- Download our Moving to Kenya Guide (PDF)
Shipping and removals in Kenya can be slow and expensive, so it pays to plan carefully what you bring and what you buy once you arrive. Since the customs rules are strict, many expats will contract a professional moving or relocation company to handle the procedure for them.
You can skip shipping and removals altogether by renting a furnished place, and it’s truly the best option for short-termers. If you’re moving to Kenya for a longer term, an unfurnished place is cheaper and can be set up however you like, but there’s a higher upfront cost of furniture and a heavier move.
Shipping household goods to Kenya
When shipping household goods to Kenya, it is often possible to bring a small number of things at a lower cost by paying for them as excess luggage, and several airlines offer special rates for passengers moving house. That said, the excess baggage charges are still quite high, which is why it is generally advisable to use a specialised shipping service when moving your entire household.
Sea freight is less expensive than air freight, but it is also a lot slower. Regardless of the route you choose, you should plan for customs duties, insurance, clearing agent fees, and local delivery in addition to the freight charge.
When you factor in shipping and duties, it may end up being cheaper to buy new things in Kenya than to take everything with you. Furniture, appliances, kitchen equipment, and ordinary electronics are all widely available and fairly priced.
Accommodation in Kenya
Relocation Companies in Kenya
Customs and import duties in Kenya
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is responsible for customs and import duties in Kenya. All items brought into the country, whether by air or sea, must obtain clearance upon arrival, and the applicable import taxes must be paid. The customs authorities determine the duty according to the value of the goods.
All goods are subject to duty, but the kind of concession you can claim will depend on which passenger category you belong to.
- Category A covers people who are coming to Kenya to settle, such as expats taking up jobs, diplomats, students, and Kenyans who are returning after a long period abroad. Members of this group are generally allowed to import used personal and household items, as well as one motor vehicle, either duty-free or at a reduced rate.
- Those who are tourists or short-term visitors staying for three months or less are classified in Category B.
- Category C is for returning residents and all other people who do not fall into the first two categories.
Travellers generally receive a duty-free allowance for personal and household items up to a certain value. However, this amount is subject to change from time to time, so it is necessary to confirm the current limit with the KRA prior to travelling. You are required to declare any new goods purchased abroad which exceed the concession value, as well as alcohol and tobacco that go beyond the duty-free quota, cash that is above the reporting limit, and any items that you intend to sell.
Vehicles which were first registered more than eight years earlier are not allowed, and left-hand-drive vehicles are also banned, since cars in Kenya are right-hand drive. Plastic bags are completely banned, and the authorities strictly enforce the fines for either bringing them in or using them. The complete list of goods which are restricted or prohibited is longer than the one given here and is subject to frequent changes.
Useful links
Shipping pets to Kenya
It is necessary to make careful preparations if you want to ship your pets to Kenya. Dogs and cats do not have to go through quarantine when they arrive in Kenya as long as they have a valid import permit, up-to-date vaccinations, a microchip, and the correct health documents. Animals that fail to meet these conditions are detained at the owner's expense for a maximum of six months.
It is often a surprise to owners to find that pets travel as air cargo, listed on the manifest in the hold, not in the cabin or as checked luggage. The primary points of entry are Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi for pets coming by air and the Port of Mombasa for those arriving by sea. You must report your pet's arrival to the nearest veterinary office within three days.
Although Kenya does not maintain a general list of banned breeds, wild-hybrid pets such as Savannah cats or wolf-dog crosses cannot be brought into the country according to the normal pet regulations.
To bring a pet into Kenya, you will need the following documents:
- The import permit, issued by Kenya's Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) and applied for in advance of your travel (three weeks is reasonable), valid for 90 days;
- The health certificate, signed by a qualified vet in the country of origin and dated no more than five days before departure;
- A current vaccination record that includes rabies;
- A microchip that complies with the ISO 11784/11785 standards, which should be fitted before the rabies vaccination if possible;
- A certificate from the captain stating that the animal did not leave the plane during the flight and was kept separate from the other cats and dogs.
When vaccinating against rabies, dogs and cats must have their vaccination completed at least 30 days before travelling, and the vaccine must have been given within the 12 months prior. Puppies and kittens have to be at least three months old and must have completed the 30-day waiting period after their first dose.
If the rabies vaccination was administered less than six months before arrival, a certificate from a government veterinary officer is required, certifying that no cases of rabies have occurred within a 30-mile (50km) radius of the pet's home area in the six months leading up to the arrival.
The animal must be treated by a vet for both internal and external parasites within 48 hours before the flight.
In practice, a Kenyan pet passport is just the folder that holds all of this: the import permit, the vaccination and treatment records, the health certificate, and the microchip number. Your vet can pull it together and check that all dates and signatures are in order before you fly.