This depends on how quickly you recover and on the type of work you do. On average, after keyhole surgery people need at least 2 to 3 weeks off work. But, if you do manual work that involves more strenuous physical activity, such as heavy lifting, you may need a few weeks longer to recover.
Your GP or surgeon will be able to advise you if you are ready to go back to work. Most people recover quite quickly from their surgery. Some begin working after only a few days or weeks. Even so, because recovery can be variable, you should warn your employer beforehand that you may be off work for 2 to 4 weeks after keyhole surgery (laparoscopic nephrectomy).
People who have open surgery to remove the kidney often need a bit longer than this to recover and may be off work for about 6 weeks.