Complete list of E2 visa countries for 2025. Discover E2 treaty countries, visa duration by country, eligibility requirements and how to invest in US businesses.
This guide breaks down everything about e2 visa countries and helps you figure out if you qualify. The United States made agreements with certain countries. These agreements let citizens from those countries invest in American businesses and live in the US while running them. Portugal just joined in March 2025.
Ready to explore your E2 visa options? Book a free consultation with Beyond Border today and discover if your country qualifies for US investment opportunities.
E2 visa countries are nations with special business treaties with America. These treaties are called Treaties of Commerce and Navigation. Fancy name, simple idea. When your country signs this treaty, you can invest money in a US business. Then you can live in America while you run that business. You become what immigration calls a treaty investor.
The list includes more than 80 countries right now. Some are big economies like Germany and Japan. Others are smaller nations like Grenada and Moldova. What matters is the treaty, not the country size. Your passport determines everything. You need citizenship from an e2 visa treaty country. Permanent residency doesn't count. Green card holders from treaty countries can't use this route unless they also have citizenship.
Major European nations dominate the e2 visa treaty countries list. The United Kingdom signed one of the oldest treaties back in 1815. France, Germany, Italy, and Spain all qualify too. Asia has strong representation. Japan leads with the most E2 visas issued annually, over 14,000 in 2024. South Korea comes second with about 7,000 approvals. Taiwan qualifies through a special agreement with the American Institute.
Canada and Mexico both made the list. Makes sense given the close trade relationships. Most Caribbean nations qualify including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada. Australia and New Zealand joined recently. New Zealand got added in June 2019. Portugal became the newest member in March 2025 after reciprocal agreements were finalized.
Some former Yugoslavia countries still qualify under the old treaty. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo all count as e2 investor visa countries.
Need to verify if your specific country qualifies? Contact Beyond Border's immigration specialists for a quick eligibility check and personalized guidance.
The big four excluded nations are China, India, Brazil, and Russia. None have signed the required treaties. That affects millions of potential investors worldwide. India sends tons of entrepreneurs to Silicon Valley. But Indian citizens can't get E2 visas directly. Same problem for Chinese nationals despite their massive investment appetite. This creates challenges. Many successful business owners from these countries want US expansion but face limited visa options. They often need to explore alternatives like the EB-5 program or other paths.
Some people obtain citizenship in qualifying countries first. Grenada and Turkey offer citizenship by investment programs. Once you get that passport, you can then apply for the E2 visa. Confused about E7 visa South Korea? That's completely different. The e7 visa South Korea is a work visa for people who want jobs in South Korea, not America. Don't mix them up. They're separate visa systems for separate countries.
The e2 visa duration by country changes based on reciprocity agreements between nations. Canadian citizens get 60 months of validity. That's five full years. German nationals also get five years. The UK offers the same. French citizens receive 25 months. Some countries only get 3 months of validity like Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Visa validity and period of stay are different things. The validity tells you how long you can use your visa to enter America. The period of stay tells you how long you can remain once inside. Everyone gets a 2 year initial period of stay regardless of visa validity. When you land in America, customs give you 2 years. If your visa is still valid and you leave and come back, you get another 2 years. Three month visas sound terrible but they work fine. You enter America within those 3 months, then you get your 2 years of stay. Before that ends, you apply for renewal without leaving the country. No limit exists on how many times you can renew. Some investors stay for decades by renewing every 2 years.
Want to maximize your E2 visa duration? Beyond Border can help structure your application for the longest possible validity period based on your nationality.
The investment must be substantial. No legal minimum exists but immigration experts suggest a $100,000 to $300,000 minimum. Anything under $100,000 faces tougher scrutiny. Your money needs to be at risk. That means actually spent on the business, not sitting in a bank account. Buy equipment, lease office space, pay for inventory. Make it real. The business must be active and real. Not marginal. Marginal means it only supports you and your family. The business should create American jobs within 5 years or at least have that potential.
You need at least 50% ownership or operational control. You're coming to develop and direct the business, not just collect dividends. Documentation requirements are heavy. Business plans, financial statements, proof of funds source, incorporation papers, lease agreements.
Processing takes 2 weeks to 4 months depending on the embassy. Some consulates move faster than others. The London embassy has a dedicated E-2 unit with 90 day processing standards. If you're already in America on another visa, you can file Form I-129 to change status. This happens inside the US without needing an embassy interview. It takes about 3 to 6 months.
Don't navigate the E2 process alone. Beyond Border's experienced team handles everything from business planning to embassy preparation, ensuring your application succeeds the first time.
Some countries qualify for both E-1 and E-2 visas. Others only have one visa, and that’s because E-1 visas are for traders. You need substantial trade between America and your home country. Goods, services, technology flowing back and forth. You're not investing in a US business, you're facilitating international commerce.
E-2 visas are for investors. You put money into an American business and run it. No trade requirement exists. Just investment and business development. Most e1-e2 visa countries qualify for both. Check the official State Department treaty list to see which categories your country covers. The E-1 typically needs at least 50% of trade to be between the US and your treaty country. The E-2 just needs substantial investment regardless of where customers come from.
Portugal's addition marks the biggest recent change. As of March 15, 2025, Portuguese citizens can apply for E-2 status. This came after legislation in 2022 and confirmation of reciprocal treatment. Israel was added back in 2019. New Zealand also joined that year. These additions came through legislation rather than traditional treaties. Approval rates hit record highs in 2024. Over 54,000 E2 visas were issued, the most ever. That's up from just 23,000 in 2020 during the pandemic.
Japan continues leading with 14,366 visas issued in 2024. South Korea is second with around 6,800. Canada third with approximately 6,800. Germany, UK, France, Italy, and Spain round out the top countries. The e 2 visa countries eligibility 2025 landscape looks stable. No major additions or removals are expected this year. But always check the official USCIS E-2 Treaty Investors page for current information.
Different countries don't have different investment minimums legally. But practical reality varies. Consular officers in some countries see more E2 applications. They develop country specific patterns and expectations. London processes thousands annually. They know what works. Generally, service businesses need less investment than manufacturing. A consulting firm might succeed with $100,000.
Opening in New York City costs more than rural Montana. Your investment needs to be substantial relative to the total cost. A $100,000 investment in a $150,000 business is substantial. The same amount in a $1 million business isn't. The e2 visa by country processing differences show up in interview questions and documentation requirements. Some consulates want more detailed financial projections. Others focus heavily on job creation plans.
Beyond Border creates country specific E2 strategies based on your nationality and target US market. Schedule your consultation to get a customized investment plan.
The E-2 isn't a path to permanent residency directly. It's a nonimmigrant visa. You need to intend to leave when it expires. But plenty of E2 holders eventually get green cards. You just need a different pathway. The EB-5 immigrant investor program is one option if you can invest $800,000 or more.
The EB-1 category works for people with extraordinary business achievements. If you build a hugely successful company, you might qualify. EB-2 National Interest Waiver could fit if your business serves American interests significantly. Creating lots of jobs or solving important problems helps. L-1 visa holders from e2 visa which countries sometimes transition through their companies. After running a US subsidiary for a year, the EB-1C green card becomes possible.
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come with you. They don't need citizenship from treaty countries. Your kids could be from anywhere. Spouses get automatic work authorization now. This changed in November 2021. Before that, they needed separate employment authorization documents. Now they can work anywhere without restrictions.
Kids can attend school but can't work until they turn 21. Once they hit 21, they need their own visa status or must leave. Dependent family members get the same period of stay as you. When you renew for another 2 years, they renew too. Everyone stays synchronized.
Which countries are eligible for an E2 investor visa? Over 80 countries qualify including UK, Germany, Canada, Japan, South Korea, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, and Portugal, while China, India, Brazil, and Russia are notably excluded from the E2 treaty countries list.
How long does an E2 visa last by country? E2 visa validity ranges from 3 months to 5 years depending on nationality, with Canada, UK, and Germany receiving 5 year validity while France gets 25 months, but all holders receive an initial 2 year stay regardless of validity.
Can Indian citizens get E2 visa for the USA? Indian citizens cannot directly apply for E2 visas since India lacks a treaty with the US, but they can obtain citizenship in qualifying countries like Grenada or Turkey through investment programs then apply for E2 status.
What is the E7 visa for South Korea? The E7 visa South Korea is a Korean work visa for foreigners with specialized skills working in South Korea, completely separate from the US E2 investor visa program and not related to American immigration.
What are E2 visa countries updating 2025? Portugal became the newest E2 qualifying country in March 2025, joining over 80 existing treaty nations, with no other major changes expected in 2025 though the official State Department list should be checked regularly.
