Effective Saturday, 31 October 2026, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) will no longer accept paper applications for import or export permits of regulated forest products, moving all requests to an online portal.

The transition is being coordinated with the Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) and will route applications through the National Electronic Single Window System (NESWS) via the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP).

According to the joint notice, the move follows the Head of Public Service Circular Ref. OP/CAB/9/83A of 4 June 2019 and aims to streamline trade, improve traceability and boost service efficiency.

The digital system will handle applications for No Objection Letters – also called Master Permits – as well as the associated KFS fees for both import and export of the listed products.

Products covered include timber, plywood, sawdust, whittles, charcoal, bamboo, veneer, various resins, myrrh, tamarind, baobab, gum Arabic, turpentine oils, rosin and other regulated wood items.

Even with the electronic shift, all items remain subject to existing KFS regulatory controls and the Harmonised System codes used for international trade classification.

Importers, exporters, transporters, customs agents, clearing agents and the general public have been urged to familiarize themselves with the new workflow before the deadline.

KFS and KenTrade say the digital shift will cut paperwork, reduce in‑person visits, enhance revenue collection and support faster clearance of regulated forest goods.

For further guidance, stakeholders can contact the Kenya Forest Service via email at [email protected] or call the listed telephone numbers 020‑2014663, 020‑2020285, or 020‑2689882/3.