Treaty Trader (E-1) and Treaty Investor (E-2) Visas
The Treaty Trader (E-1) and Treaty Investor (E-2) visas are available to nationals of countries that maintain a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States. These visas allow individuals to enter the U.S. for one of the following purposes:
- E-1 (Treaty Trader): To carry on substantial trade, including trade in services or technology, primarily between the U.S. and the treaty country.
- E-2 (Treaty Investor): To develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the applicant has invested, or is actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital.
Eligible E-Treaty Countries
The following is an alphabetical list of countries whose nationals may qualify for E-1 or E-2 visas. Note that some countries are eligible for only one of the classifications.
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 |
Portugal 17 | E-1 | December 2022, eff. Apr. 25, 2024 |
Portugal 17 | E-2 | December 2022, eff. Apr. 25, 2024 |
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): Under the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-8) and Executive Order 12143, agreements concluded before January 1, 1979, are administered through the American Institute in Taiwan on a nongovernmental basis.
- Czech Republic & Slovak Republic: The treaty with the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic entered into force on December 19, 1992. It continued separately for both successor states from January 1, 1993.
- Denmark: Treaty effective July 30, 1961, does not apply to Greenland.
- France: Treaty effective December 21, 1960, applies to Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Réunion.
- Japan: Treaty applies to Bonin Islands (since June 26, 1968) and Ryukyu Islands (since May 15, 1972).
- Netherlands: Treaty applies to Aruba and Netherlands Antilles.
- Norway: Treaty effective September 13, 1932, does not apply to Svalbard.
- Spain: Treaty effective April 14, 1903, applies to all Spanish territories.
- Suriname: Treaty with Netherlands (effective December 5, 1957) extended to Suriname on February 10, 1963.
- United Kingdom: The 1815 treaty applies only to British territory in Europe and requires actual and permanent residency in the U.K. Nationals of other Commonwealth countries are not eligible under this treaty.
- Yugoslavia: The U.S. regards former SFRY countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo) as treaty successors.
E-3 Visa Classification (Australia Only)
The E-3 visa is available exclusively to nationals of the Commonwealth of Australia who are entering the U.S. to perform services in a specialty occupation. This is defined similarly to the H-1B category as one requiring:
- A theoretical and practical application of specialized knowledge, and
- A bachelor’s or higher degree (or equivalent) in the specific specialty.
Special Country Conditions
- Bolivia: Nationals with qualifying investments in place by June 10, 2012, remained eligible for E-2 classification through June 10, 2022. New applicants must be engaging in investment activity tied to such legacy investments.
- Ecuador: Nationals with qualifying investments in place by May 18, 2018, remain eligible for E-2 status through May 18, 2028, under similar conditions.
- Israel: The U.S.–Israel treaty effective April 3, 1954, allows for E-1 status only. However, Public Law 112-130 (June 8, 2012) authorized E-2 classification beginning May 1, 2019, following confirmation of reciprocal treatment by Israel.
- New Zealand: Under Public Law 115-226 (August 1, 2018), New Zealand nationals became eligible for E-1 and E-2 classification beginning June 10, 2019.
- Portugal: The AMIGOS Act (signed December 28, 2022) enables Portuguese nationals to apply for E visas. Full implementation began April 25, 2024.
Final Notes
E-visa applications are complex and require thorough documentation and preparation.
Avoid unlicensed or inexperienced representation. Work with a qualified U.S. immigration attorney to ensure proper handling of your case.
For the latest information on U.S. visa reciprocity, processing times, and eligibility, visit the U.S. Department of State website.
Last Revision: March 2025.