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.
