Artisanal Mining Permit Fees / Charges in Kenya

An artisanal mining permit formalises small-scale, manual or semi-mechanised mining typically carried out by individuals or small groups, bringing them into Kenya's formal mineral rights framework.

Fee Summary Table

Item	Fee / Charge
Application fee	Ksh. 2,000
Annual ground rent	Ksh. 10,000
Transfer fee	Ksh. 50,000
Mineral Development Levy	1% of gross sale value (0.5% for salt and cement)

Source: The Mining (Licence and Permit) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 (Legal Notice 43 of 2024).

What You Need

Application identifying the artisanal mining area and mineral(s) targeted
Proof of identity for individual applicants, or registration documents for groups/cooperatives
Basic safety and environmental undertakings appropriate to artisanal-scale operations

Designed for Accessibility

Of all the mineral rights instruments in Kenya, the artisanal mining permit carries the lowest application fee (Ksh. 2,000) and annual rent (Ksh. 10,000) — a deliberate design choice to bring informal miners into the formal, regulated, and taxed mineral economy rather than pricing them out of compliance entirely. At a combined Ksh. 12,000 or so in year-one fees, an artisanal mining permit is within reach for most small operators. The bigger long-term consideration is the 1% Mineral Development Levy on whatever you sell, which applies regardless of your operation's small scale.

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