Hire a Japanese Chef in Kenya: Class D Work Permit Guide

Kenya is one of the smallest markets in this series, and its work permit carries a high annual fee. The rules are clear, though, and the Directorate of Immigration Services publishes them. The central idea is that the foreign chef is there to fill a skills gap and to train a named Kenyan who will eventually do the job. If you plan with that in mind from the start, the application is straightforward.

1. A very small market

• MAFF counted about 30 Japanese restaurants in Kenya in 2025, about 10 more than in 2023 (MAFF rounds to the nearest ten). Africa as a whole grew about 20%.
• MOFA recorded 828 Japanese nationals in Kenya on 1 October 2025. 760 of them (91.8%) are long-term stayers; only 68 are permanent residents.

That profile, almost all Japanese residents on assignment, means there is very little local pool of Japanese chefs to hire from. A new Japanese restaurant in Nairobi will usually bring one experienced chef and build a Kenyan team around them. Our guide to training local staff in Japanese cuisine is the companion to this one.

2. The Class D employment permit

According to the Directorate of Immigration Services, the Class D (Employment) permit is issued to a person offered specific employment by a specific employer, who has skills or qualifications not available in Kenya, and whose employment will benefit Kenya. JETRO adds that the permit should in principle be obtained before entering Kenya, that applications are made online through the eFNS system, and that the permit is usually valid for two years.

The Directorate's requirements include:

• Application Form 25 and Form 27, both signed.
• A signed cover letter from the employer to the Director General of Immigration Services.
• The chef's passport bio page, a recent colour photo and current immigration status if already in Kenya.
• A valid tax compliance certificate for the company (for renewals, for both the company and the individual).
• Certified copies of the chef's academic and professional certificates, and a CV.
• The company's certificate of registration and clearance letters from relevant institutions.
• Documents in other languages translated into English by an embassy, a notary or a recognised institution.

If the chef's formal paperwork is limited, for example to a culinary school certificate or a cook's licence, ask former employers for employment certificates describing the chef's role and years of experience, and have them translated. A MAFF cooking skill certificate is another document worth having; see our MAFF certification guide.

3. The understudy and the local search

Two Class D requirements shape the hiring process itself:

• A Kenyan understudy. The application must give the name and identity card of the Kenyan who will understudy the chef, with their certificates, full contact details and CV. JETRO notes that a permit may not be issued without a plan to transfer the expatriate's skills to named Kenyans.
• Evidence of a local search. The employer must show that it failed to fill the vacancy from the local labour market, with evidence of a competitive recruitment process.

In practice, run the local recruitment first and keep the records: the adverts, where they ran, the applications and why they were not suitable. Choose the understudy from your existing team, usually a sous chef or senior cook, and write a real training plan. It helps the application and it is how you reduce dependence on one expatriate later.

4. Fees and timing

At KSh 500,000 a year, the permit is a large fixed cost for a small restaurant. Build it into the salary budget alongside flights and housing; our relocation package guide lists the other items.

Two more steps follow. Japan is not on Kenya's visa exemption list, so the chef needs entry authorisation through the online eTA system. JETRO also notes that foreigners staying more than three months must obtain a foreigner certificate, valid for up to two years in line with the work permit.

5. Step by step

1. Run and document a local recruitment for the role.
2. Select a Kenyan understudy and write a training plan.
3. Interview the chef with a practical test. See remote skills tests.
4. Collect the company's tax compliance certificate and registration documents.
5. The chef gathers certified certificates, employment letters and translations.
6. Apply for the Class D permit online, and budget for the processing and issuance fees.
7. After arrival, apply for the foreigner certificate and follow our onboarding guide.

For a larger African market, see our South Africa guide.

General information gathered from official sources in September 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Fees and requirements can change without notice; confirm them with the Directorate of Immigration Services before applying.