E-2 Visa for Turkish Citizens: How Turkish Investors Qualify, Apply and Move to the U.S.

Turkish citizens can get an E-2 visa. Türkiye has been an E-2 treaty country since May 18, 1990, and the U.S. Department of State issues Turkish investors a multiple-entry E-2 visa valid for up to 60 months, with no reciprocity fee.

The E-2 visa for Turkish citizens renews for as long as the business qualifies, but it is not a green card. Turkish citizenship acquired through investment also carries a three-year domicile rule. Pollak PLLC helps Turkish investors prepare E-2 cases for consular review and for every renewal.

Can Turkish Citizens Get an E-2 Visa?

Yes. Türkiye is one of the E-2 treaty countries listed by the State Department under the U.S.-Turkey Bilateral Investment Treaty, and it has been an E-1 treaty trader country since February 15, 1933.

Türkiye's tourist e-Visa, which foreign visitors use to enter Türkiye, is unrelated to the U.S. E-2 visa. If you are unsure whether the treaty route fits your plans, an E-2 visa lawyer can confirm your eligibility before you invest.

What Is the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa?

The E-2 treaty investor visa is a nonimmigrant visa for treaty nationals who invest substantially in a U.S. business and come to develop and direct it.

It rests on Section 101(a)(15)(E)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the regulations at 8 CFR 214.2(e) and the State Department's guidance at 9 FAM 402.9 of the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM). There is no annual cap, lottery, job offer or degree requirement.

Who Counts as a Turkish National for E-2 Purposes?

A Turkish national is a citizen of the Republic of Türkiye, so a residence permit is not enough. The State Department limits the Türkiye E-2 treaty investor visa to principal applicants who hold the treaty nationality, so an Iranian investor living in Istanbul on a residence permit does not qualify.

A dual national chooses which nationality to use for the E-2 under 9 FAM 402.9-4(B).

Why Trust Pollak PLLC for Your Turkey E-2 Visa?

Pollak PLLC handles E-2 visa cases for Turkish investors with senior attorney attention.

Managing Attorney Karen-Lee Pollak, an immigrant herself, has practiced immigration law exclusively for more than 27 years.

Her honors include Chambers Global (USA) 2021, Chambers Regional Spotlight (Texas) 2025, Texas Super Lawyers 2018 to 2025 and D Magazine Best Lawyers in Texas 2014 to 2025. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

The firm has offices in Dallas (Addison), Texas, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, practices in all 50 states and meets clients abroad by video. It also takes on cases that were weakened or denied under prior counsel.

Has Pollak PLLC Represented Investors from Treaty Countries?

Yes. The firm's practice includes E-1 and E-2 treaty visas, along with the L-1 and EB-5 cases that often follow them. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Can Pollak PLLC Handle My Case While I Am Still in Türkiye?

Yes. You can work with the firm by video and secure document exchange, and the attorneys review your records before any money moves.

What Are the E-2 Visa Requirements for Turkish Citizens?

Turkish citizens must meet eight E-2 visa requirements under INA §101(a)(15)(E)(ii) and 9 FAM 402.9:

1. You hold Turkish citizenship.
2. Turkish nationals own at least 50 percent of the U.S. business.
3. You have invested, or are actively investing, a substantial amount.
4. The funds are committed and at risk of loss.
5. The business is real and operating, not a paper company or an idle speculative investment.
6. The business is not marginal.
7. You will develop and direct the business.
8. You intend to leave when your E-2 status ends.

There is no age minimum or English language test.

How Much of the U.S. Company Must Turkish Nationals Own?

At least 50 percent of the U.S. company must be owned by Turkish nationals, according to the State Department. Shares held by Turkish nationals who are also U.S. permanent residents do not count under 9 FAM 402.9-4(B), and in a 50/50 venture you must also show that you control the business.

What Makes an E-2 Business "Non-Marginal"?

A non-marginal business can earn more than a minimal living for you and your family, generally within five years under 9 FAM 402.9-6(E).

How Much Do Turkish Investors Need for an E-2 Visa?

There is no legal minimum investment for an E-2 visa from Türkiye. Under 9 FAM 402.9-6(D), the amount must be substantial in proportion to the total cost of the business, so a lower-cost business needs a higher percentage invested.

Money left in a Turkish bank account does not count, so you must commit it to the business or hold it in escrow under 9 FAM 402.9-6(B).

Can a Turkish Investor Buy a Franchise or an Existing U.S. Business for the E-2?

Yes. Franchises and operating U.S. businesses are common E-2 choices. The purchase price and working capital both count toward the investment.

Does Lira Volatility Affect the Investment Amount?

Yes, indirectly. Consular officers measure your investment in U.S. dollars, not Turkish lira (TRY), so the exchange rate on the day you fund the business sets the value they review.

Watching savings shrink with the lira is stressful, and converting funds earlier in the process can reduce that exposure.

How Much Does an E-2 Visa Cost for Turkish Citizens?

State Department fees for a Turkish E-2 applicant total $315 per person, because the reciprocity schedule for Türkiye sets no E-2 issuance fee.

A Turkish family of four pays $1,260 in visa application fees, before legal fees and business costs. The visa integrity fee created by 2025 legislation had not been added to the State Department fee page as of October 2026, so verify current amounts before filing.

Pollak PLLC provides a transparent estimate of legal fees at the initial consultation.

How Long Is an E-2 Visa Valid for Turkish Citizens?

The E-2 visa for Turkish citizens is valid for up to 60 months with multiple entries, according to the Türkiye reciprocity schedule.

How Does the E-2 Visa Stamp Compare with the I-94?

The E-2 visa lets you seek entry, while the Form I-94 sets how long you may stay. Each admission creates a new I-94, so an expired visa does not end valid status.

How Do Turkish Investors Renew an E-2 Visa?

Turkish investors renew by applying again through the U.S. Mission in Türkiye with proof that the business has grown. Since October 1, 2025, E visa applicants generally need an in-person interview.

For E-2 visa renewal, bring tax returns and payroll records, and measure results against your original plan.

How Do Turkish Citizens Apply for an E-2 Visa in Türkiye?

Turkish citizens apply through the U.S. Mission in Türkiye, because State Department guidance updated July 15, 2026, tells visa applicants to apply in their country of nationality or residence.

1. Form the U.S. company and open a U.S. business bank account.
2. Move and commit the funds, keeping every wire record.
3. Prepare the business plan and supporting evidence, which is usually the longest step.
4. Complete Form DS-160 for each applicant, plus Form DS-156E where the Mission requires it. The State Department lists DS-156E for E-2 executives, managers and essential employees.
5. Pay the $315 fee and book an appointment for each family member.
6. Send the package in the format the Mission's instructions require.
7. Attend the interview in person.
8. If approved, your passport comes back with the visa.

Which U.S. Post Handles E-2 Visas in Türkiye?

The U.S. Mission in Türkiye handles E-2 visas through the U.S. Embassy in Ankara and the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul. Follow the current filing instructions at tr.usembassy.gov rather than instructions or email addresses posted on third-party sites.

How Long Does the E-2 Process Take in Türkiye?

There is no fixed timeline at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara or the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul. Company setup usually takes longer than the consular stage, and travel.state.gov publishes current appointment wait times for Ankara and Istanbul.

What Happens at the Istanbul E-2 Interview?

A consular officer reviews your DS-160 answers and asks about your investment, ownership, role and growth plan, so bring originals of every document.

What Documents Do Turkish Investors Need?

Turkish investors need four sets of documents, and every record in Turkish needs a certified English translation.

• Personal documents. Bring your Turkish passport, your nüfus kayıt örneği (civil registry record), the DS-160 confirmation page, a photo and your CV.
• Business documents. Include formation documents, proof of ownership, the lease, licenses and a five-year business plan with U.S. hiring projections.
• Source of funds. Show the tapu (title deed) and sale contract for any property you sold, plus Turkish bank statements. Company distributions need board resolutions and tax filings.
• Transfer records. Keep the wire confirmations tracing each lira to the U.S. account, with the date and exchange rate of every conversion.

Can You Get an E-2 Visa Through Turkish Citizenship by Investment?

Possibly, but only after at least three years of continuous domicile in Türkiye, unless you previously held E status. Section 5902(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263), signed December 23, 2022, added that rule to INA §101(a)(15)(E).

The rule covers nationality acquired through a financial investment. The three years can fall at any point before you apply, but they must be continuous. Turkish citizenship by investment alone therefore does not make a first-time investor eligible.

The official Invest in Türkiye guide lists a real estate route at $400,000 with a three-year resale restriction, and other routes starting at $500,000.

Learning this rule after you have already acquired Turkish citizenship with an E-2 in mind is frustrating, but time you have already spent living in Türkiye may count toward the three years.

Expect questions at the interview about how and when you became a Turkish citizen. This page does not give advice on Turkish law.

Before you buy property for citizenship, contact Pollak PLLC to check your citizenship history and E-2 eligibility.

E-1 vs. E-2 vs. Other Visas for Turkish Business Owners

Turkish business owners can choose among the E-1, E-2, L-1 and EB-5, depending on whether trade or investment drives the plan and whether a Turkish company already exists.

When Is the E-1 Treaty Trader Visa Better for a Turkish Exporter or Importer?

The E-1 fits better when your company already carries on substantial trade, principally between Türkiye and the United States. An Izmir textile exporter selling mostly to U.S. buyers may qualify without a large investment, so speak with an E-1 treaty trader visa lawyer first.

When Is the L-1 Better?

The L-1 is better when an established Turkish company is opening a related U.S. office. It needs no Turkish ownership of the U.S. company. An L-1A manager can later seek an EB-1C multinational manager green card.

Can Turkish E-2 Investors Bring Their Families?

Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can join you in E-2 status, and they do not need to be Turkish. Under the reciprocity schedule, a relative who holds another treaty nationality follows that country's terms, while a relative from a non-treaty country follows Türkiye's.

USCIS treats an E-2 spouse in valid status as employment authorized incident to status, and an unexpired Form I-94 marked E-2S serves as proof. Read more about E-2 spouse work authorization.

Children may study in the U.S. but cannot work on E-2 dependent status.

Can Turkish Citizens Change to E-2 Status Inside the U.S.?

Yes. A Turkish citizen in lawful nonimmigrant status in the United States can file Form I-129 with USCIS to change to E-2 status.

Because Türkiye is not in the Visa Waiver Program, Turkish visitors enter on B-1/B-2 visas, which allow a change of status that a Visa Waiver entry would not. Even so, under 9 FAM 302.9-4(B)(3), conduct inconsistent with visitor status within 90 days of entry may lead an officer to presume misrepresentation.

An approved change of status gives you E-2 status, not an E-2 visa. To return after a trip abroad, you need an E-2 visa from a U.S. consulate.

Can an E-2 Visa Lead to a Green Card for Turkish Investors?

Not directly, because the E-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that requires intent to leave when your status ends. Common green card paths for Turkish investors include:

• EB-5 standard investment. The minimum is $1,050,000 for a project outside a targeted area.
• EB-5 targeted investment. The minimum falls to $800,000 in a targeted employment area (TEA) or an infrastructure project, and both amounts rise automatically on January 1, 2027.
• EB-2 National Interest Waiver. Investors whose work has national importance may self-petition under the Dhanasar precedent.
• EB-1C multinational manager. A Turkish parent company with a U.S. subsidiary can sponsor a qualifying executive or manager.
• Family or employer sponsorship. A U.S. citizen relative or employer may file instead.

An EB-5 visa lawyer can compare these routes against your E-2 timeline.

Why Are Turkish E-2 Applications Refused or Delayed?

Most Turkish E-2 visa refusals and delays trace back to weak evidence about the money or about the investor's role in the business. Common problems include:

• Source-of-funds records are untranslated or cannot be traced.
• The business plan is generic, or the business looks marginal.
• Figures on Form DS-156E conflict with the business plan.
• The investor plans to run the business remotely from Istanbul rather than develop and direct it in the United States.
• Turkish citizenship was acquired by investment without three years of domicile.

A prior refusal does not bar a new application that answers the officer's concerns.