Career advice ยท Updated November 2026
Pre-Departure Training in Kenya for Migrant Workers: Days, Cost and Certification
Pre-departure training in Kenya is the course Kenyans take before going abroad through the government’s labour migration system. For domestic workers, it is combined with homecare management training. Under reforms the Ministry of Labour announced in September 2024, the combined course was cut from 26 days to 14 days. That is 10 days of homecare training and 4 days of pre-departure orientation, with a cost ceiling of KSh 14,000. Skilled workers take a shorter 2-day pre-departure session. This guide explains how the training, assessment and certification work, who is exempt, and how to avoid being overcharged.
Checked on 8 November 2026 against the Ministry of Labour’s statement CS Labour Announces New Measures to Streamline Recruitment and Deployment of Kenyans Seeking Jobs Abroad (September 2024). These are the latest published rules we could find. Fees and course lengths can change, so confirm them with your training institution and the National Employment Authority (NEA) before you pay.
What the pre-departure training covers
The training prepares you for life and work in your destination country. Pre-departure orientation generally covers your employment contract, your rights and duties under the host country’s law, culture and religion, money and remittances, health and safety, and where to get help if something goes wrong. Domestic workers going to Gulf countries also take homecare management. This covers practical household skills such as cleaning, cooking, laundry, childcare and caring for the elderly, plus the use of household appliances.
Course length after the 2024 reforms
- Domestic workers: 14 days in total, made up of 10 days of homecare management and 4 days of pre-departure training. Before the reform, the combined course took 26 days.
- Skilled workers: 2 days of pre-departure training.
The ministry said the change would take effect from 23 September 2024. It was meant to reduce the time and money workers spend before they can travel.
Cost: the KSh 14,000 ceiling
The ministry capped the cost of the combined homecare and pre-departure training at KSh 14,000. If a training centre or agent asks you to pay more for the same course, ask for a written breakdown and check it with NEA. Keep every receipt. Many migrant workers are asked to pay extra for “processing”, “booking” or “speed-up” services. These are not part of the training fee, and a licensed agency should explain every charge in writing.
Assessment and certification
The ministry set out a standard assessment for domestic workers:
- When: assessment takes place within 5 days after the training.
- Certificate: issued 3 days after the assessment.
- How you are scored: 65% practical assessment, 25% written or oral test, and 10% for continuous assessment during the course.
- Pass mark: 60%.
Practical skills carry most of the marks, so attend every session and practise the tasks. If you do not pass, ask the training institution in writing how and when you can be reassessed, and whether you will be charged again.
Who is exempt
The ministry said returning domestic workers who successfully completed their previous contracts would be exempt from homecare training. If you are going back abroad, keep proof of your completed contract, such as your final settlement, end-of-service papers and exit stamp. Your agency will need them to show you qualify for the exemption.
Where to train
Train only at an institution recognised for migrant worker training. The National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) publishes training curricula for domestic workers going to the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, and assesses and certifies trainees. Ask the centre to show its accreditation before you pay, and confirm that the certificate it issues is the one your agency and the destination country accept.
Step by step before you travel
- Confirm your agency is licensed. Use NEA’s list of registered private employment agencies. Our guide to recruitment agencies versus direct hiring explains what to check.
- Get your job offer and contract in writing. Read the salary, working hours, rest days and end-of-contract benefits.
- Book training at an accredited centre and pay no more than the published ceiling.
- Sit the assessment and collect your certificate.
- Complete medicals, travel documents and contract attestation as your agency directs.
- Attend the pre-departure session and save the emergency contacts for the Kenyan embassy or consulate in your destination.
Red flags
- An agent who says you can skip the training for an extra fee.
- A training “certificate” issued without an assessment.
- Fees well above the ceiling with no written breakdown.
- Pressure to travel on a visit visa and “convert” it to a work visa later.
Read our guide on how to spot fake job adverts, and see our Gulf jobs guide for Kenyans for destination-specific advice.
Documents to carry to the training centre
Training centres and agencies usually ask for the same core documents. Carry your national ID card and passport, copies of your academic or trade certificates, passport photos, and the job offer or demand letter from your agency. Returning workers who want the homecare exemption should also bring proof of their completed contract. Ask the centre in advance for its own list so you do not lose a day going back home for a missing paper.
When you pay, ask for an official receipt with the centre’s name, the course and the amount. If an agent pays on your behalf, ask for a copy of that receipt too. These records help if you later need to show that you were charged more than the published ceiling for pre-departure training in Kenya.
Why the training matters
Pre-departure training is more than a box to tick. Workers who know their contract terms, the host country’s rules and the emergency contacts are better placed to resolve problems early. Write down the name and phone number of your agency and of the Kenyan embassy or consulate, and keep copies of your contract and passport with a family member at home.
Frequently asked questions
How long is pre-departure training in Kenya?
Under the September 2024 reforms, domestic workers take 14 days (10 days homecare plus 4 days pre-departure) and skilled workers take 2 days.
How much does pre-departure training cost?
The Ministry of Labour capped the combined homecare and pre-departure training at KSh 14,000.
What is the pass mark?
60%, with marks made up of 65% practical, 25% written or oral and 10% continuous assessment.
Who is exempt from homecare training?
Returning domestic workers who successfully completed their previous contracts.