(Reviewed June 2025)
Differences between the EB-5 and E-2 visas
In 2025, the EB-5 visa offers a path to a green card for investors who put $800,000–$1,050,000 into a U.S. business that creates at least 10 jobs, with no nationality restrictions. The E-2 visa, by contrast, is a nonimmigrant visa for nationals of certain treaty countries, requiring a “substantial” investment (often $100K+) in a business they actively manage. For the E-2 visa, investors need to be from one of the about 80 eligible countries in Europe, Americas, Asia, Middle East and Africa.
An EB-5 investment visa is a type of immigration visa available to foreign investors who wish to immigrate to the United States. Different countries have different types of immigrant investor programs that function to encourage foreign investment in exchange for conditional or permanent residency. The requirements for an investment visa differ between countries and visa types. Different programs will also require different amounts of investment and will award different types of residency. The United States offers two types of investment visa—the EB-5 visa, and the E-2 visa.
Learn what the pros and cons are between the EB-5 and the E-2 visas.
EB-5 Investment Visa
An EB-5 investment visa is different than other types of visas available in the United States, including other employment-based visas, the diversity immigrant visa, and family-based visas. In the United States, the EB-5 visa is the only employment-based visa that requires investment.
The EB-5 visa is a means for foreigners to obtain a green card, and potentially citizenship in the United States. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services oversees the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program and offers investment visas to foreign investors who invest $1.05 million (or $800,000 if the investment is made in a targeted employment area) into a new commercial enterprise in the U.S. The investment must also create 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. The foreign investor will then be able to apply for a U.S. green card and eventually obtain permanent residence if the jobs are proven to have been created.
E-2 Investment Visa
Another type of investment visa in the United States is the E-2 Treaty Investors visa. The E-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa that is obtained by a foreign investor from a country that maintains a treaty of navigation and commerce with the United States. According to the U.S. Department of State, there are currently approximately 80 countries designated for E‑2 visa eligibility.
In order to receive the visa, the applicant must invest capital into a business in the United States. Under the E-2 visa option, specific employees of the investor or the authorized organization may also apply for the visa. There is also an application process for family members of investors obtaining a U.S. visa under the E-2 option.
In order to be approved for an E-2 non-immigrant visa, the investor must have invested (or begun the investment process) a substantial amount of funds into a genuine U.S. business—enough to start and operate the business. Unlike the EB-5 visa, the E-2 visa requires renewal; however, there is no limit to how many times the visa can be renewed. Once the business venture is complete, the foreign investor must leave the United States or change their status—the E-2 visa does not directly lead to a green card and citizenship like the EB-5 visa.
Other immigration pathways
The L-1 and EB-1C visas offer a business-based pathway for foreign executives or managers of multinational companies to live and work in the U.S., with the L-1 allowing temporary relocation and the EB-1C leading to a green card. These routes are ideal for those expanding or transferring a company to the U.S., requiring proof of an active business abroad and qualifying roles held for at least one year. Unlike the EB-5 visa, which is open to a broader range of investors and based on a qualifying capital investment and job creation, the L-1/EB-1C route is more focused on operational business leadership rather than passive investment. EB-5 is often favored by those without prior company affiliations or those seeking a more investment-driven, less operationally intensive route to U.S. residency.
