Can you shoot here legally next month? Your filming permit in Kenya explained

Will a missing permit stop your shoot on day one?

What happens if you land with cameras but no filming permit in Kenya? If you are lucky, a long conversation with an official. At worst, a lost shoot day and a crew sitting in a hotel.

Kenya is a welcoming place to film. Getting a filming permit in Kenya is a normal part of every professional shoot here.

Directors come for the wildlife, the light, the coast and the energy of Nairobi streets. But like any country, it expects you to film with the right papers.

The good news is that the process is clear once you know the steps. The official fees are published. Processing times are short for most productions.

This guide walks through what a filming permit in Kenya involves, who issues it, what it costs and what else you may need. It uses only official sources, linked where each figure appears.

OnGround Africa helps foreign crews prepare and run shoots in Kenya. Our founder produced film scenes in Kibera for an international artist, so we know how much paperwork and planning sits behind a few minutes on screen.

Who issues a filming permit in Kenya?

Two public bodies matter most for a filming permit in Kenya. One promotes filming and guides crews. The other licenses productions.

The Kenya Film Commission

The Kenya Film Commission promotes Kenya as a filming destination and publishes the practical requirements for foreign crews. Its filming requirements page covers visas, licences, drones, location permits and equipment imports.

The Kenya Film Classification Board

The Kenya Film Commission page explains that film licensing, classification and local film agent registration are handled by the Kenya Film Classification Board. KFCB has its headquarters in Nairobi and regional offices in towns such as Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nyeri.

In everyday terms, the KFCB filming licence is what most people mean by a filming permit in Kenya. Other approvals sit on top of it depending on where and how you film.

Other bodies you may meet

• Immigration for passes or permits for foreign crew.
• Kenya Wildlife Service for filming in national parks.
• National Museums of Kenya for filming at museum sites.
• Ministry of Defence and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority for drones.
• County offices and private owners for streets, markets, buildings and land.

What does a filming permit in Kenya cost?

KFCB publishes its fees and service times in its citizens’ service charter. These are the figures from the KFCB service charter, reviewed in 2026.

The same KFCB service charter lists local film agent registration at KSh 12,000 a year, processed within one working day.

These are government fees for a filming permit in Kenya, paid to the authority. They are separate from our own fees, which we set out below. Always check the latest charter before you budget, since public fees can change.

What the fee does not cover

A filming permit in Kenya from KFCB does not on its own cover park fees, drone approvals, private location fees or crew immigration. Each of those is a separate step with its own costs.

What else do foreign crews need?

A filming permit in Kenya is only one part of the paperwork. Foreign crews usually need to think about four more things.

Immigration for crew

The Kenya Film Commission notes that non Kenyans need an entry or work permit, or an exemption, from the Director of Immigration Services before working in Kenya, paid or unpaid. It also mentions a Special Pass for short business assignments such as performing.

Which pass applies depends on your crew and the job. We can help you prepare.

Where a licensed immigration professional is needed, we bring one in. Our page on the Kenya work permit covers the wider rules.

Equipment

The Kenya Film Commission says that for equipment arriving with the crew, an upfront security bond of KSh 30,000 is required and refunded when the crew and equipment leave. For equipment sent separately by sea or air, a temporary import form is completed and the bond is based on the equipment value.

The same page says bonds are usually handled through licensed clearing agents. Plan for this before you fly, especially with a large kit list.

Locations

National parks need a permit and fees from the Kenya Wildlife Service, according to the Film Commission page. National Museums sites have their own application and support for filming days.

Streets, markets, estates, hotels and private land need permission from the owner or local authority. Our location scouting in Kenya service handles those conversations.

Drones

Aerial filming needs separate approvals. The Film Commission lists approval from the Ministry of Defence and approval from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Our guide to drone filming in Kenya covers this in detail.

How do you apply for a filming permit in Kenya?

Every production is a little different, but the path to a filming permit in Kenya usually looks like this.

1. Define the project. Write a short synopsis, the production type, dates, locations and crew list.
2. Check the licence type. Match your project to the KFCB categories, such as feature, documentary or advertisement.
3. Prepare documents. KFCB and the Film Commission set out what they need. Typical items include project details, crew passports and the script or treatment.
4. Apply for the KFCB licence. Submit the application and pay the official fees.
5. Sort crew immigration. Apply for the right passes or permits for foreign crew.
6. Arrange location permits. Parks, museums, counties and private owners each need their own approval.
7. Plan equipment entry. Prepare your kit list and bond with a clearing agent.
8. Carry copies on set. Keep printed and digital copies of every permit with the crew.

The KFCB service times in its charter are short, but the full chain takes longer. Start the filming permit in Kenya process as early as you can. Leave room for location and immigration steps.

What documents should you prepare?

Requirements can change, so always follow the current KFCB and Film Commission guidance. As a planning list, most crews preparing a filming permit in Kenya gather a short synopsis or treatment, a shooting schedule, a location list, a crew list with passport copies and an equipment list.

Having these ready in one shared folder makes every later step faster. The same papers are often asked for again by parks, museums and location owners.

Common reasons for delays

• Missing or unclear project details.
• Crew changes after the application is in.
• Locations added at the last minute.
• Drone use not declared early.
• Equipment lists that do not match what arrives at the airport.

Which productions need a filming permit in Kenya?

The KFCB fee schedule covers a wide range of work, from big studio films to a one day brand shoot. That tells you the filming permit in Kenya is not just for big feature films.

• Feature films and series shot for cinema, TV or streaming.
• Documentaries on wildlife, culture, travel or social issues.
• Music videos for local and international artists.
• Advertisements for brands at home and abroad.
• Corporate and promotional videos for companies, charities and tourism businesses.
• Short films and student projects.

If you are unsure which category of filming permit in Kenya fits your project, ask before you apply. Picking the right one saves time and avoids paying for the wrong licence.

Brand shoots and tourism videos

Hotels, lodges and tour firms often bring in foreign crews to film promotional content. That is commercial work. Treat it like an advertisement or promotional video and plan the filming permit in Kenya early, even if the crew is only two people.

What about small crews and content creators?

Many travellers film on phones and small cameras for personal use. Commercial shoots are different. If you are being paid, filming for a client or producing work for distribution, assume you need a filming permit in Kenya and check with KFCB.

How do we help with your filming permit in Kenya?

Many producers ask us to take the filming permit in Kenya off their plate entirely. OnGround Africa is a ground support team for crews.

We are not a government agency, so we cannot issue permits. We help you prepare, follow up and run the shoot on the ground.

Before the shoot

• Explain which permits your project is likely to need.
• Help gather and organise documents for KFCB and other bodies.
• Follow up with offices in Nairobi so nothing sits waiting.
• Scout and secure permission for locations.
• Connect you with licensed clearing agents and drone operators.

During the shoot

• Work as your fixer on set, handling locals, permissions and logistics.
• Keep permit copies ready when officials or residents ask.
• Arrange transport, airport pickups and errands.

Our film fixer in Kenya page explains the on set side in more detail. KFCB also registers local film agents.

Ask us whether your production should apply through one. Where it is needed, we coordinate with a registered agent.

What do our fixer services cost?

Our fees are in USD and sit on top of the official permit fees above. You get a written quote first and pay only after you approve it.

Support with your filming permit in Kenya is usually counted in fixer days, since it involves calls, visits and follow ups. Your quote shows how many days we expect.

Crew arriving at JKIA can book an airport pickup so kit and people reach the hotel safely. All our fees are on the pricing page. We confirm payment options with your quote.

What does filming in Kenya feel like on the ground?

Paperwork is only half the story. A filming permit in Kenya will not tell you where the light falls at five. Filming in Kenya is also about people, places and timing.

People

Kenyans are generally warm and curious about film crews. In busy places, a camera draws a crowd fast. Explain what you are doing.

Ask before filming people up close. It goes a long way.

In places like Kibera, Mathare or a busy market, a local fixer who knows the community is essential. Respect and clear permission keep the shoot calm and fair to residents.

Light and weather

Kenya sits on the equator, so days are roughly the same length all year. Rainy seasons can bring heavy afternoon showers and muddy roads. Build weather days into your schedule.

Traffic and distance

Nairobi traffic can turn a short trip into a long one. Plan locations in clusters and start early. Outside Nairobi, roads vary from smooth highways to rough tracks.

Security and kit

Camera kit is valuable and easy to spot. Keep gear in sight, move with a local team in crowded areas and avoid leaving equipment in parked vehicles. Your fixer can arrange secure transport and storage.

A filming permit in Kenya gets you the legal right to shoot. Good local planning gets you the shots.

Filming permit in Kenya checklist for producers

Use this list when you plan the shoot. It brings every part of the filming permit in Kenya process onto one page.

1. Project summary ready. Title, type, synopsis, dates and the production company details.
2. Licence category chosen. Feature, series, documentary, music video, advertisement or corporate.
3. Crew list complete. Names, roles and passport details for every foreign crew member.
4. Immigration route agreed. The right pass or permit for each foreign crew member.
5. Location list drafted. Each site with its owner or authority and the permission needed.
6. Park and museum permits planned. Applications started where your shoot needs them.
7. Drone plan declared. Defence and aviation approvals in motion if you fly.
8. Kit list final. Equipment list matched to what will arrive, with a clearing agent lined up for the bond.
9. Budget lines set. Official fees, our fees and any location fees kept separate.
10. Copies on set. A printed and phone copy of every permit with the production manager.

If any line is blank, that is where delays to a filming permit in Kenya usually start. We can fill most gaps in a short planning call.

A filming permit in Kenya for a small crew

A two person documentary team has a lighter load than a feature crew, but the same core steps apply. The licence category is often documentary, which the KFCB service charter lists at a lower fee and a one working day service time.

Small crews still need the right immigration pass and location permissions. They often move faster though, since there is less kit to clear and fewer people to schedule.

A filming permit in Kenya for a large production

A feature or series brings more crew, more kit and more locations. The licence fee is per film or per season, with a daily filming fee on top. Planning moves from weeks to months.

Large shoots gain the most from a local team that follows up in person. A missing signature on one location form can hold up an entire unit.

Why work with OnGround Africa on your shoot?

OnGround Africa is run by Patrick Maina, who also founded Growth Catalyst. Over eight years he has delivered more than 870 projects for clients in over 56 countries, with 452 five star reviews.

He produced film scenes in Kibera for an international artist, handling the ground work that made the shoot possible. A Fiverr client from Ethiopia wrote: “Patrick does amazing groundwork for those who are remote from Kenya.”

• Written quote first. Our days and fees agreed before work starts.
• Pay after you approve. Nothing charged before you say yes.
• Photo and video proof. Scouting photos and progress updates as we go.
• Updates in your time zone. WhatsApp notes for producers wherever they are.
• Honest about limits. We tell you what is realistic for your dates.

We are not lawyers or immigration agents. When your shoot needs them, we bring in a licensed Kenyan advocate or a licensed agent.

Plan your filming permit in Kenya now

Not sure where to start? Send us your treatment and rough dates. We will tell you which parts of the filming permit in Kenya process apply and which you can skip.

Send us your project type, dates, locations and crew size. We reply with a list of likely permits and a written quote for our support.

• WhatsApp: +254 724 991 531
• Email: patrick@growthcatalyst.co.ke

The earlier we start, the more choices you keep. A filming permit in Kenya is easier to secure with time on your side.

Questions people ask