E-2 Visa for South Korean Citizens: Requirements and Process

South Korean citizens can get the E-2 treaty investor visa: South Korea has had an E-1 and E-2 treaty with the United States since November 7, 1957, and Korean nationals received 6,778 E-2 visas in FY2024, second only to Japan. To qualify, a Korean citizen invests a substantial amount in a U.S. business they own and direct, then applies at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul or through USCIS if already in the United States.

Is South Korea an E-2 treaty country?

Yes. The Foreign Affairs Manual treaty table (9 FAM 402.9-10) lists Korea (South) for both treaty trader (E-1) and treaty investor (E-2) classification, effective November 7, 1957. North Korea has no treaty.

Only citizenship counts. A Korean citizen living in Korea, Vietnam or Canada qualifies through Korean nationality; a foreign national with Korean permanent residence does not. If you hold Korean citizenship plus another treaty nationality, you choose one for the E-2 case, and the business must be at least 50% owned by nationals of the country you choose. See our E-2 ownership and nationality rules.

How many E-2 visas do Korean nationals receive?

In FY2024 the State Department issued 6,778 E-2 visas to Korean nationals out of 55,324 worldwide, about 12% of the total. The figure includes investors, E-2 employees of Korean-owned companies and family members.

Rank	Nationality	E-2 visas, FY2024
1	Japan	15,521
2	Korea (South)	6,778
3	Canada	6,747
4	Germany	3,902
5	France	3,574

Korea’s total includes many employees of Korean manufacturers, trading companies and their U.S. suppliers, alongside small business owners.

E-2 requirements for Korean citizens

The rules are the same for every treaty nationality and come from INA 101(a)(15)(E)(ii), 8 CFR 214.2(e) and 9 FAM 402.9:

• Substantial investment. No minimum amount exists in law. The investment is measured against the total cost of buying or starting the business, and the cheaper the business, the higher the share you are expected to fund. Our minimum investment guide explains the proportionality test.
• At risk and committed. Funds must be spent or irrevocably committed. A purchase held in escrow pending visa issuance can qualify.
• Real, active business. Not passive holdings such as idle real estate or a stock portfolio.
• Not marginal. The business must have the capacity to do more than support your family, generally within five years, or make a significant economic contribution.
• Control. You own at least 50% or hold operational control.
• Intent to depart when your E-2 status ends.

The full list with FAM citations is in our E-2 requirements guide.

How do Korean citizens apply at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul?

Korean applicants normally apply through the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. The general sequence for a principal investor:

1. Complete Form DS-160. The principal investor answers the E-specific questions inside the DS-160; E-2 employees also complete Form DS-156E.
2. Pay the $315 MRV fee for each applicant, and check the reciprocity table for any issuance fee.
3. Prepare and submit the E-2 evidence package in the format the embassy requires (tabbed, indexed and with English translations).
4. Attend an in-person interview. Interview waivers were narrowed in 2025, so plan for one.
5. Receive the passport with the visa if approved.

Since September 6, 2025, applicants generally must apply in their country of nationality or legal residence. A Korean citizen legally resident in another country may apply there. The State Department reciprocity table sets the visa validity for Korean nationals; check it rather than relying on secondhand figures. On each entry, the officer can admit you for up to two years.

Koreans already in the U.S., often on F-1 or H-1B, can change status through USCIS with Form I-129 and get the visa stamp in Seoul later. Our E-2 application process guide compares both paths step by step.

Documenting source of funds from Korea

Consular officers look for a clear path from the origin of the money to the U.S. business account. Common Korean sources and the evidence that usually supports them:

Source	Typical evidence
Sale of an apartment or land	Sale contract, real estate registry certificate, bank receipt of proceeds, capital gains tax filing
Salary savings	Employment certificate, income tax withholding receipts, multi-year bank statements
Business income	Business registration, corporate tax filings, dividend or salary records
Gift from parents	Gift agreement, gift tax filing where applicable, donor’s own source evidence
Jeonse deposit refund	Lease contract, landlord refund transfer record
Foreign exchange transfer	Bank remittance records reconciling won to U.S. dollars

Korean banks document outbound transfers, so keep every remittance record. Our E-2 source of funds guide covers loans, gifts and sale proceeds in more depth.

Business types Korean investors often choose

In our practice, Korean E-2 investors tend to favor:

• Korean, Japanese and fusion restaurants, cafes, bakeries and dessert concepts,
• beauty, skincare, nail and hair businesses with licensed staff,
• tutoring, test preparation, after-school and language education,
• import, wholesale and e-commerce operations with U.S. warehousing,
• service and food franchises,
• acquisitions of established businesses with existing revenue and staff.

Restaurants and beauty businesses employ people early, which helps answer the marginality question. Los Angeles, Orange County, Atlanta, Dallas, the New York area and Northern Virginia have large Korean-American business communities; see our guide to E-2 businesses in Los Angeles and the best businesses for the E-2.

How much do Korean investors typically invest?

There is no fixed number. In our experience, service businesses and smaller franchises are often launched with roughly $100,000 to $200,000, while restaurants, beauty clinics with build-out and acquisitions of established businesses usually require more. What matters to the officer is the ratio between what you have invested and what the business costs, and whether the money is enough to make the business work. Our E-2 investment calculator helps you test that ratio before you commit.

E-2 or L-1 for a Korean company expanding to the U.S.?

Korean business owners opening a U.S. subsidiary can often choose between the E-2 and the L-1A intracompany transferee visa. The E-2 requires the U.S. company to be at least 50% Korean-owned and has no requirement that you worked for the Korean company first. The L-1A requires at least one continuous year of employment with the foreign company in the past three years, but it allows dual intent and can lead to an EB-1C green card. Owners who plan to stay long term often discuss both with their attorney before choosing.

Practical points for Korean families

• Spouse. The spouse receives E-2 derivative status and is authorized to work incident to status; the I-94 shows class E-2S.
• Children. Unmarried children under 21 receive E-2Y status, can attend school but cannot work, and need their own status at 21.
• Military service. Korean men with outstanding service obligations may need permission from Korean authorities to stay abroad long term. Confirm your situation with the Military Manpower Administration before relocating.
• Taxes. Moving to the U.S. generally makes you a U.S. tax resident. Speak with a cross-border tax adviser about Korean and U.S. obligations.

Next steps

Start with our E-2 eligibility checker or request a consultation. We help Korean investors choose or build the business, write the business plan and organize the source-of-funds evidence, and we coordinate with your independent immigration attorney, who files the case.