What Kenyans ask us most
Quick replies to the questions that reach us most often from Kenya. The visa guides cover each topic in full.
Is this only for Kenyans?
No. The pages are written with Kenya in mind, but the vacancies welcome every nationality provided your skills and experience fit the role.
What does "employer-sponsored" mean?
The employer backs your work visa, which is the Skills in Demand visa for Australia or the Accredited Employer Work Visa for New Zealand. In both cases the employer must obey government rules on pay and conditions.
Will I be asked for an English test?
For Australia, usually. Only passports from the UK, Canada, New Zealand, the US and the Republic of Ireland are exempt from the 482 English requirement, and Kenya's is not one of them, so most applicants take an approved test. For New Zealand it depends on the skill level of the job. Employers and registration bodies also have their own English rules, so read both the advert and the visa guide.
Is my KNEC or NITA certificate accepted overseas?
It supports your case, but it never counts as automatically equal to an Australian or New Zealand licence, so expect your trade to be assessed again. Certain Australian occupations require a skills assessment, often through VETASSESS or Trades Recognition Australia, and some trades, electrical and plumbing among them, also need a state licence. In New Zealand certain trades require occupational registration. The visa guides explain when each applies.
I am a registered nurse in Kenya. Can I work as one on arrival?
Kenyan registration does not carry over. You must register with the nursing regulator in Australia or New Zealand before practising there, and the job advert tells you what the employer expects.
Which police certificate is needed?
When one is requested, it comes from Kenya: a Certificate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). If you have lived in other countries long enough, those may require certificates too, and the visa guides explain the rules.
Must my documents be translated?
Rarely. Official papers from Kenya are normally issued in English. You might still be asked for certified copies, and any paper in another language (Swahili, for example) needs a certified English translation.
Can I go on a working holiday visa?
Not at present, because Kenya has no working holiday arrangement with Australia or New Zealand. We list employer-sponsored jobs, and each government’s website shows any change to the rules.
How long before I could be working overseas?
That varies with the country, your occupation, any skills assessment or registration and how fast you gather your documents. The visa guides give the current official processing times.
Can my family join me?
Generally yes. Both visas make provision for partners and dependent children, under the rules in force when you lodge.
Does applying cost anything?
No. Applying for a job on this site is free. If anybody asks for money in return for a job offer or a visa, refuse: paying for a job or for sponsorship breaks the rules in Australia and New Zealand and can get your visa refused.
What is the way to apply?
Open the vacancy and press "Apply by email", or press "Ask on WhatsApp" if you have a question first. Attach your CV and your certificates or registration details.