Permanent residence is provided under section 37 of the Citizenship and Immigration Act, which outlines the persons eligible to apply for permanent residence status in Kenya. First, persons who were citizens by birth but subsequently renounced their citizenship or otherwise lost their citizenship status. Second, those who hold work permits for at least seven years and have been residents in Kenya for three years before making the application. Third, children of Kenyan citizens born outside of Kenya and who acquired the citizenship of the domicile country. Fourth are spouses of Kenyan citizens married for at least seven years. 

Refugees in Kenya may have the legal venue to get their permanent residency permit either by securing a work permit as prescribed under the seventh schedule of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012, class M work permits are set aside for refugees and the spouses of refugees who intend to take up employment or engage in a specific occupation, trade, business, or profession. Permanent resident status confers a wide array of rights on the holders, or by marrying a Kenyan Citizen as provided under section  37(d) of the Immigration and citizenship Act.