What Kenya's Citizenship Amendment Bill Actually Means for Nomads
The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to streamline the path to citizenship by removing permanent residency requirements for certain applicants and eliminating application deadlines. These changes could simplify the legal status process for long-term foreign residents and stateless individuals currently living in the country.
What Kenya's Citizenship Amendment Bill Actually Means for Nomads
Kenya is working through a proposed change to its citizenship law and while it sounds significant, it's, honestly, not aimed at expats or remote workers. The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (National Assembly Bill No. 53) would remove time limits on citizenship applications for stateless persons and long-term migrants who've lived in Kenya since before independence in December 1963. Public submissions closed March 24, 2026, the bill hasn't passed, no effective date exists.
The practical target here is a narrow group: people who've spent decades in Kenya without legal status and can't claim citizenship anywhere else. That's it. The bill also expands how applicants can communicate, accepting Kiswahili, local dialects and disability-friendly formats, which is a quiet but meaningful upgrade to an otherwise rigid process.
What This Means If You're a Nomad or Expat
Not much. Digital nomads don't apply for citizenship, they use permits and Kenya already launched a solid path for that. The Class N Digital Nomad permit, which turns out to be one of the more straightforward remote-work visas on the continent, allows stays of up to two years, renewable, for workers earning income from outside Kenya. Applications go through the eFNS portal, you'll need a valid passport, proof of remote employment, accommodation details and a clean criminal record.
Separately, Kenya expanded eTA exemptions in May 2025 for most African and Caribbean nationals, so short-term entry got easier too.
What to Do Right Now
If you're a digital nomad eyeing Kenya, the citizenship bill isn't your concern, the Class N permit is. Here's where to focus:
- Apply via the eFNS portal with employment proof and accommodation details
- Confirm your eTA status if you hold an African or Caribbean passport, you may not need one
- Watch for updates on the citizenship bill if you have family members in a stateless situation
The citizenship bill may still pass and signal a broader openness to immigration reform, which is worth tracking. But for most nomads, Kenya's framework is already workable, this bill just doesn't touch it.
Check our Kenya guide for the full picture on visas, permits and the latest nomad news out of East Africa.