Country Guides for Moving To and From Kenya

Wherever you are moving, a few things hold true, and knowing them upfront helps whichever country you are heading to or from.

You will need core documents. Almost every international move needs your passport, a detailed and valued inventory of what you are shipping, a bill of lading or air waybill from the shipping line, and usually proof of residence or a work permit at the destination. Returning citizens and diplomats often have their own document sets.

Used belongings are usually treated better than new ones. Most countries give more favourable treatment to household goods you have owned and used for a period of time than to brand-new items, which are often treated as imports and taxed. Keep proof of ownership where you can.

Vehicles and pets follow separate rules. Importing a car or a pet is almost always a separate process from your household goods, with its own documents, timelines, and restrictions. Plan these early, because they often take the longest.

Wooden packing needs treatment. Crates and wooden packing materials generally need to meet the international ISPM-15 standard for treated timber, or they can be held or destroyed at the border.

Timing matters. Many countries expect your goods to arrive within a set window of your own arrival, and expect you to be present for customs clearance. Shipping too early or arriving too late can cause problems.

Beyond these shared basics, each country has its own specifics. The guides below help with the routes InMover handles most.

If you are moving to Kenya, whether as a returning Kenyan, a foreign national on a work permit, or a diplomat, your household goods clear through the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the documents and treatment differ depending on which category you fall into.

In general, you will need your passport, a detailed and valued inventory, shipping documents, and, for foreign nationals, a valid work permit. Returning Kenyan citizens and diplomats have their own requirements and exemptions. Used household goods owned for a period before the move are treated differently from new items, and vehicles and pets have separate processes. The person receiving the goods usually needs to be in Kenya for customs clearance.

Because the exact requirements, thresholds and any duties are set by KRA and updated over time, confirm the current rules with KRA or with InMover before you ship. Our destination services help people arriving in Kenya settle in, and our international moving service coordinates the move itself.

Country guides tell you what to expect. InMover handles the move itself.

Rather than working out customs and shipping alone, you get matched with vetted movers experienced in international relocations and your specific destination. InMover coordinates the packing, shipping, documentation, and customs, and works with agents at the destination so your goods are cleared and delivered at the other end. You get a transparent quote before you book, and support from Kenya through to arrival.

Since 2020, InMover has handled over 1,650 moves, with vetted movers across all 47 counties. For the full picture of how an overseas move works, see our international moving service, or if you are choosing a mover, our guide to international movers near you.