Of the many visas that are used to live and work in the USA, few are as sought-after as E-class visas. A perfect option for certain entrepreneurs and traders, E visas are relatively cheap to obtain (apart from your investment), don't require a job offer and can be renewed an unlimited number of times. But not every investor or trader is eligible. You must be from a treaty country to qualify. Read on to find out exactly what this means and which nations count as E-2 visa treaty countries.

Country-specific footnotes

1. China (Taiwan) - Pursuant to Section 6 of the Taiwan Relations Act, (TRA) Public Law 96-8, 93 Stat, 14, and Executive Order 12143, 44 FR 37191, this agreement which was entered into with the Taiwan authorities prior to January 1, 1979, is administered on a non-governmental basis by the American Institute in Taiwan, a District of Columbia non-profit corporation, and does not constitute any recognition of the Taiwan authorities or the continuation of any official relationship with Taiwan.
2. Czech Republic and Slovak Republic - The Treaty with the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic entered into force on December 19, 1992; it entered into force for the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic as separate states on January 1, 1993.
3. Denmark - The Treaty that entered into force on July 30, 1961 does not apply to Greenland.
4. France - The treaty, which entered into force on December 21, 1960, applies to the departments of Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Réunion.
5. 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.
6. The Netherlands - The Treaty, which entered into force on December 5, 1957, applies to Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles.
7. Norway - The Treaty that entered into force on September 13, 1932 does not apply to Svalbard (Spitzbergen and some smaller islands).
8. Spain - The Treaty, which entered into force on April 14, 1903, applies to all territories.
9. Suriname - The Treaty with the Netherlands, which entered into force on December 5, 1957, became applicable to Suriname on February 10, 1963.
10. United Kingdom - The Convention that entered into force on July 3, 1815 applied only to British territory in Europe (the British Isles (except the Republic of Ireland), the Channel Islands and Gibraltar) and to the "inhabitants" of that territory. This term, as used in the Convention, means "one who actually and permanently resides in a given place, and has his domicile there". In addition, to qualify for the status of treaty trader or treaty investor under this treaty, the foreigner must be a citizen of the United Kingdom. Individuals who have the nationality of Commonwealth members other than the United Kingdom do not qualify for treaty trader or treaty investor status under this treaty.
11. Yugoslavia - The US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has been dissolved and that the successors that previously constituted the SFRY - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo continue to be bound by the treaty in force with the SFRY and the time of dissolution.
12. The E-3 visa is for citizens 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 the theoretical and practical application of a highly specialized body of knowledge, and obtaining 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's definition of an H-1B specialty occupation.
13. Bolivia - Bolivian nationals with qualifying investments in place in the United States as of June 10, 2012 remain eligible for E-2 classification until June 10, 2022. The only nationals of Bolivia (other than those qualifying for derivative status based on a reported family relationship with 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.
14. Ecuadorian nationals with qualifying investments in force in the United States as of May 18, 2018 remain eligible for E-2 classification until May 18, 2028. The only nationals of Ecuador (other than those eligible for derivative status based on a family relationship with 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 in establishment d or acquired prior to May 18, 2018.
15. Israel: according to a treaty of friendship, commerce and navigation between the United States and Israel that entered into force on April 3, 1954, entitled citizens of Israel to E-1 status for treaty traders purposes. Citizens of Israel are not entitled to E-2 classification for treaty investor purposes under that treaty. Public Law 112-130 (June 8, 2012), grants citizens of Israel E-2 status for treaty investor purposes if the Government of Israel grants similar non-immigrant status to citizens of the United States. The Department confirmed that Israel offers reciprocal treaty investor treatment to U.S. citizens and the E-2 visa can be issued to citizens of Israel as of May 1, 2019.
16. New Zealand: Public Law 115-226, enacted on August 1, 2018, granted New Zealand nationals E-1 and E-2 status for treaty negotiator/treaty investor purposes if the New Zealand government grants similar nonimmigrant status to United States nationals. The Department has confirmed that New Zealand offers similar non-immigrant status to US nationals and that E visas can be issued to New Zealand nationals from June 10, 2019.

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