Returning resident car import to Kenya: what are the rules?
Last updated · Cada car guides
Kenyans returning home after living abroad can apply to KRA for a returning-resident exemption on one vehicle they owned and used abroad. KRA's rules count the age from the year of manufacture (not more than eight years), require that you personally owned and used it abroad for at least 12 months, that it is shipped within 90 days of your arrival (extendable up to 360 days), and the exemption cannot be used again for four years. Buses of 13 or more passengers and load carriers over two tonnes are excluded. Apply through KRA and confirm current conditions before shipping.
| Age limit | Not more than 8 years from year of manufacture |
|---|---|
| Ownership abroad | Personally owned and used for at least 12 months |
| Shipping window | Within 90 days of your arrival (extendable to 360 days) |
| Frequency | Once every 4 years |
| Excluded | Buses (13+ passengers), load carriers over 2 tonnes |
Before you ship
- Confirm on KRA's page that you qualify and which documents prove your stay abroad and ownership.
- Keep the car's foreign registration and proof you owned and used it abroad.
- The car still needs to be right-hand drive and pass inspection.
On Cada
Sources
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the authority named in the sources before you pay.