Updated 1 November 2026
Any firm delivering documents or parcels for the public needs a courier licence Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) issues under the Kenya Information and Communications Act. You pay a non-refundable KSh 5,000 application fee, CA gazettes your name for 30 days of public comment, then assigns a category: a national operator pays KSh 30,000 or 0.4% of audited annual turnover (whichever is higher) and an international operator KSh 100,000 or 0.4%. Courier licences run for 15 years, subject to the annual operating fee. Operating without one can cost up to KSh 300,000, a year in jail, or both.
Updated 1 November 2026 from the CA “Procedure for Licensing Postal/Courier Operators” brochure linked from ca.go.ke. CA says categories and fees are reviewed from time to time, so confirm before paying.
Courier licence Kenya fees by category
| Category | Who it fits | Licence fee (CA brochure) |
|---|---|---|
| National operator | Operates within Kenya | KSh 30,000 or 0.4% of audited annual turnover, whichever is higher |
| International operator | Domestic and worldwide network | KSh 100,000 or 0.4% of audited annual turnover, whichever is higher |
| Public postal operator | Postal Corporation of Kenya (universal service) | KSh 500,000 or 0.4% of audited annual turnover, whichever is higher |
Application fee: KSh 5,000, non-refundable, for all categories. Source: CA Procedure for Licensing Postal/Courier Operators, linked from the CA forms and fees page, checked 1 November 2026.
What 0.4% means in practice
For a national operator, 0.4% of turnover equals KSh 30,000 at KSh 7.5 million a year. Below that you pay the KSh 30,000 minimum; above it the 0.4% applies. A firm turning over KSh 20 million pays KSh 80,000.
Who needs a courier licence?
CA says all firms offering postal or courier services are subject to licensing. That includes:
- All courier firms, including boda boda and same-day delivery companies that carry documents and parcels for customers
- Delivery companies, transporters, freight and clearing firms that handle documents and parcels falling within the Act’s definitions
- The Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK)
Competitive services CA lists include courier, parcel, direct mail, postal financial services, hybrid mail, distribution of publications and agency services.
Documents CA requires
- Certified CR12 (proof of shareholding)
- Certified copies of directors’ ID documents
- Certified proof of registration or incorporation in Kenya
- Certified KRA PIN certificate (company KRA PIN guide)
- VAT compliance proof
- A tax compliance certificate
- Application letter on company seal stating the category applied for
- A business plan following the guidelines in the application form
- Memorandum and articles of association (limited companies)
- Your compensation policy and complaints resolution mechanism
- Co-operatives: minutes of the last AGM, by-laws and proof of registration
How to apply for a courier licence in Kenya
- Get the form “Application Form for Postal, Courier and Telecommunications Licences” from ca.go.ke or CA offices on Waiyaki Way, Nairobi.
- Pay KSh 5,000 application fee.
- Submit the form with all the documents above.
- CA checks the file, and the Communications Licensing Committee endorses it.
- Gazettement: CA publishes your name in the Kenya Gazette and waits 30 days for objections.
- Categorisation: CA decides your category and tells you the fee.
- Pay and collect the licence.
The 30-day gazette notice means you should plan for at least five to six weeks from a complete application.
Rules once licensed
- Term: 15 years for courier operators (25 years for PCK), subject to paying the annual operating licence fee.
- Letter pricing: couriers handling letters of up to 350 grams must charge at least five times PCK’s basic letter rate. Undercharging can lead to suspension and prosecution under the KICA (Amendment) Act 2013.
- Foreign-owned firms: at least 20% of shares must be Kenyan-owned by the end of three years of operation.
- Penalty for operating unlicensed: up to one year in jail, a fine up to KSh 300,000, or both.
Starting a delivery business: other approvals
You also need a county single business permit, insured vehicles or motorbikes, and riders with valid licences. If you import goods for customers, see KRA duty on courier parcels.
CA contacts
Communications Authority of Kenya, P.O. Box 14448-00800 Nairobi. Tel +254 20 4242000 or +254 703 042000, email info@ca.go.ke.
Courier licence Kenya: choosing the right category
Most start-ups delivering only within Kenya apply as national operators. If you plan cross-border parcels or partnerships with foreign carriers, the international category fits, at a higher minimum. CA makes the final call on category after gazettement, so describe your network honestly in the business plan. Under-declaring to pay less can lead to a licence condition breach later.
Keep audited accounts every year: the 0.4% turnover fee is calculated from them, and CA can ask for them when you pay the annual operating fee. A courier licence Kenya businesses hold is also checked by corporate clients and e-commerce platforms during onboarding, so display the licence number on your website and invoices.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a courier licence in Kenya?
A KSh 5,000 application fee, then KSh 30,000 (national) or KSh 100,000 (international), or 0.4% of audited turnover if higher, per CA’s licensing brochure.
How long is a courier licence valid?
15 years, subject to the annual operating fee.
Do delivery riders need a CA courier licence?
The firm offering courier services needs the licence. CA says all courier firms and delivery companies handling documents and parcels are subject to licensing.
What is the penalty for running an unlicensed courier?
Up to KSh 300,000, up to one year in jail, or both.
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