Kenya (KE)
Kenya is East Africa's economic, tech, and diplomatic powerhouse — home to the United Nations' Africa headquarters, the Silicon Savannah startup ecosystem, and some of the world's most iconic wildlife.
Qualification Recognition
Getting your foreign credentials recognised in Kenya.
Kenya has a structured system for recognising foreign qualifications through the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) and sector-specific professional bodies. Most regulated professions require licensing by the relevant Kenyan professional body regardless of international qualifications. The Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF) provides a framework for equivalence assessments. Processing times are typically 2–6 months. All foreign qualifications for professional licensing must be certified, and foreign-language documents must be translated into English.
Regulated Professions
Process: Apply to the relevant professional body with certified copies of qualifications, transcripts, professional registration from home country, police clearance, and work permit. Most bodies require verification of qualifications through the issuing institution. Some require a local licensing examination or interview.
Authority: Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) for general equivalence assessments. Sector-specific bodies for professional licensing.
Timeline: 2–6 months for initial assessment; 3–12 months for full licensing in highly regulated professions (medicine, law).
Cost: KNQA assessment: KES 5,000–15,000. Professional body registration: KES 5,000–50,000 depending on profession. Medical Council licensing: KES 20,000–50,000. Engineering Board: KES 15,000–30,000.
Academic Degrees
Authority: Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) — knqa.go.ke. Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) for university equivalence.
Process: Apply to KNQA for a Foreign Qualifications Equivalence Assessment (FQEA). Submit certified copies of certificates, transcripts, and institutional accreditation evidence. KNQA contacts the issuing institution for verification. Certificate of equivalence issued.
Equivalency service: KNQA Foreign Qualifications Equivalence Assessment (FQEA) service. Processing fee: KES 5,000–15,000. Contact: info@knqa.go.ke.
Document Rules
Apostille: Kenya is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention (confirmed by HCCH status table as of 31 December 2025). Foreign documents cannot simply be apostilled for use in Kenya — full consular legalisation is required.
Legalisation: All foreign official documents must go through the full consular legalisation chain: (1) notarisation/certification in the country of issue; (2) authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country; (3) authentication by the Kenyan High Commission or Embassy in the issuing country. Allow 2–6 weeks. Conversely, Kenyan documents for use abroad must be authenticated by the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the relevant foreign embassy in Nairobi.
Sworn translation: All documents in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified/sworn English translation from an accredited translator or Kenyan law firm. Translation must bear the translator's stamp and signature.
Counselling & Help
- - Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA): knqa.go.ke — primary body for equivalence queries
- - Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC): kmpdc.go.ke — for healthcare professionals
- - Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK): ebk.or.ke — for engineers
- - Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK): icpak.com — for accountants
- - Law Society of Kenya (LSK): lsk.or.ke — for lawyers
- - Teachers Service Commission (TSC): tsc.go.ke — for teachers
Typical Timelines
KNQA equivalence certificate: 2–3 months. Medical licensing: 6–12 months. Engineering registration: 3–6 months. Legal practitioner admission: 6–12 months. Teaching licence: 2–4 months. Accounting (CPA-K equivalence): 3–6 months.
Kenya's recognition processes are improving but can be bureaucratic. Engage a local professional (lawyer or consultant) to navigate specific licensing requirements if you are in a regulated profession. Some international employers (UN, multinationals, major NGOs) can employ you on your international qualifications while the local licensing process is ongoing — check with your employer. The EAC regional qualifications framework is slowly improving cross-border recognition for East African professionals.
Qualification Recognition
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