Career advice · Updated November 2026

Foreign Qualifications Recognised in Kenya: How to Get Your Degree Aligned by KNQA

If you studied abroad and want to work in Kenya, the body that confirms where your qualification sits in the Kenyan system is the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA). To get foreign qualifications recognised in Kenya, you upload certified copies of your certificates and transcripts on KNQA’s online alignment and validation portal, pay the evaluation fee and wait for the authority to place the award on one of the ten levels of the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). Employers, the Public Service Commission and professional bodies can then compare your degree or diploma with local awards.

Checked on 7 November 2026 against the KNQA frequently asked questions and the KNQA Certificate of Qualifications Equivalence page.

Why recognition matters when you job hunt in Kenya

A Kenyan recruiter reading a CV with a foreign degree has to decide whether that award meets the minimum requirement in the advert, for example “a Bachelor’s degree” or “a Diploma”. Public service adverts, county jobs and many regulated professions are strict about this. A KNQA alignment gives you an official answer instead of leaving the panel to guess.

Recognition is especially useful if:

• your qualification has a name that does not exist in Kenya, such as a foundation degree or a professional diploma;
• you are applying for a government or county job where minimum entry grades are checked during vetting;
• you plan to continue studying in Kenya and need to know where your award fits;
• a professional regulator asks for proof of the level of your training before registration.

Recognition by KNQA does not replace licensing. Nurses, engineers, accountants and other regulated professionals still need registration with their own regulator. See our guide on becoming a nurse in Kenya for one example of how licensing works.

The ten KNQF levels your award is matched against

KNQA was set up in 2015 under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework Act. Its FAQ lists ten levels, and an evaluator compares the learning outcomes of your award with the level descriptors:

• Level 1: Primary Certificate.
• Level 2: Secondary Certificate and some entry vocational certificates.
• Level 3: National Vocational Certificate II and similar.
• Level 4: Artisan Certificate.
• Level 5: Craft Certificate.
• Level 6: National Diploma.
• Level 7: Bachelor’s Degree or Higher National Diploma.
• Level 8: Postgraduate Diploma or professional Bachelor’s degree.
• Level 9: Master’s Degree.
• Level 10: Doctorate.

Once aligned, you can quote the level in your CV and cover letter. For example: “MSc Data Science, University of Leeds (aligned by KNQA at KNQF Level 9)”.

Documents you need before you start

The KNQA FAQ says every document must be a clear scanned copy and properly certified before upload. Prepare:

• Certificates and transcripts for the qualification you want aligned, plus the earlier qualifications you used to get into that programme.
• Certification: Kenyan citizens have copies certified by an advocate and commissioner for oaths, or by the issuing institution. Foreign applicants use an advocate and notary public, or the issuing institution.
• Identification: a certified copy of your national ID card or passport with a clear photograph. Foreign citizens also add a certified passport, work permit or visa.
• English translation by a certified translator if your certificates are in another language.
• Thesis signature page for Master’s and PhD awards, as proof of research.
• Proof of name change, such as an affidavit or deed poll, if your certificates carry a different name from your ID.

How to get foreign qualifications recognised in Kenya: step by step

1. Register on the portal. Go to the KNQA site, click Register and choose an individual applicant account in the name of the qualification holder.
2. Complete your profile with contact details, citizenship and your ID or passport number.
3. Add the qualification. Under the upload section, enter the institution, awarding body, programme title, and start and completion dates.
4. Upload the certified attachments in the slots provided.
5. Review and sign the declaration that your documents are authentic and properly certified.
6. Submit and pay the evaluation and alignment fee through the payment gateway on the portal. KNQA’s FAQ does not publish the amount, so check the figure shown on the portal before you pay.
7. Track progress on your dashboard while evaluators compare the award with the KNQF level descriptors.

Having your foreign qualifications recognised in Kenya this way gives you a written alignment you can reuse for every application. Keep a copy of every receipt and the final alignment letter. Recruiters may ask for it during vetting.

Certificate of Qualifications Equivalence for institutions

You may also see the term Certificate of Qualifications Equivalence (CoQE). KNQA issues it when an awarding or examining body, or its authorised agent in Kenya, submits a foreign or local qualification for registration on the framework. KNQA says it aims to assess and issue a CoQE within two weeks of application. To qualify, the award must normally be registered by the qualifications framework in its home country or recognised by that country’s regulators, and Kenya gives priority to qualifications from countries with which it has bilateral agreements. This route is mainly for institutions; individuals use the portal described above.

Common reasons applications stall

• Copies are not certified, or are certified by someone who is not an advocate or commissioner for oaths.
• Transcripts are missing, so the evaluator cannot see the content and credit volume of the programme.
• Names on certificates and ID do not match and there is no deed poll or affidavit.
• Non-English documents are uploaded without a certified translation.
• The awarding institution is not recognised in its own country.

Before you upload, check the institution’s status with the regulator in the country where you studied. A qualification from an unrecognised provider will not become valid because it is submitted in Kenya.

Using your recognised qualification in applications

Once you have foreign qualifications recognised in Kenya, use the result consistently. When an advert asks for a minimum level, quote the KNQF level next to the award name and attach the alignment letter with your certificates. If you are switching to a regulated career, combine the alignment with the regulator’s registration. For accountants, our comparison of CPA and ACCA in Kenya explains how foreign professional papers are treated. Also check that your employment contract states the job title and grade you were hired for, which matters when your qualifications determine pay.

Frequently asked questions

Who recognises foreign qualifications in Kenya?

The Kenya National Qualifications Authority aligns foreign awards to the ten levels of the Kenya National Qualifications Framework through its online portal.

What documents does KNQA need?

Certified certificates and transcripts, a certified ID or passport, an English translation if needed, a thesis signature page for postgraduate degrees and proof of any name change.

How much does KNQA alignment cost?

KNQA's FAQ does not publish the fee. The evaluation and alignment fee is shown and paid on the portal at submission.

Does KNQA recognition replace professional licensing?

No. Regulated professions such as nursing, engineering and accounting still require registration with their own regulator.