Glossary · People and paperwork
E-2 Visa
In short
A non-immigrant visa for individuals from treaty countries who invest a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business. It allows them to develop and direct the enterprise.
What it means in a deal
If you are a foreign national from a treaty country and plan to buy a U.S. business, the E-2 visa could be your path. The SBA 7(a) loan cannot be used as the "at-risk" investment for the visa, meaning your equity injection must be from your own unencumbered funds. Make sure your visa timeline aligns with the loan closing process.
Official sources
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
Last checked 2026-06-15. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Related terms
Common questions about E-2 Visa
- Can a business owner with a valid E-2 investor visa meet the citizenship or residency requirements for a 7(a) loan?
- Can a non-U.S. citizen individual with an E-2 investor visa be an eligible applicant for a 7(a) loan?
- What type of property appraisal is required if my $1.2 million SBA loan includes commercial real estate?
- Are specific visa types acceptable for a non-U.S. citizen owner to be eligible for an SBA 7(a) loan?
- Is an individual without permanent resident status, but with a valid U.S. work visa, eligible for a 7(a) loan?
- What specific conditions apply to the prepayment penalty on 7(a) loans exceeding $2,500,000 with terms of 15 years or more?
Defined by CapBench SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
Know what you'll need before you apply
Tell us about the deal and who's buying — we'll flag the guaranty, eligibility, and paperwork issues that slow SBA approval before they cost you time.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day
Backed by data on 1,000+ SBA lenders and 300,000+ funded deals. Your details go only to lending partners you ask to be matched with — never sold to advertisers.