Register a Business in Kenya as a Foreigner (2026)

📅 12 August 2026 · ✅ Last verified: 12 October 2026 · 📖 12 min read · Registration & Legal

Black Kenyan adviser helping a foreign founder review a business registration folder and laptop workflow — Original editorial artwork; no official interface or endorsement depicted.

Kenya is one of the most open economies in Africa for foreign-owned business in most sectors (a few regulated sectors — insurance, telecoms, aviation, land — have local-participation or licensing rules). You — whether you are in the diaspora or a foreign investor — can incorporate a company in Kenya without a Kenyan partner and hold 100% of the shares. Registration itself is fully online; the practical steps that follow (banking, work permits, compliance) may need you or an authorised representative in-country. The entire registration is done online through the Business Registration Service (BRS) on eCitizen.

Quick answers

Can a foreigner own 100% of a Kenyan company? Yes. Private limited companies have no Kenyan-ownership requirement.
Where do you register? Online at BRS (Business Registration Service) through eCitizen.
Do you need to travel to Kenya? Not for registration itself — but you will need in-country presence for work permits, banking and practical compliance.
Do you need a work permit? Registering a company does not give immigration status. If you will work or manage in Kenya, you need a work permit — a separate process with Immigration.

1. Choose your structure

Two common routes:

Structure	Best for	Notes
Private limited company (wholly foreign-owned)	Most foreign founders and diaspora	Registered under the Companies Act, 2015 via BRS. Shareholders and directors can be non-residents. A company secretary is required if paid-up capital is KES 5 million or more (section 243); where a company has neither a secretary nor a resident director, it must appoint a Kenya-based local contact person (section 243A).
Branch of a foreign company	An existing company expanding into Kenya	Filed at BRS using the foreign-company forms (FC2, FC4, FC6); statutory fee KES 7,550; requires a local representative and a Kenya address.

2. Register on BRS (eCitizen)

Steps for a private limited company:

Create an eCitizen account and log in to the Business Registration Service.
Reserve the company name (check availability first — use one consistent spelling everywhere).
Prepare the Memorandum and Articles of Association (the BRS system generates these from your inputs).
Enter directors, shareholders, shareholding percentages and beneficial ownership information (required for every company).
Pay the statutory registration fee and submit.

BRS gives a practical benchmark of 3–5 working days for a complete private limited company application. Delays usually come from mismatched names — keep the spelling of your name identical across your passport, PIN and applications.

3. Get your KRA PIN

After incorporation, register for a company KRA PIN and an individual KRA PIN for each director through iTax. Your PIN is needed before you can open a bank account, sign contracts or get an eTIMS invoice system.

4. Immigration: permits and the alien card

Important: company registration ≠ immigration status. If you will work, manage or live in Kenya:

You need the appropriate work permit / pass (investor/director permits are commonly in the G class, but classes change — confirm the exact permit class for your situation with the Department of Immigration before applying).
If you stay more than 90 days, you must register as a foreigner and obtain the Foreign Nationals Certificate (Alien Card).

5. After registration: bank account, eTIMS and compliance

Business bank account — required documents usually include certificate of incorporation, KRA PIN, directors' IDs/passports and minutes; non-resident directors may need to sign in person or via a local authorised signatory.
eTIMS — if you will issue invoices, register for KRA's eTIMS and use a compliant invoicing system.
Tax registrations — income tax, and VAT if turnover reaches the KES 5 million threshold.
Annual compliance — file annual returns with BRS and keep beneficial ownership up to date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner register a business in Kenya without a Kenyan partner?

Yes. Kenya allows 100% foreign ownership of private limited companies. Some regulated sectors (e.g. insurance, certain licensing) have residency or local-participation rules — check sector-specific regulators.

Can I register entirely from abroad?

Yes — BRS is online. Practical items (work permit biometrics, bank account opening, some notarised documents) may still require you or a representative to be in Kenya.

What is the difference between a subsidiary and a branch?

A subsidiary is a new Kenyan company (separate legal entity). A branch is your existing foreign company operating in Kenya through the foreign-company registration route (FC forms). Most foreign founders choose the subsidiary route.

How long does registration take?

BRS benchmark is 3–5 working days for a complete application; name reservation and payment are usually same-day.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This guide is for general information and is not legal or immigration advice. Fees, forms and permit classes change — always confirm current requirements with BRS, Immigration and KRA before applying. See the source-check dates below.

Sources and update record

Updated 26 October 2026: Clarified when a company secretary is required and when a local contact person is needed.