ALL non-Kenyans seeking employment in Kenya will now be required to pay Sh100, 000 more to get a work permit regardless of the provisions of the East African Common market protocal. Work permit fees goes up to Sh200, 000 up from the current Sh100, 000, in addition to the standard Sh10, 000 paid by all foreign worker, with immediate effect, according to new guidelines released yesterday.

In addition, work permit fees for those seeking to engage in prospecting and mining shoots up from Sh100, 000 to Sh250, 000 an indication that the government is aiming to cash in on foreigners expected to flock in as a result of oil discovery in Turkana. Foreign consultants will now have to part with Sh100, 000 up from the current Sh50, 000.

The new guidelines will also affect nationals with all applicants for new and replacement of lost passports being charged higher. New passport applicants will have to part with between Sh460 and Sh1, 4 60 more effective immediately while persons wishing to replace their lost passports will now have to pay an extra Sh1, 960.

According to the new fees structure, passport charges for the normal 32 page booklet goes up to Sh4, 500 up from Sh3, 040. Fees for the 48-page passport goes up to Sh6, 000 from the current Sh4, 540 while that of the 60-page passport rises to Sh7, 500 up from Sh6, 040. Replacement of lost passports will now attract a fee of Sh12, 000 up from the current Sh10, 040 while those wishing to replace mutilated passports will be charged Sh10, 000 from the current Sh8, 040. Fees for replacing filled up or expired passports remain the same.

Diplomatic passports will now cost Sh7, 500 up from the current Sh6, 040 while East African passports will stil be charged the same rate of Sh940. It was not however clear what charges would be levied on temporary passports with the notice giving two figures of the Sh300 and Sh3, 000 respectively. These short term passports are currently charged Sh300.

Someone wishing to travel on a short notice will be required to pay $20 for an emergency travel document. Certificate of identity will be charged at Sh3, 000 while a service passport will be charged Sh6, 000.

Tourists will also be affected by the new guidelines with transit visa fees going up from the current $20 to $50. The visa referral fee has been retained at $10 non-refundable with the standard visa fee for an ordinary or a single journey entry visa has been retained at $50. The same case applies for the standard fee for multiple journey visas shall which has been retained at $100 for all nationalities.