Working in France from Kenya: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Moving from Kenya to France for manual or trade work is possible, but it is one of the more challenging routes in Europe. France has strict employment protection laws, and almost every job requires functional French language skills. If you do not speak French, countries like Poland, Croatia, or Germany often offer simpler work permit routes for Kenyan workers.

However, if you already speak basic French or have a French company willing to sponsor you, a legal path exists. This guide explains how the work visa process works specifically for a Kenyan passport holder, what documents you must prepare in Nairobi, and what costs you should expect.

The official work permit route from Kenya to France

To work legally in France as a Kenyan citizen, you cannot simply apply for a work visa on your own initiative. Your prospective employer in France must start the process long before you visit a visa centre.

• The visa type: You will need a Long-Stay Visa serving as a Residence Permit (known locally as Visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour or VLS-TS). Depending on your contract length, it will carry the status of salarié for contracts over one year, or travailleur temporaire for contracts under one year.
• Who applies first: The employer in France applies first. They must request an official work authorization (autorisation de travail) through the French Ministry of Interior online portal.
• Labor market check: Before hiring from Kenya, the employer usually must prove they posted the job vacancy in France for several weeks and could not find a suitable French or EU candidate.
• Shortage list exception: France maintains a regional list of shortage occupations (métiers en tension). If your trade is on this list in the specific region of France where the job is located, your employer does not need to prove local recruitment efforts.

Where to submit your application in Nairobi

Once your employer in France receives the approved autorisation de travail from the government, you can submit your visa application in Kenya.

• Submission location: You submit your passport, documents, and biometrics at the TLScontact visa application centre in Nairobi, which processes visa applications for the Embassy of France in Kenya.
• Online application: Before booking an appointment at TLScontact in Nairobi, you must complete your visa application form on the official France-Visas online portal.
• Valid Kenyan passport: Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date from France, issued within the last 10 years, and have at least two blank pages.
• Approved work authorization: You must present a printed copy of the official autorisation de travail issued to your French employer.
• Police clearance certificate: You need a valid Police Clearance Certificate (Certificate of Good Conduct) issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kenya.
• Official translations: All official documents issued in English or Swahili, including your DCI certificate and trade qualifications, must be translated into French by an accredited translator.
• Apostille and legalisation: Kenya is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. You must get an Apostille stamp on your DCI clearance certificate and educational or trade certificates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Nairobi so French authorities accept them as valid.

Fees and real costs for Kenyan workers

Preparing for a move to France involves fees set by the French government as well as local preparation costs in Kenya. Processing times after submitting your file at TLScontact in Nairobi typically take approximately 3 to 8 weeks.

• Official French visa fee: Approximately €99 (around KSh 14,000 to KSh 15,000), set by the French government.
• TLScontact service fee: Approximately €30 to €40 (around KSh 4,500 to KSh 6,000) for handling your application and biometric collection in Nairobi.
• DCI clearance fee: Approximately KSh 1,050 paid directly through the eCitizen platform in Kenya.
• Document translation costs: Approximately KSh 3,000 to KSh 7,000 (€20 to €50) per document depending on length and complexity.
• MFA Apostille fee: Approximately KSh 2,000 to KSh 4,000 (€15 to €30) per document at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi.
• Medical check: Approximately KSh 5,000 to KSh 12,000 (€35 to €80) if required prior to departure.
• Flight ticket: A one-way flight from Nairobi (NBO) to Paris (CDG) typically costs between KSh 70,000 and KSh 120,000 (€500 to €850), depending on the booking season.
• Placement fees warning: In France and across the European Union, it is illegal for an employer or agency to charge a worker money in exchange for a job. The employer must carry all official recruitment taxes (OFII taxes) in France. Beware of fake agents in Nairobi or online demanding recruitment fees or processing fees for French contracts.

Key trades France hires foreign workers for

While language requirements are strict, French industries facing local labor shortages do recruit skilled international workers.

• Construction specialists: Formwork carpenters, certified pipe welders, and heavy equipment operators are regularly recruited for major civil engineering and urban infrastructure projects.
• Hospitality and kitchen staff: Experienced cooks, line chefs, and hotel staff are hired for seasonal roles in coastal and alpine tourist regions, provided they have basic French communication skills.
• Caregivers and health aides: Elderly care workers and nursing assistants are in steady demand across private care facilities, though strong spoken French is strictly mandatory for health and safety compliance.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can enter France on a tourist visa and convert it into a work permit after finding a job.
  Fact: You cannot convert a tourist visa into a work permit inside France; you must return to Kenya and apply through TLScontact in Nairobi with an approved work authorization.
• Myth: You do not need to speak French if you work in construction or manual trades.
  Fact: Workplace safety regulations and daily instructions in France are strictly in French, making functional French necessary for almost all employer sponsorships.
• Myth: You must pay an agency in Nairobi thousands of Euros to get a French work permit.
  Fact: Charging workers placement fees for jobs in France is illegal; legitimate employers pay for the authorization process directly to the French authorities.
• Myth: A signed job offer letter from a French business is enough to get a visa.
  Fact: A job offer is only the first step; your employer must apply to the French government and receive an official autorisation de travail document before you can apply for a visa.

Before you sign

Before you accept an offer or send your original documents, review this safety checklist:

• Verify the work authorization: Confirm that your prospective employer has sent you an official French government autorisation de travail document, not just an informal letter.
• Check minimum wage standards: Ensure your employment contract offers at least the French legal minimum wage (known as the SMIC) for the specified weekly working hours.
• Clarify accommodation details: Ask your employer in writing whether staff housing is provided, subsidized, or if you must arrange your own rental in France upon arrival.
• Complete your translations and Apostille: Ensure all your Kenyan certificates and DCI clearances are translated into French by an accredited translator and stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi.
• Never pay for a job contract: Refuse any request from an agency or broker asking for money to secure your contract, visa approval, or job placement.

Put your trade skills on Workuro

If you are a Kenyan worker looking for legal trade opportunities in Europe, create your free profile on Workuro today. Make sure to detail your trade experience, technical certifications, driving licenses, and your current level of French or English language skills. Uploading your background details and having your passport and DCI clearance ready helps European employers find you directly when searching for qualified workers. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.