The E2's first requirement is nationality: the applicant must be a national of a country that maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States. Roughly 80 countries qualify — and the qualifying nationality can come from the applicant, the business partner, or the spouse.

Below, the main treaty countries by region. The list changes over time — countries enter (like Portugal, in 2024) — so always confirm your case on the US Department of State's official page and with an immigration attorney.

Europe

Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal (since 2024), the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Türkiye, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Serbia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia, among others.

Americas

Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Ecuador, among others. Notably, Brazil is not a treaty country — which is why Brazilian applicants typically qualify through a second (European) nationality.

Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa

Japan (the E2's biggest user), South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Pakistan, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, and others.

Three practical notes

1. The nationality can come from the applicant, the business partner, or the spouse — dependents don't need it individually. 2. Visa validity and reciprocity vary by country: some nationalities receive 5-year multi-entry visas; others, shorter terms. 3. If you hold more than one nationality, which passport you apply with has practical consequences — plan it with the attorney.

Not on the list?

Some investors from non-treaty countries qualify through a second nationality — by descent (common with Italian, German, Spanish, and Portuguese ancestry) or by naturalization elsewhere. Whether that path applies to your family is a question for an immigration attorney; our work begins once the nationality path exists, selecting the right franchise for your profile.

Where Unike comes in

If you hold a treaty nationality, you likely qualify directly — and the decisive step becomes choosing the business. That's our specialty: selecting, among 700+ American franchises, the ones that fit your profile, your capital, and the E2's requirements, and supporting you to the signed agreement.