Updated 8 November 2026
A KFCB filming licence is the permit the Kenya Film Classification Board issues before you shoot a film, advert, documentary, music video or series in Kenya. KFCB’s licensing page lists a fee of KSh 5,000 for documentaries, adverts, music videos, short films and similar short productions, and KSh 15,000 for a feature film or a series per season, plus KSh 1,000 for each filming day. You apply with a synopsis, script and shooting schedule. KFCB says short productions are processed in 10 to 25 minutes and features or series within 48 hours.
Checked on 8 November 2026 against KFCB’s Licensing of Film Agents and Filmmakers page. Confirm fees on the KFCB portal before paying.
Contents: Who needs it · Fees · Documents · Timelines · Film agents · Budget example · FAQ
Who needs a KFCB filming licence
KFCB regulates the creation, broadcasting, possession, distribution and exhibition of films under the Films and Stage Plays Act, Cap 222. Anyone producing film content in Kenya for public viewing, whether a production company, an advertising agency, a music artist shooting a video or a foreign crew, should apply. KFCB says the licence is specific to one project, so a new production needs a new licence.
KFCB filming licence fees
| Production type | Licence fee (KSh) | Per filming day (KSh) |
|---|---|---|
| Documentary, advert, music video, short film and similar | 5,000 | 1,000 |
| Feature film | 15,000 | 1,000 |
| Series (per season) | 15,000 | 1,000 |
If you need to film beyond the days you paid for, KFCB says you pay for the extra days.
Documents for a KFCB filming licence
- a synopsis of the production;
- the script;
- the filming schedule, which sets the number of filming days you pay for.
Protect your own script before you share it widely; our guide to registering copyright with KECOBO covers the steps.
How long a KFCB filming licence takes
KFCB’s page gives two processing times: 10 to 25 minutes for short productions such as adverts and music videos, and 48 hours for series and feature films. Apply early enough to allow for queries on your documents, especially if location bookings depend on the licence.
Film agent registration
Companies that handle filming for others, including fixers working with foreign crews, register as film agents. KFCB lists annual registration at KSh 12,000. Check the agent document list on KFCB’s page before applying; a registered business structure helps here, and our LLP guide explains one option for small production partnerships.
Budget example for a KFCB filming licence
Using KFCB’s listed fees, a music video shot over two days would cost KSh 5,000 plus 2 Ă— KSh 1,000, or KSh 7,000 in licence charges. A ten-day shoot for one season of a series would be KSh 15,000 plus 10 Ă— KSh 1,000, or KSh 25,000. These are licence fees only; location permits from counties or property owners, crew and equipment are separate. Productions with hired equipment should also consider insurance, covered in our SME insurance guide.
KFCB’s offices are at Uchumi House, 15th Floor, Nairobi.
Step-by-step: applying for a KFCB filming licence
- Finalise your synopsis, script and filming schedule. The schedule decides how many filming days you pay for, so plan it realistically.
- Choose the correct production type: short productions (documentary, advert, music video, short film) attract the KSh 5,000 fee, while feature films and series attract KSh 15,000, a series being charged per season.
- Submit the application to KFCB with the documents and pay the licence fee plus KSh 1,000 per filming day.
- Wait for approval: KFCB says 10 to 25 minutes for short productions and 48 hours for features and series.
- Keep the licence on set and film only the approved project; if the shoot overruns, pay for the extra days before continuing.
Common mistakes with a KFCB filming licence
The most common problems follow from the rules KFCB lists. Treating one licence as covering several music videos fails because the licence is project-specific. Underestimating filming days leaves a crew paying for extra days mid-shoot. Leaving the application to the morning of a feature shoot ignores the 48-hour processing time for features and series.
Foreign crews arriving without a local registered film agent can also lose days arranging one, since agents register annually with KFCB. Budget for the licence alongside location permits from county governments or private owners, which KFCB’s licence does not replace.
KFCB filming licence for content creators and small studios
Independent creators often ask whether a KFCB filming licence applies to them. KFCB’s page frames the licence around productions such as adverts, music videos, documentaries, short films, features and series, and does not list an exemption by budget or crew size. A small studio shooting a paid advert for a client therefore falls in the KSh 5,000 band plus daily charges, and the cost can be built into the client quote.
Where a project is a commissioned series, remember that the KSh 15,000 fee applies per season, so a second season needs a new licence.
If you are unsure whether a particular type of online content needs a KFCB filming licence, ask KFCB in writing before the shoot and keep the reply with your production records.
KFCB filming licence FAQ
How much is a KFCB filming licence for a music video?
KSh 5,000 plus KSh 1,000 per filming day.
How much is a KFCB filming licence for a feature film?
KSh 15,000 plus KSh 1,000 per filming day.
Can I use one KFCB filming licence for several projects?
No. KFCB says the licence is project-specific.
How fast is a KFCB filming licence issued?
10 to 25 minutes for short productions, 48 hours for features and series.
How much is film agent registration?
KSh 12,000 a year, per KFCB.
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