Americans Moving to Kenya
BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier
- Unlimited annual and lifetime coverage
- Pre-existing conditions covered with prior insurance
- For U.S. citizens abroad or foreign nationals in the U.S.
Education in Kenya
It鈥檚 always stressful to find the right school for your child, and it鈥檚 no different for expats in Kenya. Kenya鈥檚 education system is based on the 8-4-4 model.
The students go through compulsory basic education for the first 8 years, then secondary education for the next 4, and then 4 years of undergraduate school.
Nairobi’s Westlands and Karen neighborhoods are well known for their good schools, many of which follow the British, German, and French education systems.
Additionally, the International School of Kenya and Rosslyn Academy (both in Westlands) teach children using American and Canadian curricula, respectively.
For adult connections, many expats in Kenya join a country club. In general, social organizations like this are more affordable than they are in other countries and are a popular way to connect with other foreigners.
Others form new connections by volunteering with one of the many international non-governmental organizations set up in Kenya.
Setting Up A Bank Account
Most major banks in Kenya offer financial services to non-citizens. Depending on the bank, you may be required to prove your home address, that you have a Kenyan mobile phone number, or that you hold a 鈥淜RA鈥� PIN.
The proves you鈥檙e registered to pay your taxes. In some cases, the services of an 鈥榠ntroducer鈥� might be required in order to open a bank account.
An introducer is someone who already has a bank account with the branch and is willing to vouch for your good character.
Opening a bank account in Kenya is usually a multi-step process. You first visit your local branch to make an appointment.
Then you return to your appointment with the required supporting paperwork. Assuming all goes well, you鈥檒l return a final time to collect your new bank card and set a PIN for use at the ATM.
International brands such as Barclays and Standard Chartered have a strong presence in Kenya.
The process of opening a local bank account might go more smoothly if you are already a customer of the bank in your home country.
Using Credit Cards or Cash in Kenya
Kenya鈥檚 official currency is the Kenyan Shilling. As well, currency from the United States and Great Britain, and to a lesser extent, South Africa and the European Union, is often accepted at tourist-oriented restaurants and services.
However, long-term visitors and new residents are best off exchanging their foreign funds at a bank, where they鈥檒l find the best available rates.
While ATMs are widespread and credit cards are accepted at all major businesses (and many small ones too), cash is still king in Kenya. It allows quick, easy transactions at small businesses, like roadside food stalls.
Cash also gives residents the most flexibility, since credit card terminals are notorious for inconsistent service.
Visa is the most commonly accepted credit card, followed closely by Mastercard. American Express is accepted primarily by international chains and tourist-oriented services. Discover Card is all but unknown.
Start Your Life Abroad With Confidence
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Vanessa Chiasson is an award-winning Canadian travel writer with over ten years of experience. Her work has appeared in major publications, and she draws on living in France, Ireland, England, and Malawi to bring global insight to her stories.
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