Reconnaissance Permit Fees / Charges in Kenya

A reconnaissance permit is the lighter-weight, shorter-duration counterpart to the reconnaissance licence, valid for up to one year and issued for a specific county rather than a broader area.

Fee Summary Table

Item	Fee / Charge
Application fee	Ksh. 5,000
Annual ground rent	Ksh. 20,000
Document perusal (per hour)	Ksh. 2,000

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

What You Need

Form RP1 application submitted to the Cabinet Secretary for Mining
A description of the proposed preliminary exploration activity within the named county
Company registration and KRA PIN

Timelines

The Cabinet Secretary, on the advice of the Mining Board, approves or rejects a reconnaissance permit application within 60 days of submission. Once granted, it is issued digitally together with a paper copy.

At Ksh. 5,000 to apply, the reconnaissance permit is one of the most affordable entry points into Kenya's mineral sector — useful for smaller players who want to test a specific county area before committing to the considerably more expensive reconnaissance or prospecting licences.

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