The E-2 investor visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows citizens of certain countries to invest in and actively manage a business in the United States.
Eligibility depends on whether the applicant’s country maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation (or a similar agreement) with the U.S.
The list below comes directly from the U.S. Department of State.
Countries Whose Nationals Qualify for the E-2 Investor Visa
Albania
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belgium
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China (Taiwan)
Colombia
Congo (Brazzaville)
Congo (Kinshasa)
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Honduras
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Korea (South)
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Liberia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
North Macedonia
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Senegal
Serbia
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Yugoslavia
Country-Specific Footnotes
Denmark – The treaty does not apply to Greenland.
France – The treaty covers the French departments of Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Réunion.
Japan – The treaty was extended to the Bonin Islands (June 26, 1968) and the Ryukyu Islands (May 15, 1972).
Netherlands – The treaty also applies to Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles.
Norway – The treaty does not apply to Svalbard (Spitzbergen and certain smaller islands).
Spain – The treaty applies to all Spanish territories.
Suriname – The treaty with the Netherlands, which entered into force on December 5, 1957, was extended to Suriname on February 10, 1963.
United Kingdom – The treaty applies to British territory in Europe (the British Isles excluding the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Gibraltar). It only covers individuals who are nationals of the United Kingdom and residents of these territories. Commonwealth citizens from other nations are not eligible under this treaty.
Yugoslavia and successor states – The United States recognizes that the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia dissolved, but its successor states (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo) remain bound by the original treaty.
Bolivia – Bolivian nationals with qualifying U.S. investments made before June 10, 2012 may continue to receive E-2 status until June 10, 2022. New E-2 applications are not currently accepted, except for those tied to pre-existing investments.
Ecuador – Ecuadorian nationals with qualifying investments made before May 18, 2018 may continue to receive E-2 status until May 18, 2028. New applications are limited to those investments established before that date.
Key Points to Remember
- Only nationals of these treaty countries can apply for the E-2 investor visa.
- Applicants must still meet all investment and management requirements set by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Treaty eligibility can change if new agreements are signed or terminated. Always verify directly with the U.S. Department of State.
Source:
U.S. Department of State. Treaty Countries — U.S. Visas, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/treaty.html