Essential E-2 Visa Requirement: Treaty Country Citizenship

Explore the complete E-2 visa countries list. The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa for the USA is a popular visa option for foreign investors and entrepreneurs seeking to establish, develop, and direct a U.S. business. Unlike many other visa categories, the E-2 visa does not require a job offer and allows the principal investor to bring their family.

However, in order to qualify, the principal investor must be a citizen of one of the countries with which the United States maintains a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation.

Important Note on Citizenship: You must hold a passport from an E-2 Visa Country to qualify. Being a legal permanent resident of an E-2 country is not sufficient for eligibility. To learn more, visit E-2 visa requirements.

E-2 Investor Visa Treaty Countries and Validity Periods

Currently, the U.S. maintains E-2 Treaties with approximately 80 nations. The length of time the E-2 visa is issued for, known as the E-2 visa validity period (or reciprocity period), depends entirely on the agreement between the U.S. and the specific treaty country.

The table below lists the E-2 Investor Visa Countries and their standard maximum validity periods.

CountryE-2 Visa Validity Period (Maximum)Notes
Albania3 years 
Argentina5 years 
Armenia5 years 
Australia4 years 
Austria5 years 
Azerbaijan3 months 
Bahrain3 months 
Bangladesh3 months 
Belgium5 years 
Bolivia10-Year Sunset Period (Expired)Entitlement ended June 10, 2022.
Bosnia and Herzegovina1 year 
Bulgaria5 years 
Cameroon1 year 
Canada5 years 
Chile1 year 
China (Taiwan)5 years 
Colombia5 years 
Congo (Brazzaville)3 months 
Congo (Kinshasa)3 months 
Costa Rica4 years 
Croatia5 years 
Czech Republic5 years 
Denmark18 monthExcluding Greenland.
Ecuador10-Year Sunset Period for investments made by May 18, 2018 (Current)Entitlement continues until May 18, 2028.
Egypt3 months 
Estonia5 years 
Ethiopia6 months 
Finland2 years 
France48 months 
Georgia1 year 
Germany5 years 
Grenada5 years 
Honduras5 years 
Ireland5 years 
Israel24 months 
Italy5 years 
Jamaica5 years 
Japan5 yearsncluding Bonin Islands and Ryukyu Islands.
Jordan3 months 
Kazakhstan1 year 
South Korea5 years 
Kosovo1 year 
Kyrgyzstan3 months 
Latvia34 months 
Liberia1 year 
Lithuania1 year 
Luxembourg5 years 
North Macedonia5 years 
Mexico48 months 
Moldova3 months 
Mongolia3 years 
Montenegro1 year 
Morocco5 years 
Netherlands5 yearsIncluding Aruba and Netherlands Antilles.
New Zealand5 years 
Norway3 yearsExcluding Svalbard Spitzbergen and certain lesser islands.
Oman6 months 
Pakistan5 years 
Panama5 years 
Paraguay5 years 
Philippines5 years 
Poland5 years 
Portugal1 year 
Romania5 years 
Senegal1 year 
Serbia1 year 
Singapore2 years 
Slovakia2 years 
Slovenia5 years 
Spain5 years 
Sri Lanka3 years 
Suriname5 years 
Sweden2 years 
Switzerland4 years 
Thailand6 months 
Togo3 years 
Trinidad & Tobago5 years 
Tunisia5 years 
Turkey5 years 
Ukraine27 months 
United Kingdom5 yearsIncludes British territory in Europe, the British Isles, the Channel Islands, and Gibraltar (not including the Republic of Ireland).
   
   
   
   

Understanding E-2 Visa Validity and Status

It is important to distinguish between the visa validity period and the period of stay.

     

      • Visa Validity Period: This is the time during which you can use the visa to enter the U.S. (for example, 5 years for Canada).

    For countries with a short validity period (for example, 3 months), the investor must enter the U.S. within that 3-month window. Once inside the U.S., they are entitled to a 2-year period of stay. The investor can either renew their status with USCIS indefinitely inside the U.S. or renew the visa at a U.S. consulate if they travel internationally.

    E-2 Spouse and Dependent Status

    The E-2 investor visa allows for the entire family to relocate. The spouse and unmarried children under 21 qualify for derivative E-2 status based on the principal visa holder’s status.

    The key benefit here is that the family’s derivative status ties to the principal applicant’s nationality, not their own. For example:

       

        • If the primary investor is a citizen of Turkey (an E-2 Treaty Country), and their spouse and children are citizens of China (which is not an E-2 country), the spouse and children are still entitled to derivative E-2 status based on the Turkish citizenship of the principal applicant.

      E-2 spouses can work in the United States without restriction.

      Need to Speak to an E-2 Investor Visa Lawyer?

      If your country does not appear on this list, you should check the official U.S. Department of State website for the most current information.

      For more information about the E-2 Investor Visa or to speak to our experienced E2 visa lawyers in Miami, Florida, USA, contact us or schedule a consultation to determine your eligibility.

      We serve companies and individuals across all 50 states and worldwide.

      Ready to Start the E-2 Visa Process? Contact our E2 Visa Lawyers. Serving investors from all E-2 treaty countries across the USA and worldwide.

      Don’t risk your investment or your future on incomplete guidance. Partner with our Board-Certified E-2 Visa Lawyer to ensure your application meets every requirement, from substantial investment to final approval.

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