The UK has 5.5 million private sector businesses operating at the start of 2024. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 99.8 percent of this total. These SMEs employed 60 percent of the private sector workforce and generated 52 percent of total turnover. The numbers show how deeply entrepreneurship runs through the British economy. Millions of people have taken the leap to start their own ventures across every sector and region.
Business creation spreads across the entire country. London leads with 1,370 businesses per 10,000 adults, but other regions show strong entrepreneurial activity too. The South East has 1,188, the South West has 1,113, and the East of England has 1,016. People start companies in Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. They launch ventures in market towns across Yorkshire and Cornwall.
This entrepreneurial energy keeps building. UK entrepreneurs launched new businesses throughout 2024 despite economic uncertainty. They started restaurants, consulting firms, tech companies, and manufacturing operations.
The drive to build something new doesn’t stop at domestic markets. Some UK entrepreneurs explore international expansion as a way to grow their business beyond the local market. The United States is a common choice for this type of expansion, and E-2 visa statistics over the past decade show consistent interest from UK entrepreneurs.
UK Participation in the E-2 Visa Program
The E-2 visa offers a pathway for UK citizens to invest in and operate a business in the U.S. It is available to nationals of countries that maintain a treaty of commerce and navigation with the U.S., a condition the UK has met since 1815. The visa allows individuals to enter the country for the purpose of developing and directing an enterprise in which they have invested a substantial amount of capital.
To qualify, applicants must demonstrate ownership or operational control of the business and prove that the investment is at risk and committed to a real, functioning enterprise. The source of the funds must be lawful. The visa is non-immigrant and does not lead directly to permanent residency, but it can be renewed indefinitely as long as the business remains active and compliant.
Visa issuance data reflects long-standing interest from UK nationals. The number of E-2 visas granted to British citizens has remained relatively stable over the past decade, apart from a temporary decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following figures from the U.S. Department of State-Bureau of Consular Affairs show year-by-year issuance totals:
| Year | E-2 Visas Issued |
| 2024 | 2,720 |
| 2023 | 2,836 |
| 2022 | 3,122 |
| 2021 | 632 |
| 2020 | 1,275 |
| 2019 | 3,253 |
| 2018 | 2,740 |
| 2017 | 2,862 |
| 2016 | 2,969 |
| 2015 | 2,935 |
| 2014 | 2,915 |
*Great Britain and Northern Ireland
From 2014 to 2019, the number of E-2 visas issued to UK nationals remained within a narrow range: between 2,740 (2018) and 3,253 (2019). The average during this six-year period was approximately 2,946 visas per year, indicating a consistent level of participation.
In 2020, issuance dropped to 1,275, a 60.8 percent decrease compared to 2019. The decline coincided with global travel restrictions and a reduction in U.S. consular services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the total fell further to 632, marking the lowest point in the dataset and a 51.4 percent decline from 2020.
E-2 visa issuance returned to pre-pandemic volumes in 2022, reaching 3,122, the second-highest figure in the 11-year period. In 2023, 2,836 visas were issued, maintaining a level consistent with pre-2020 trends. As of the latest available 2024 data, 2,720 visas have been issued to UK citizens. If issuance continues at the same monthly rate, the year-end total is expected to fall within the historical range established prior to the pandemic.
These figures demonstrate that the drop in 2020–2021 was temporary and corresponded with external limitations, not reduced demand. The recovery in 2022 and 2023 suggests that interest among UK investors in the E-2 visa program remains strong.
E-2 visa numbers for UK nationals have followed a stable pattern over the past decade. This reflects a well-established connection between the UK’s business base and the opportunities available in the U.S. The structure of the visa suits entrepreneurs who are building real companies and staying involved in daily operations. Application volumes in 2024 are consistent with long-term trends. That consistency points to a mature, ongoing pathway that continues to serve the goals of UK investors looking to expand into the U.S. market.
Sources:
US Department of State-Bureau of Consular Affairs: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftravel.state.gov%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Fvisas%2FStatistics%2FNon-Immigrant-Statistics%2FNIVDetailTables%2FFYs97-24_NIVDetailTable.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/e-2-treaty-investors