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There are 8 main ways for an investor, entrepreneur or professional to move to the United States in 2026. Four are temporary visas (E-2, E-1, O-1 and L-1A) and four lead to a green card (EB-5 from USD 800,000, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW and EB-1C after an L-1A). None of them sells US citizenship.
Find your US routeMCP
Answer and evidence
The United States has no golden visa and no citizenship by investment. Investors and professionals use 8 main routes in 2026. Nationals of 79 treaty countries can run a business they invest in on the E-2 visa, which has no legal minimum. People with exceptional achievements use the O-1 visa, or self-petition for a green card through EB-1A or the EB-2 National Interest Waiver. Owners and managers of a company abroad can move to its US office on the L-1A visa and later qualify for the EB-1C green card. The EB-5 investor green card starts at USD 800,000 in a targeted employment area, or USD 1,050,000 elsewhere, and covers the spouse and unmarried children under 21. Citizenship follows only by naturalisation, normally after 5 years with a green card.
Which route fits you?
US routes sort themselves by four questions: your nationality, your track record, whether you already run a company abroad, and whether you need a green card now or a visa first. The first question that applies to you usually settles the route before cost does.
By nationality and business
Nationals of 79 treaty countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and the Netherlands, can live in the US while running a business they have invested in. There is no legal minimum: the investment must be substantial for the business you buy or build, committed and at risk. Buying a franchise is one common way to meet the test.
Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo - Brazzaville, Congo - Kinshasa, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Honduras, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Kingdom.
By track record
Founders, executives, scientists, athletes and artists with documented recognition can use the O-1 visa, which needs no investment and is open to every nationality. The strongest profiles can self-petition for a green card through EB-1A, with no employer and no investment.
By company
If you have worked as an executive or manager for your company abroad for at least one year in the last three, the company can transfer you to a US branch, subsidiary or affiliate, including a new office, on the L-1A visa. No treaty nationality is needed, and the route leads on to the EB-1C green card.
By goal
The EB-5 programme grants a conditional green card for an investment of USD 800,000 in a targeted employment area or USD 1,050,000 elsewhere that creates 10 full-time US jobs. One investment covers the investor, the spouse and unmarried children under 21. The capital is at risk and no return is guaranteed.
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Comparison
The 8 routes differ most on who may apply and on whether you receive a temporary visa or a green card. Every route below is a live MCP record checked against USCIS, the Department of State or the eCFR.
Live data via ourMCP · 13 October 2026
| Route | Who qualifies | Minimum | Status granted | Official time | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-2 Treaty InvestorE-2 visa | Nationals of the 79 E-2 treaty countries | No legal minimum; substantial, committed and at risk | Temporary visa, stays of up to 2 years, renewable without limit | Varies by consulate; premium 15 business days for a change of status | Spouse may work (E-2S); children under 21 join |
| E-2 through a franchiseE-2 visa | Treaty nationals buying a US franchise | No legal minimum; substantial for the franchise bought | Temporary visa, renewable | As for the E-2 | As for the E-2 |
| O-1 Extraordinary AbilityO-1 visa | Any nationality with documented extraordinary ability | None required | Temporary visa, up to 3 years, then 1-year extensions | Premium 15 business days | Spouse and children join (O-3), without work rights |
| L-1A Intracompany ManagerL-1A visa | Executives and managers of a related company abroad | No set threshold; a real US office | Temporary visa, up to 7 years in total | Premium 15 business days | Spouse may work (L-2S); children under 21 join |
| EB-5 Immigrant InvestorEB-5 green card | Any nationality with lawful investment capital | USD 800,000 (targeted area) or USD 1,050,000 | Conditional green card for 2 years, then permanent | Depends on category and country of birth | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 in one investment |
| EB-1A Extraordinary AbilityEB-1A green card | Any nationality with sustained acclaim | None required | Green card by self-petition | Premium 15 business days for the petition | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 |
| EB-2 National Interest WaiverEB-2 NIW green card | Advanced degree or exceptional ability | None required | Green card by self-petition | Premium 45 business days for the petition | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 |
| E-1 Treaty TraderE-1 visa | Treaty nationals in substantial trade with the US | No monetary minimum | Temporary visa, stays of up to 2 years, renewable | Varies by consulate | Spouse may work (E-1S); children under 21 join |
USCIS publishes no single processing time for these routes. Where premium processing exists, the table gives the official decision window; consular waiting times vary by post. Government fees, the independent attorney fee and Mirabello advisory fees come on top of any investment.
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The routes in brief
The E-2 visa lets a national of one of 79 treaty countries live in the US to develop and direct a business in which they have invested a substantial amount. There is no legal minimum: the amount must be proportional to the cost of the business, committed and at risk, and the business must not be marginal. Each stay lasts up to two years and can be extended without limit while the business runs. It is not a green card.
E-2 treaty investor visa: requirements, fees and process
A franchise is not a separate visa: it is one way to meet the E-2 test with a business model that already works. The investor still has to own at least half of the business, direct it, and commit enough capital for that franchise. Franchise disclosure documents help show the real cost and the risk of the investment.
E-2 visa through a franchise: how it works
The O-1 visa is for people with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics (O-1A) or in the arts and film (O-1B). It needs a US petitioner, which can be an employer, an agent or a US company the applicant owns, and evidence such as awards, press, high pay or a critical role. It is open to every nationality and is often the bridge to the EB-1A green card.
O-1 visa: criteria, fees and the path to EB-1A
The L-1A visa lets a company transfer an executive or manager who has worked for it abroad for at least one continuous year in the last three to a related US entity. A new US office qualifies, with a first stay of one year. The L-1A carries dual intent, so pursuing a green card is allowed, and executives and managers can move on to the EB-1C green card without labour certification.
L-1A visa: new office, requirements and EB-1C
The EB-5 programme grants a green card for an investment of USD 800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, or USD 1,050,000 elsewhere, that creates at least 10 full-time US jobs. The investment can be direct or through a regional centre. The green card is conditional for two years before the conditions are removed. The capital is at risk and the lawful source of every dollar must be proved.
EB-5 investor green card: amounts, fees and process
EB-1A is a green card for people at the very top of their field. Applicants self-petition, with no employer and no investment, by showing a one-time major international award or at least three of ten criteria, followed by a final review of the whole record. Many applicants reach it after building their evidence on an O-1.
The EB-2 National Interest Waiver is a green card for holders of an advanced degree or exceptional ability whose proposed work has substantial merit and national importance. If the three-part test is met, the job offer and labour certification are waived, so applicants can self-petition without an employer.
The E-1 visa is for nationals of trade-treaty countries whose company carries on substantial trade, more than half of it between the United States and the treaty country. It suits established exporters and importers rather than new investors. The treaty list differs from the E-2 list: Greece, for example, has an E-1 treaty but no E-2 treaty.
Rules for every route
The routes differ on entry, but the same rules decide what your status allows, how you become a citizen and how the US taxes you once you live there.
E-2, E-1, O-1 and L-1A are non-immigrant visas: they let you live and work in the US for as long as you keep meeting the visa's conditions, and they can be renewed, but they are not permanent residence. A green card (EB-5, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, EB-1C) is permanent residence and the only status that leads to citizenship.
L-1A and O-1 holders may pursue a green card while on their visa. E-2 and E-1 holders must intend to leave when their status ends, although US rules say an E petition cannot be refused solely because an immigrant petition was filed.
Only by naturalisation. A green-card holder can apply after 5 years of permanent residence, with continuous residence, physical presence for at least half of that time, good moral character, English and a civics test. Time on an E-2, O-1 or L-1A visa does not count towards those years. The US does not sell citizenship.
US law does not prohibit dual nationality. Whether you keep your current citizenship depends on your home country: Germany has allowed dual citizenship since its 2024 nationality reform, Switzerland allows it, and Austria generally requires permission in advance to keep Austrian citizenship.
A green-card holder is a US tax resident, and so is a visa holder who meets the IRS Substantial Presence Test: at least 31 days in the current year and 183 weighted days over three years. US tax residents report their worldwide income to the IRS. Federal income tax runs from 10% to 37%, and state income tax varies from none in some states to higher rates in others.
The US has income tax treaties with Germany, Austria and Switzerland, among many others, which allocate taxing rights and prevent most double taxation. Your home country may also tax your departure: Germany, for example, can tax unrealised gains on substantial shareholdings when its residents move abroad. Plan both sides before you move.
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Status as of 13 October 2026
The Gold Card was created by Executive Order 14351 of 19 September 2025. It is not a new visa category: it treats a gift of USD 1 million to the US Department of Commerce (USD 2 million when a company sponsors) as evidence for an existing EB-1 or EB-2 green-card petition, filed online on Form I-140G with a USCIS fee of USD 15,000 per person. Visa numbers and per-country limits still apply.
Because it rests on an executive order rather than a law passed by Congress, it is under legal challenge, and its terms may change. We treat it as a status to monitor, not a route we recommend today, and we will review it with you individually if it suits your situation.
What the United States does not offer
No. The United States has no golden visa in the European sense and no citizenship by investment. The closest equivalent is the EB-5 green card, which requires a job-creating investment of USD 800,000 or more; the E-2 is a temporary business visa, not residence by investment. Citizenship follows only by naturalisation after 5 years with a green card.
If a second passport is your aim, compare the programmes that grant citizenship directly in our citizenship by investment overview. Some investors combine one of them with a US route, for example a treaty nationality that opens the E-2.
MCPMira, the AI advisor of Mirabello Immigration Intelligence, answers from the same verified data as this page. Ask in your own words, then bring the answer to a specialist.
Questions
The questions below cover the broad US immigration questions: which routes exist, whether there is a golden visa, what each route requires, work rights for spouses, citizenship and tax. Every figure comes from the same verified data as the comparison table.
Through one of 8 main routes. Nationals of 79 treaty countries can use the E-2 visa to run a business they invest in, with no legal minimum. The EB-5 programme grants a green card for USD 800,000 in a targeted employment area or USD 1,050,000 elsewhere. Owners and managers of a company abroad can move to its US office on the L-1A visa, and people with exceptional achievements can use the O-1 visa or self-petition for a green card through EB-1A or the EB-2 National Interest Waiver.
No. The United States has no golden visa and no citizenship by investment. The nearest equivalent is the EB-5 green card, which requires a job-creating investment of USD 800,000 or more and leads to citizenship only by naturalisation after 5 years. The E-2 is a renewable business visa, not residence by investment.
Yes, through the EB-5 programme: USD 800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, or USD 1,050,000 elsewhere, in a business that creates at least 10 full-time US jobs. The green card is conditional for two years, covers the spouse and unmarried children under 21, and the capital stays at risk. The E-2 visa does not give a green card.
The E-2 treaty investor visa, if you hold the nationality of one of 79 treaty countries and invest a substantial amount in a business you own at least half of and direct. If your company already exists abroad, the L-1A visa can move you to its US office regardless of nationality. Neither is a green card.
Yes. Germany, Austria and Switzerland all have E-2 treaties with the United States, so their nationals can apply. Visa validity and any reciprocity fee depend on the nationality and are set by the Department of State; we confirm them for your passport before you apply. Greece, by contrast, has an E-1 treaty only.
There is no legal minimum. The investment must be substantial in proportion to the total cost of the business, irrevocably committed and at risk, and the business must do more than support the investor and family. In practice the amount depends on the business you buy or build.
Yes, if your record supports it. The O-1 visa is for people with extraordinary ability in business, science, education, athletics or the arts, and EB-1A and the EB-2 National Interest Waiver are green cards you can self-petition for without an employer or investment. Each depends on documented evidence rather than capital.
It depends on the route. Spouses of E-2, E-1 and L-1A holders are authorised to work as part of their status. Spouses of O-1 holders (O-3) may live in the US but not work. On the green-card routes, the spouse receives a green card too and may work freely.
Citizenship is possible only after holding a green card, normally for 5 years of permanent residence, with continuous residence and physical presence for at least half of that period. Years on a temporary visa such as E-2, O-1 or L-1A do not count. The total time therefore depends on how quickly you reach a green card.
Yes. Green-card holders, and visa holders who meet the IRS Substantial Presence Test of 31 days in the current year and 183 weighted days over three years, are US tax residents and report worldwide income. Income tax treaties, such as those with Germany, Austria and Switzerland, prevent most double taxation. Take tax advice on both sides before you move.
The primary official sources the US figures on this page are verified against. Each route page cites its own sources in full.
Important. This page summarises the main US immigration routes for investors, entrepreneurs and professionals as verified against USCIS, the Department of State and the eCFR, most recently on 13 October 2026, and served by the Mirabello MCP. It is general information, not legal or tax advice, and no outcome is guaranteed. Mirabello Consultancy is not a law firm: US petitions are prepared and filed by an independent licensed US immigration attorney. Requirements, fees and processing change; USCIS and the Department of State are authoritative.
One conversation settles which of the 8 US routes fits your nationality, business and track record, and what it will involve for your family, before you commit capital.
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