E-2 visa · Canada
The E-2 visa for Canadian citizens: what your passport changes
Canadian citizens have been eligible for the E-2 visa since 1989. For a Canadian entrepreneur, it is the most direct route to living in the United States while running the business you invest in: a startup, a franchise or a takeover, with no lottery and none of the permanent-residence delays.
Treaty in force
since 1989
Where cases are filed
U.S. Consulate General Toronto
Your spouse
authorized to work in the US
Legal minimum investment
none (“substantial”)
E-2 cases from Canada are centralized at the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto.
In practice, from Canada
The Canadian specificity: E-2 cases are centralized at the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto, wherever you live in Canada. The file is written in English, including for French-speaking applicants from Quebec.
The typical path: a structured project with committed funds (Canadian dollars converted and traced through to the business's US account), a complete documentary file, DS-160 and DS-156E, then the interview in Toronto.
Proximity is your edge: scouting premises, meeting an accountant or signing a lease is a simple round trip, and every document you bring back strengthens the investment tab of your file. Many Canadian applicants build their whole case around two or three short trips.
Visa validity depends on your country's official reciprocity schedule (U.S. Department of State). It changes over time; check travel.state.gov when you file.
The questions we get asked
What is the minimum investment amount?
The law sets no minimum amount. The test is that your investment is “substantial” relative to the real cost of your business, and already committed when you file. Solid cases exist from $50,000-$100,000 depending on the activity. Coherence matters, not a magic threshold.
Can my spouse and children come with me?
Yes. Your spouse and children under 21 receive derivative E-2 status. Your spouse is authorized to work in the United States for any employer, and children can attend school normally.
How long is the E-2 visa valid?
Validity depends on the reciprocity schedule between the US and your country of nationality, published by the Department of State, and the visa is renewable indefinitely as long as the business genuinely operates. Each entry admits you for two years.
Do I need a lawyer to file an E-2 case?
No, nothing requires one. An E-2 case is a documentary case: you sign and file it yourself. VisaCrafter helps you structure it and prepare every document (business plan included), without legal advice: we are not lawyers, and thousands of cases are filed every year without one.
Where to start?
The free guide breaks down a real $15,000 attorney fee agreement and shows how to self-file. Rather talk it through? 15 minutes with Anthony, free.
VisaCrafter helps you structure and prepare the documents of your E-2 case. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.