Reconnaissance Licence Fees / Charges in Kenya

A reconnaissance licence allows a company to carry out preliminary, non-intrusive mineral exploration in Kenya — aerial, geophysical, geochemical, and geological surveys plus limited surface sampling — without drilling, trenching, or excavation. It is issued under the Mining Act, 2016, and the Mining (Licence and Permit) Regulations.

Fee Summary Table

Item	Fee / Charge
Application fee	Ksh. 50,000
Annual ground rent	Not applicable
Document perusal (per hour)	Ksh. 2,000
Copy of licence document	Ksh. 2,000

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

What You Need

Form RL1 application to the Cabinet Secretary for Mining
A proposed reconnaissance work programme
Company registration and KRA PIN documentation
Compliance with any community land consultation requirements where applicable

A Licence, Not a Permit

It's worth distinguishing a reconnaissance licence from a reconnaissance permit (covered separately) — the licence is the broader, longer-term exploration authorisation with a higher application fee, while the permit is a narrower, shorter instrument valid for up to one year and issued per county. Make sure you're applying for the right instrument for your intended activity before paying any fee. At Ksh. 50,000, the reconnaissance licence application fee is a modest entry cost relative to the exploration work it unlocks. Since there's no annual ground rent attached, your main ongoing cost driver will be the survey and sampling work itself rather than recurring government charges.

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