How to Access the E-2 Visa Through Dual Citizenship
The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is one of the most attractive pathways for entrepreneurs to live and work in the United States. But it comes with a fundamental restriction: you must be a citizen of a country that has a qualifying treaty with the U.S. This excludes nationals of India, China, Brazil, Russia, Vietnam, Nigeria, and dozens of other countries — some of the world's largest economies and most entrepreneurial populations. The solution that experienced immigration attorneys have developed is a dual citizenship strategy: obtain citizenship in a qualifying treaty country, then use that citizenship to apply for the E-2. This guide explains exactly how that works, which countries offer the best pathways, and the critical legal nuances you must understand before pursuing this route.
Get Started TodayWhy Non-Treaty Nationals Cannot Apply for the E-2
The E-2 visa exists only for nationals of countries that have signed a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with the United States. Over 80 countries are on the treaty list, including Japan, the UK, Germany, Canada, South Korea, France, and Australia. Major economies notably absent from the list include India, China, Brazil, Russia, Vietnam, and Nigeria. This exclusion is not based on wealth, business credentials, or investment amount — it is based purely on nationality. A highly capitalized Indian entrepreneur with a perfect business plan is ineligible for the E-2 regardless of how strong the application would otherwise be. Obtaining citizenship in a treaty country is the only way to unlock E-2 eligibility if your home country is not on the treaty list.
Grenada — The Most Popular CBI Route to E-2
Grenada is the most commonly used pathway to E-2 eligibility for non-treaty nationals, for two reasons: Grenada has a qualifying E-2 treaty with the United States (signed 1983), and Grenada offers a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program that allows foreign nationals to obtain Grenadian citizenship through a qualifying investment. The minimum investment is a non-refundable contribution of $235,000 to Grenada's National Transformation Fund (NTF), or a real estate investment starting at $270,000. Processing typically takes 6 to 9 months. Once you hold a Grenadian passport, you apply for the E-2 as a Grenadian citizen. However, there is a critical legal nuance introduced by the AMIGOS Act (passed late 2022): if you obtained your Grenadian citizenship through a financial investment, you may be subject to a three-year domicile requirement — meaning you must establish genuine residence in Grenada for three years before applying for the E-2. The application of this requirement depends on the specific circumstances of how the citizenship was obtained. This makes professional legal guidance essential — the wrong approach can delay your E-2 by years.
Turkey — An Alternative CBI Option
Turkey maintains an E-2 treaty with the United States and offers a Citizenship by Investment program through several routes, including investment in government bonds, real estate (minimum $400,000), or a fixed capital investment. Turkish citizenship by investment can be obtained relatively quickly — often within 3 to 6 months. However, Turkey's program is structured entirely around capital deployment and carries the same AMIGOS Act domicile concern as Grenada. Additionally, Turkish CBI citizenship does not offer a spousal registration workaround that Grenada provides, which can affect family immigration strategies. Currency risk is another consideration — some Turkish investment routes involve exposure to Turkish Lira, which has experienced significant devaluation.
Portugal — A New Option with Long-Term Potential
Portugal was added to the E-2 treaty list in March 2025, opening a new pathway for investors who obtain Portuguese citizenship. Portuguese citizenship can be obtained through the Portugal Golden Visa program (minimum €500,000 fund investment, citizenship after 5 years of holding the investment), through descent (if you have Portuguese ancestry), through marriage to a Portuguese citizen (after 3 years), or through naturalization after 5 years of legal residence. For Brazilian nationals in particular, a significant percentage of the population has eligibility for Portuguese citizenship through ancestry — Portuguese law recognizes rights through up to three generations from former Portuguese territories including Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and Goa (India). The Portugal pathway is longer than Grenada or Turkey but leads to an EU passport, which carries substantially greater global mobility value.
The AMIGOS Act — What You Must Know
The AMIGOS Act, passed in late 2022, introduced a three-year domicile requirement for individuals who acquired treaty country citizenship through a financial investment. In plain terms: if you buy a Grenada or Turkey passport through their CBI programs, you may be required to establish genuine domicile in that country for three continuous years before the U.S. will recognize your treaty nationality for E-2 purposes. Domicile is not the same as residency and is not a simple day-count test — it requires genuine establishment of your principal place of residence. However, Grenada offers one legally distinct route that can avoid this requirement: citizenship obtained through spousal registration. If the primary CBI applicant's spouse acquires Grenadian citizenship by registration (through marriage to a Grenadian citizen, including the primary applicant once they become Grenadian), that spouse is not subject to the domicile requirement and may be able to apply for a derivative E-2 visa. This is a complex strategy that requires careful legal planning.
Other Dual Citizenship Options
Several other pathways to treaty country citizenship exist for specific nationalities. Russian nationals can relatively easily obtain citizenship in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, or Georgia — all of which are E-2 treaty countries. For Indian nationals born in Goa, Portuguese citizenship may be claimed by birth right under Portuguese law. Investors with European ancestry may explore citizenship by descent in countries like Italy, Ireland, or Poland — all E-2 treaty countries — though these processes can take years. Dual nationals who already hold citizenship in both a non-treaty country and a treaty country should note: they are eligible for the E-2 using their treaty country passport. Eligibility is based on citizenship, not birthplace or primary residence.
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