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United States route
E-2 treaty countries, and the citizenships that unlock them
The E-2 investor visa is the fastest lawful way for most foreign founders to live and operate a business in the United States. It turns entirely on holding the right passport.
The United States maintains treaties of commerce and navigation with a defined list of countries. If you hold the nationality of one of them and invest a substantial sum in a real US enterprise you direct, you can be admitted in E-2 status, renewably, with work authorisation for your spouse and school places for your children.
India, China, Nigeria, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are not treaty countries. For nationals of those countries the practical answer is to acquire a treaty citizenship first, which is why Grenada and Turkey account for most of the E-2 work we file from our Texas desk.
Acquirable treaty citizenships
Two routes that can be completed in under six months
Both are full citizenships, both permit dual nationality, and both are recognised for E-2 purposes. They are not otherwise similar.
Grenada Citizenship by Investment
The only Caribbean passport with a US E-2 treaty, from $235,000
- From
- From $235,000 contribution
- Timeline
- 6–9 months
Türkiye Citizenship by Investment
Real estate citizenship with a US E-2 treaty, from $400,000
- From
- From $400,000 in real estate
- Timeline
- 4–8 months
Sequence
How the route runs, in order
- 01
Confirm the treaty position
Check whether your current nationality already qualifies. A large share of enquiries do not need a second citizenship at all, and we say so before any engagement.
- 02
Acquire a qualifying citizenship if needed
Grenada, four to six months from filing, or Turkey, three to five months. Both are full citizenships with passports for spouse and dependent children.
- 03
Build the US enterprise
Incorporate, capitalise, lease premises and put the funds irrevocably at risk. Consular officers look for a real business with a credible five-year plan, not a shell.
- 04
File the visa application
Filed at a US consulate abroad or as a change of status inside the United States. Adjudication typically takes weeks rather than months once the business is genuinely operating.
Comparing this against permanent residence? Read our guide for United States persons and families and the detailed breakdown of the Grenada E-2 route.
Questions
E-2 questions we answer weekly
- Which citizenships qualify for the US E-2 visa?
- Only nationals of a country that holds a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States can file. The list is maintained by the US Department of State and changes rarely. Grenada, Turkey, Montenegro and North Macedonia are the treaty countries most relevant to investment migration because their citizenship can be acquired without prior residence.
- Can I buy a citizenship and then apply for E-2?
- Yes, and it is a well-established route. Grenada is the only Caribbean citizenship by investment program whose country holds an E-2 treaty. Turkey also qualifies. Some treaty countries impose a minimum period of citizenship before the visa can be used, so the sequence has to be planned rather than assumed.
- How much do I need to invest in the US business?
- There is no statutory minimum. In practice consular officers expect a substantial, irrevocably committed, at-risk investment in a real operating enterprise, commonly from the low six figures upwards, proportionate to the type of business. A passive property purchase does not qualify.
- Is E-2 a green card?
- No. E-2 is a non-immigrant status, renewable indefinitely while the business operates and qualifies, with work authorisation for the spouse and schooling for children. It does not itself lead to permanent residence. Families seeking a green card usually compare it against EB-5.
- How does E-2 compare with EB-5?
- E-2 is faster and far cheaper but confers no permanent residence and depends on a qualifying nationality. EB-5 requires a substantially larger capital commitment and job creation, and it leads to a green card. Many families use E-2 to move now and evaluate EB-5 later.
General information, not legal advice. US immigration filings should be reviewed by a licensed US attorney, and we work alongside one on every E-2 file.
Next step
Check whether your nationality already qualifies
Tell us your current passport and the business you intend to operate. We will tell you if you need a second citizenship at all.