Updated September 2026
Key takeaways
The E-1 Visa is designed for individuals or companies from treaty countries who engage in substantial trade between their home country and the United States. This visa option allows qualified foreign nationals to enter and work in the U.S. based on trade activities rather than investment in a new business.
To be eligible for an E-1 visa, you must be a national of a treaty country. Unlike the E2 visa, the E1 visa does not require an investment in a new business. Instead, you must be involved in substantial trade activities between the United States and your home country.
No. The E-1 visa has no investment requirement and no minimum investment amount. It is a treaty trader visa, so you qualify based on the trade your business already conducts with the United States, not on money you put into a US business.
If you are looking up an “E-1 visa investment amount,” you may be thinking of the E-2 visa. The E-2 is the treaty investor visa: it requires a substantial investment in a real, operating US business, and in practice Rupert Law advises planning on at least $100,000. The two visas also have different treaty country lists, so check both. Learn more about the difference between the E-1 and E-2 visa, or review the E-2 treaty investor visa requirements.
Trade means the international exchange of goods, services, or technology, where title passes from one party to the other. Qualifying trade is not limited to physical goods. It can also include services and technology, international banking, insurance, transportation, tourism, and communications.
To qualify, the trade must be:
Canadian traders can read more about the E-1 visa for Canadian traders.
Nothing. The E-1 has no investment requirement or minimum amount, because it is based on trade. If you plan to invest in a US business, the E-2 treaty investor visa is likely the right category.
The E-1 is for treaty traders, who carry on substantial, ongoing trade between the United States and their treaty country. The E-2 is for treaty investors, who make a substantial investment in a US business.
A continuous flow of sizable and numerous transactions over time. Volume and continuity matter more than a single large deal.
More than 50% of your business’s total international trade must be between the United States and your treaty country.
The international exchange of goods, services, or technology where title passes between the parties. It can include goods, services, technology, international banking, insurance, transportation, tourism, and communications.
Yes. Qualifying trade must already be underway when you apply, not merely planned.
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Rupert Law. Angie Rupert is located in Los Angeles County.
Allows traders to enter and exit the U.S. multiple times during the validity of the visa. Live or stay up to two years at a time.
E1 visa holders can bring a spouse and unmarried minor children to the U.S. Your spouse can work, and your children can go to school.
The E1 visa is based on previous and ongoing trade. No additional investment is needed for the E1 visa.
Check the State Department website for the list of countries with valid E1 treaty agreements with the United States. Your nationality must match one of these treaty countries.
You must currently be engaged in trade between your treaty country and the United States. This could involve trading goods, services, or both.
You should have documentation showing a pattern of trade history between your home country and the United States. This establishes that the trading relationship is established and ongoing.
The volume of trade must be substantial and the trading relationship must be ongoing. You’ll need to provide documentation showing the extent and continuity of your trade activities.
This is the most important factor for this visa. Note that some countries that do not allow for the E2 visa WILL allow for the E1 visa (and vice versa), so even if you think you may not be from a treaty country, check out the list to be sure.
This is also crucial. Your current business should be either importing or exporting with the U.S. on a continuous basis. NOTE – This does NOT mean that you must be trading goods. You could also be trading services. If you own a service-based business in your home country, but many of your clients are living in the U.S., you may meet this requirement.
You should be able to show an established pattern of trade between your home country and the U.S. This demonstrates that the trading relationship is not new but has been built up over time.
The trade must be significant in volume and ongoing. You will need to demonstrate this with documentation showing the extent and continuity of your trade activities.