Moving to Kenya: Complete Expat Relocation Guide

Moving to Kenya requires preparation that should start at least 3 months before your arrival date. Here are the most important things to address:

Work Permit Kenya Expat Requirements

If you are moving to Kenya for employment, you need a valid work permit Kenya expat before you can legally import your household goods duty-free. The most common work permit Kenya expat category is the Class G employment pass or Class D for NGO and humanitarian workers. Work permit Kenya expat applications go through the Kenya Department of Immigration and typically take 6–8 weeks. Do not wait until you arrive. Start your work permit Kenya expat application as early as possible.

Returning Kenyan citizens moving to Nairobi Kenya permanently can import household goods duty-free with a valid Kenyan passport and proof of prior residence abroad for at least two years.

Deciding What to Ship When Moving to Kenya

The most common mistake people make when expat moving to Kenya is shipping too much. Moving to Nairobi Kenya does not mean shipping your entire household. Nairobi has excellent shops for furniture, electronics, kitchenware, and clothing. The cost of moving to Kenya for a full container of goods you could replace locally often exceeds the replacement value.

A sensible approach when moving to Kenya is to ship sentimental items, specialist equipment, high-quality furniture, and personal effects. The cost of moving to Kenya drops significantly when you ship only what genuinely cannot be replaced locally. Replace everything else after arrival. This gets you settled in Kenya faster.

What You Cannot Import to Kenya

Kenya customs has restrictions on certain items. You cannot import: firearms and ammunition without special permits, certain medications without documentation, wildlife products and ivory, counterfeit goods, and used vehicles without the right documentation. Check the Kenya Revenue Authority website or ask your InMover freight partner for a current list of restricted and prohibited items before packing.

Shipping household goods to Kenya is the biggest logistics challenge when expat moving to Kenya. Here is how it works and what it costs:

Sea Freight: Most Common for Shipping Household Goods to Kenya

Sea freight is the most cost-effective method for shipping household goods to Kenya from Europe, USA, Australia, or the Middle East. Goods arrive at Mombasa Port and clear Kenya customs before road transport to Nairobi. Add 3–5 days after port arrival.

Transit times for shipping household goods to Kenya:

• Moving to Kenya from UK: 21–28 days to Mombasa Port
• Moving to Kenya from UAE: 12–18 days to Mombasa Port
• Moving to Kenya from USA: 28–35 days to Mombasa Port
• Moving to Kenya from Australia: 25–35 days to Mombasa Port

Cost of moving to Kenya by sea freight:

• Moving to Kenya from UK: LCL USD 800–1,800. FCL from USD 2,500
• Moving to Kenya from UAE: LCL USD 500–1,200. FCL from USD 2,500
• Moving to Kenya from USA: LCL USD 1,200–2,500. FCL from USD 3,000

LCL (shared container) is the most affordable cost of moving to Kenya for smaller volumes. Your shipping household goods to Kenya shipment shares a container with others.

FCL (full container) is faster and more secure for shipping household goods to Kenya in larger volumes. Recommended for 3-bedroom homes or above.

Air Freight to Kenya

Air freight to JKIA Nairobi takes 3–7 days from most origins. The cost of moving to Kenya by air freight is significantly higher than sea and is charged per kilogram. Best for high-value essential items when expat moving to Kenya.

Kenya Customs for Shipping Household Goods to Kenya

When shipping household goods to Kenya, you can import duty-free with a valid work permit Kenya expat or residence permit, provided goods have been owned and used for at least 12 months. New or unused items attract full KRA duty. This is strictly enforced.

Your InMover freight partner handles all Kenya customs documentation for your shipping household goods to Kenya shipment: the KRA import declaration, packing inventory, and coordination with Kenya Ports Authority at Mombasa.

See our international moving services Kenya page for full details on freight options and cost of moving to Kenya.

Choosing the right expat neighbourhood Nairobi is one of the most important decisions when moving to Kenya. The expat neighbourhoods Nairobi offers range widely, from diplomatic compounds in Gigiri to spacious family estates in Karen. Your commute, security, access to international schools, and social life all depend on where you live when moving to Nairobi Kenya. Here is a guide to the most popular expat neighbourhoods Nairobi has for people relocating to Kenya:

Gigiri

Gigiri is the go-to neighbourhood for UN staff, embassy workers, and senior NGO employees. The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) is located here, alongside numerous embassies and high commissions. Security is extremely high in Gigiri. Housing consists mainly of large standalone houses with compound security. The Village Market mall, one of Nairobi's best shopping centres, is located in Gigiri. If you are relocating to Kenya for a diplomatic or international organisation role, Gigiri is almost certainly where your colleagues live.

Karen

Karen is one of Nairobi's most spacious and peaceful residential areas, characterised by large plots, mature trees, and a semi-rural atmosphere within the city. Named after Karen Blixen of "Out of Africa" fame, the area is popular with families, long-term expats, and people who value space over proximity to the CBD. The trade-off is the commute. Karen is 20–25km from Nairobi's main business districts and traffic can be challenging. That said, for families moving to Kenya with children, Karen's space, good international schools nearby, and excellent quality of life make it one of the most popular expat areas in Nairobi.

Lavington

Lavington strikes a balance between central location, good security, and pleasant living. It is close to Westlands and the CBD but maintains a quieter, more residential feel. A good mix of modern apartments and standalone houses makes Lavington popular with couples and young professionals relocating to Kenya. The Lavington Green shopping centre provides convenient access to supermarkets, restaurants, and services.

Runda

Runda is one of Nairobi's most prestigious and secure neighbourhoods, a gated estate with 24-hour security and very low crime rates. It is popular with senior executives, diplomats, and wealthy Kenyan families. Housing consists almost entirely of large standalone houses. The drive to Westlands and the CBD takes 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.

Muthaiga

Muthaiga is one of Nairobi's oldest and most established neighbourhoods: leafy, quiet, and prestigious. It sits between the CBD and the northern suburbs and is particularly popular with the diplomatic community and senior corporate executives relocating to Kenya. The famous Muthaiga Club is located here.

Westlands

Westlands is Nairobi's most vibrant area for professionals: central, full of restaurants and bars, close to major office buildings, and well-connected to the rest of the city. If you are relocating to Kenya for a corporate role and want to be close to where the action is, Westlands is probably your area. Housing is predominantly modern apartments at various price points. The area is noisier and busier than Karen or Runda but the convenience factor is hard to beat.

Kilimani

Kilimani is immediately adjacent to Westlands and has a similar feel: modern apartments, good restaurants, and easy access to business areas. It is slightly quieter than Westlands and very popular with young professionals and families. A significant portion of Nairobi's NGO community lives in Kilimani. Apartments range from mid-range to very high-end, and the area has seen significant new development in recent years.

Your goods arrive at Mombasa Port or JKIA. Your InMover freight partner coordinates with KRA customs officials for clearance. This typically takes 3–7 working days at Mombasa Port for sea freight. Once cleared, your goods are loaded onto a truck for the road journey from Mombasa to Nairobi, approximately 500km taking 6–8 hours.

This is where InMover takes over locally. Once your shipment arrives in Nairobi, InMover's vetted local movers handle the final delivery to your new home. They offload your container or truck, carry everything into your apartment or house, unpack, and help you set up. This local leg of the journey, getting your goods from the delivery truck into your new home, is something InMover handles every single day for hundreds of Kenyans and expats across Nairobi.

For expats moving to Kenya who have not yet found their permanent home, InMover also handles interim moves: delivering your goods to temporary storage first and then moving everything to your permanent address once you have found the right property. See our secure storage solutions for short and long-term storage options in Kenya.

Once you are in your new Nairobi home, if you need any furniture moved around, additional apartment services, or assistance setting up an office, InMover's local platform is available through the app 7 days a week. See our apartment moving services Kenya and office relocation services Kenya for more.