The Treaty Trader (E-1) or Treaty Investor (E-2) visa is for a national of a country with which the United States (U.S.) maintains a treaty of friendship, commerce and navigation, who is coming to the U.S. to carry on substantial trade, including trade in services or technology, principally between the U.S. and the treaty country, or to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the national has invested, or is in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital.
The following is an alphabetized list of eligible E-Treaty Nations:
(some countries only have either E-1 or E-2, but not both.)
| Country | Classification | Entered into Force |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | E-2 | January 4, 1998 |
| Argentina | E-1 | December 20, 1854 |
| Argentina | E-2 | December 20, 1854 |
| Armenia | E-2 | March 29, 1996 |
| Australia | E-1 | December 16, 1991 |
| Australia | E-2 | December 27, 1991 |
| Australia 12 | E-3 | September 2, 2005 |
| Austria | E-1 | May 27, 1931 |
| Austria | E-2 | May 27, 1931 |
| Azerbaijan | E-2 | August 2, 2001 |
| Bahrain | E-2 | May 30, 2001 |
| Bangladesh | E-2 | July 25, 1989 |
| Belgium | E-1 | October 3, 1963 |
| Belgium | E-2 | October 3, 1963 |
| Bolivia | E-1 | November 09, 1862 |
| Bolivia 13 | E-2 | June 6, 2001 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1982 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1982 |
| Brunei | E-1 | July 11, 1853 |
| Bulgaria | E-2 | June 2, 1954 |
| Cameroon | E-2 | April 6, 1989 |
| Canada | E-1 | January 1, 1994 |
| Canada | E-2 | January 1, 1994 |
| Chile | E-1 | January 1, 2004 |
| Chile | E-2 | January 1, 2004 |
| China (Taiwan) 1 | E-1 | November 30, 1948 |
| China (Taiwan) 1 | E-2 | November 30, 1948 |
| Colombia | E-1 | June 10, 1948 |
| Colombia | E-2 | June 10, 1948 |
| Congo (Brazzaville) | E-2 | August 13, 1994 |
| Congo (Kinshasa) | E-2 | July 28, 1989 |
| Costa Rica | E-1 | May 26, 1852 |
| Costa Rica | E-2 | May 26, 1852 |
| Croatia 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1982 |
| Croatia 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1982 |
| Czech Republic 2 | E-2 | January 1, 1993 |
| Denmark 3 | E-1 | July 30, 1961 |
| Denmark | E-2 | December 10, 2008 |
| Ecuador 14 | E-2 | May 11, 1997 |
| Egypt | E-2 | June 27, 1992 |
| Estonia | E-1 | May 22, 1926 |
| Estonia | E-2 | February 16, 1997 |
| Ethiopia | E-1 | October 8, 1953 |
| Ethiopia | E-2 | October 8, 1953 |
| Finland | E-1 | August 10, 1934 |
| Finland | E-2 | December 1, 1992 |
| France 4 | E-1 | December 21, 1960 |
| France 4 | E-2 | December 21, 1960 |
| Georgia | E-2 | August 17, 1997 |
| Germany | E-1 | July 14, 1956 |
| Germany | E-2 | July 14, 1956 |
| Greece | E-1 | October 13, 1954 |
| Grenada | E-2 | March 3, 1989 |
| Honduras | E-1 | July 19, 1928 |
| Honduras | E-2 | July 19, 1928 |
| Ireland | E-1 | September 14, 1950 |
| Ireland | E-2 | November 18, 1992 |
| Israel 15 | E-1 | April 3, 1954 |
| Israel 15 | E-2 | May 1, 2019 |
| Italy | E-1 | July 26, 1949 |
| Italy | E-2 | July 26, 1949 |
| Jamaica | E-2 | March 7, 1997 |
| Japan 5 | E-1 | October 30, 1953 |
| Japan 5 | E-2 | October 30, 1953 |
| Jordan | E-1 | December 17, 2001 |
| Jordan | E-2 | December 17, 2001 |
| Kazakhstan | E-2 | January 12, 1994 |
| Korea (South) | E-1 | November 7, 1957 |
| Korea (South) | E-2 | November 7, 1957 |
| Kosovo 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Kosovo 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Kyrgyzstan | E-2 | January 12, 1994 |
| Latvia | E-1 | July 25, 1928 |
| Latvia | E-2 | December 26, 1996 |
| Liberia | E-1 | November 21, 1939 |
| Liberia | E-2 | November 21, 1939 |
| Lithuania | E-2 | November 22, 2001 |
| Luxembourg | E-1 | March 28, 1963 |
| Luxembourg | E-2 | March 28, 1963 |
| Macedonia 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1982 |
| Macedonia 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1982 |
| Mexico | E-1 | January 1, 1994 |
| Mexico | E-2 | January 1, 1994 |
| Moldova | E-2 | November 25, 1994 |
| Mongolia | E-2 | January 1, 1997 |
| Montenegro 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Montenegro 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Morocco | E-2 | May 29, 1991 |
| Netherlands 6 | E-1 | December 5, 1957 |
| Netherlands 6 | E-2 | December 5, 1957 |
| New Zealand 16 | E1 | June 10, 2019 |
| New Zealand 16 | E2 | June 10, 2019 |
| Norway 7 | E-1 | January 18, 1928 |
| Norway 7 | E-2 | January 18, 1928 |
| Oman | E-1 | June 11, 1960 |
| Oman | E-2 | June 11, 1960 |
| Pakistan | E-1 | February 12, 1961 |
| Pakistan | E-2 | February 12, 1961 |
| Panama | E-2 | May 30, 1991 |
| Paraguay | E-1 | March 07, 1860 |
| Paraguay | E-2 | March 07, 1860 |
| Philippines | E-1 | September 6, 1955 |
| Philippines | E-2 | September 6, 1955 |
| Poland | E-1 | August 6, 1994 |
| Poland | E-2 | August 6, 1994 |
| Romania | E-2 | January 15, 1994 |
| Senegal | E-2 | October 25, 1990 |
| Serbia 11 | E-1 | November 15,1882 |
| Serbia 11 | E-2 | November 15,1882 |
| Singapore | E-1 | January 1, 2004 |
| Singapore | E-2 | January 1, 2004 |
| Slovak Republic 2 | E-2 | January 1, 1993 |
| Slovenia 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1982 |
| Slovenia 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1982 |
| Spain 8 | E-1 | April 14, 1903 |
| Spain 8 | E-2 | April 14, 1903 |
| Sri Lanka | E-2 | May 1, 1993 |
| Suriname 9 | E-1 | February 10, 1963 |
| Suriname 9 | E-2 | February 10, 1963 |
| Sweden | E-1 | February 20, 1992 |
| Sweden | E-2 | February 20, 1992 |
| Switzerland | E-1 | November 08, 1855 |
| Switzerland | E-2 | November 08, 1855 |
| Thailand | E-1 | June 8, 1968 |
| Thailand | E-2 | June 8, 1968 |
| Togo | E-1 | February 5, 1967 |
| Togo | E-2 | February 5, 1967 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | E-2 | December 26, 1996 |
| Tunisia | E-2 | February 7, 1993 |
| Turkey | E-1 | February 15, 1933 |
| Turkey | E-2 | May 18, 1990 |
| Ukraine | E-2 | November 16, 1996 |
| United Kingdom 10 | E-1 | July 03, 1815 |
| United Kingdom 10 | E-2 | July 03, 1815 |
| Yugoslavia 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Yugoslavia 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
Country Specific Footnotes
- China (Taiwan) – Pursuant to Section 6 of the Taiwan Relations Act, (TRA) Public Law 96-8, 93 Stat, 14, and Executive Order 12143, 44 F.R. 37191, this agreement which was concluded with the Taiwan authorities prior to January 01, 1979, is administered on a nongovernmental basis by the American Institute in Taiwan, a nonprofit District of Columbia corporation, and constitutes neither recognition of the Taiwan authorities nor the continuation of any official relationship with Taiwan.
- Czech Repubilc and Slovak Republic – The Treaty with the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic entered into force on December 19, 1992; entered into force for the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic as separate states on January 01, 1993.
- Denmark – The Treaty which entered into force on July 30, 1961, does not apply to Greenland.
- France – The Treaty which entered into force on December 21, 1960, applies to the departments of Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Reunion.
- Japan – The Treaty which entered into force on October 30, 1953, was made applicable to the Bonin Islands on June 26, 1968, and to the Ryukyu Islands on May 15, 1972.
- Netherlands – The Treaty which entered into force on December 05, 1957, is applicable to Aruba and Netherlands Antilles.
- Norway – The Treaty which entered into force on September 13, 1932, does not apply to Svalbard (Spitzbergen and certain lesser islands).
- Spain – The Treaty which entered into force on April 14, 1903, is applicable to all territories.
- Suriname – The Treaty with the Netherlands which entered into force December 05, 1957, was made applicable to Suriname on February 10, 1963.
- United Kingdom – The Convention which entered into force on July 03, 1815, applies only to British territory in Europe (the British Isles (except the Republic of Ireland), the Channel Islands and Gibraltar) and to “inhabitants” of such territory. This term, as used in the Convention, means “one who resides actually and permanently in a given place, and has his domicile there.” Also, in order to qualify for treaty trader or treaty investor status under this treaty, the alien must be a national of the United Kingdom. Individuals having the nationality of members of the Commonwealth other than the United Kingdom do not qualify for treaty trader or treaty investor status under this treaty.
- Yugoslavia – The U.S. view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that the successors that formerly made up the SFRY – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo a continue to be bound by the treaty in force with the SFRY and the time of dissolution.
- The E-3 visa is for nationals of the Commonwealth of Australia who wish to enter the United States to perform services in a “specialty occupation.” The term “specialty occupation” means an occupation that requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge, and attainment of a bachelor’s or higher degree in the specific specialty (or its equivalent) as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States. The definition is the same as the Immigration and Nationality Act definition of an H-1B specialty occupation.
- Bolivia – Bolivian nationals with qualifying investments in place in the United States by June 10, 2012 continue to be entitled to E-2 classification until June 10, 2022. The only nationals of Bolivia (other than those qualifying for derivative status based on a familial relationship to an E-2 principal alien) who may qualify for E-2 visas at this time are those applicants who are coming to the United States to engage in E-2 activity in furtherance of covered investments established or acquired prior to June 10, 2012.
- Ecuadorian nationals with qualifying investments in place in the United States by May 18, 2018 continue to be entitled to E-2 classification until May 18, 2028. The only nationals of Ecuador (other than those qualifying for derivative status based on a familial relationship to an E-2 principal alien) who may qualify for E-2 visas at this time are those applicants who are coming to the United States to engage in E-2 activity in furtherance of covered investments established or acquired prior to May 18, 2018.
- Israel: Pursuant to a treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation between the United States and Israel that entered into force on April 3, 1954 entitled nationals of Israel to E-1 status for treaty trader purposes. Nationals of Israel are not entitled to E-2 classification for treaty investor purposes under that treaty. Public Law 112-130 (June 8, 2012), accords nationals of Israel E-2 status for treaty investor purposes if the Government of Israel provides similar nonimmigrant status to nationals of the United States. The Department has confirmed that Israel offers reciprocal treaty investor treatment to U.S. nationals and E-2 visa may be issued to nationals of Israel beginning on May 1, 2019.
- New Zealand: Public Law 115-226, enacted on August 1, 2018, accorded nationals of New Zealand to E-1 and E-2 status for treaty trader/treaty investor purposes if the Government of New Zealand provides similar nonimmigrant status to nationals of the United States. The Department has confirmed that New Zealand offers similar nonimmigrant status to U.S. nationals and E visas may be issued to nationals of New Zealand beginning on June 10, 2019.