E-2 Visa Approval Rate (2026): The Latest Data
Reviewed by Talia Harari, Attorney · Updated June 2026 · About 8 min read
Key takeaways
- The E-2 approval rate is around 90%, one of the highest of any U.S. visa.
- It has ranged from about 75% a decade ago to a peak near 92.5% in FY2021.
- The U.S. issued 51,047 E-2 visas in FY2025, down about 7.8% from the FY2024 record of 55,324.
- Japan, Canada, South Korea, and Taiwan are consistently top E-2 countries.
- Most denials come from a small set of avoidable documentation problems.
If you are weighing the E-2, the numbers are reassuring: it is one of the most approvable U.S. visas, with an approval rate of roughly 90% in recent years. This guide lays out the latest data, how it has trended, which countries lead, and why the small share of applications that fail usually do so for preventable reasons. We update these figures as new government data is released. For the full picture, see our complete E-2 visa guide.
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What is the E-2 visa approval rate?
The E-2 visa approval rate is around 90% in recent years, among the highest of any U.S. visa category. Over the past decade it has climbed from roughly 75% to a peak near 92.5% in fiscal year 2021, settling around 90% since. In plain terms: if you are from a treaty country and your case is well prepared, the odds are strongly in your favor.
E-2 visa issuances by fiscal year
While approval rates stay high, the number of E-2 visas issued shifts with demand and policy. The most recent U.S. Department of State data shows:
| Fiscal year | E-2 visas issued |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | 55,324 (record high) |
| FY2025 | 51,047 (down about 7.8%) |
The dip in FY2025 reflects slightly lower issuance volume, not a drop in how likely a qualified applicant is to be approved. Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs.
E-2 approval rate by country
Approval is high across the board, but a handful of countries account for most E-2 visas. Japan, Canada, South Korea, and Taiwan are consistently among the top issuers, along with several European countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and France. Your nationality does not change the legal standard, but it does determine whether you can use the E-2 at all, only citizens of E-2 treaty countries qualify.
Why is the E-2 approval rate so high?
Two reasons. First, the E-2 is a self-selecting visa: applicants tend to be serious investors with real capital and real businesses, who often work with attorneys before filing. Second, the requirements, while detailed, are objective. If you genuinely meet the E-2 requirements and document them well, there is little discretion for an officer to deny you.
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Why E-2 visas get denied
The roughly 10% of cases that fail usually share a few problems:
- An investment that is not clearly substantial, or not yet committed and at risk.
- A business that looks marginal, with no job creation and weak projections.
- Incomplete source-of-funds documentation, the single most common issue.
- A passive or speculative business model rather than an active enterprise.
- Unclear ownership or control of the company.
Every one of these is preventable with careful preparation, which is exactly why the approval rate stays so high for well-built cases.
How to improve your approval odds
The applicants who land in the 90% do three things well: they meet the requirements clearly, they document their source of funds without gaps, and they present a real, active business that creates or will create jobs. Working with an experienced E-2 attorney is the most reliable way to get all three right the first time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the E-2 visa approval rate?
The E-2 visa has one of the highest approval rates of any U.S. visa, around 90% in recent years. It has ranged from roughly 75% a decade ago to a peak near 92.5% in FY2021.
Is the E-2 visa hard to get?
Statistically, no. With roughly a 90% approval rate, most well-prepared applicants from treaty countries are approved. The denials that do happen usually come from a small set of avoidable documentation problems.
How many E-2 visas are issued each year?
The U.S. issued 51,047 E-2 visas in fiscal year 2025, down about 7.8% from the FY2024 record of 55,324, according to U.S. Department of State data.
Why do E-2 visas get denied?
Most denials trace back to an investment that is not clearly substantial, a business that looks marginal, or incomplete source-of-funds documentation. These are largely preventable with good preparation.
Which countries get the most E-2 visas?
Japan, Canada, South Korea, and Taiwan are consistently among the top countries for E-2 visa issuances, along with several European countries.
Written by Leanne S.
Leanne leads content at IAVRS, where she turns complex U.S. visa rules into clear, current guidance. Reviewed for legal accuracy by Talia Harari, Attorney.
IAVRS is an immigration attorney matching service, not a law firm. This guide is general information, not legal advice, and figures are approximate and based on the latest available U.S. government data. For advice on your specific case, we will match you with a licensed U.S. immigration attorney.