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Eligibility for Permanent Residency/ Citizenship

Postado em Quénia forum

LAWFUL RESIDENT: If you have been a resident in Kenya for a period of SEVEN years immediately preceding the date of application for Permanent Residence or Citizenship and have been so resident under authority of an entry permit or exemption, you are eligible for obtaining either Permanent Residency in Kenya or Citizenship.

MARRIAGE: If you have been married to a citizen of Kenya for a period of at least SEVEN years, you are also eligible for Permanent Residency in Kenya or Citizenship.

The differences:
As a Permanent Resident, you cannot;
• Own a Kenyan Passport
• Own a Kenyan ID
• Vote
• Own Agricultural land

An applicant for Citizenship is required to;
• Be able to understand and speak Kiswahili or local dialect (basic)
• Have adequate knowledge of Kenya and of duties and rights of citizens as contained in the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act
• Understand the nature of the application
(The above 3 requirements will most likely have to be demonstrated before a Citizenship Advisory Committee)

For information on application fees and requirements, kindly contact me at [...]

  • Va para perfil de Abenezer Gebre

    Postado por  em Quénia forum 

    Hi Becky,

    Greatly appreciated. Thanks.

  • Va para perfil de John B

    Postado por  em Quénia forum 

    Dear Becky

    Thanks for your ideas. A Class K is, as far as I know only for retired people. Honestly I understand the security situation but the fact that they told me to start a business (capital needed 100,000 USD), in order for me to stay for 6 months, then after 6 month apply for residency is problematic. Also if you apply for a Class K permit you do NOT need a Certificate of good conduct. Whats the difference, in all cases you want to stay.

    In my opinion this requirement is unconstitutional. As per the new constitution, a foreigner married to a Kenyan is entitled to a Residency after 3 years or citizenship after 7 years. In both cases the applicant must stay in the country for at least 6 month in order to get a CID clearance and apply for either. Not accepting my visits in Kenya (totaling 6 months+) is in my opinion violating my rights. Furthermore not to issue a temporary residence permit in order to work and stay legally until a permanent residency can be obtained is in my opinion also not legal.

    In return, if I spend 100,000 and start a business I can just get residency WITHOUT the certificate of good conduct, this point is already giving advantage to people who have money.

  • Va para perfil de Becky Kwanga

    Postado por  em Quénia forum 

    Hi Abenezer,

    In the past, Citizenship and PR has been strictly granted to those on either Dependent Passes or Entry Permits. I will have to double-check if you are still eligible and then I will get back to you.

  • Va para perfil de Becky Kwanga

    Postado por  em Quénia forum 

    Hi John B,
    This must be a very new rule as this is the first time I am hearing about this, and yes, I agree, many rules in the Kenyan system do not make sense; however, many of these changes have been due to recent insecurity activities in the country...
    Have a look at the available Passes and see if you can find a way to come under any of these; http://fathershandltd.com/about-us-2/passes/
    I wish there was a way you could find US/ German (as I see your flag is German) employment that could allow you to work "from home" in Kenya; you could then apply for the Class K permit which would allow you to reside in Kenya without having to be formally employed in Kenya but you would meet the requirement of receiving wages from outside the country. See this link for requirements (scroll down to Class K); http://fathershandltd.com/about-us-2/entry-permits/
    If you happen to have investments in Kenya and can receive wages from these investments, e.g. rent, you could be eligible for the Class K.

    Otherwise, if none of the above work, I wish you all the best with locating employment in Kenya.

  • Va para perfil de John B

    Postado por  em Quénia forum 

    I am married to a Kenyan now since 8 years. I wanted to apply for permanent residency, and as stated in the requirements tried to apply for a Certificate of good conduct at the CID. There I was informed that I must stay in the country for at least 6 month to be issued one. Back to Nyayo house I was told that I should stay in the country for a period of 6 month and return to CID. Well, how can I stay in the country without being able to even work? Alternatively I should return to Europe, look for a job in Kenya (which I am doing already since 3 years) and return once I have Employment. Once in Employment I should alter apply for permanent residency. The whole process is confusing and makes no sense to me. It seems that people should be discouraged applying for a permanent residency. In the US at least you get issued a temporary residency and work permit.

  • Va para perfil de Abenezer Gebre

    Postado por  em Quénia forum 

    Thanks a lot for your reply. It is quite helpful. I have lived with a dependent pass (for more than 7 years), before I got a student pass. So would I still qualify to apply for a Kenyan Citizenship even though I current have a student pass?

    Thanks.

  • Va para perfil de Becky Kwanga

    Postado por  em Quénia forum 

    You must have been on an entry permit or a dependent pass (there are different types of permits) for 7 years in order to be eligible.

    Those on Student/Pupil Passes are not eligible to apply for Citizenship.

    For the most update details on Citizenship, visit this link on our website; http://fathershandltd.com/about-us-2/citizenship-dual-citize
    nship/

    If you would like to pursue Permanent Residence, visit this link on our website; http://fathershandltd.com/about-us-2/permanent-residency/

  • Va para perfil de Abenezer Gebre

    Postado por  em Quénia forum 

    Hi Becky,

    Thanks for the info above. Was just wondering is the entry permit required for citizenship limited to work related permits or does it also a student/pupil's pass.

    Thanks.

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