EB-5 visa: permanent residency through investment
The EB-5 program grants permanent residency (a green card) to investors who invest in a U.S. business and create full-time jobs.
General requirements
- Minimum investment: under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, US$1,050,000, or US$800,000 in a targeted employment area (TEA) or infrastructure project. Amounts may be adjusted; check the current figure.
- Job creation: at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers.
- Lawful funds: you must document the source of all the capital.
- Capital at risk: the investment cannot be guaranteed.
Official sources: USCIS – EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
Direct investment or regional center
Direct investment
The investor invests in their own business, such as one or more franchises, and jobs must be direct.
Regional center
The investment goes through a project sponsored by a regional center; indirect jobs can count.
EB-5 and franchises
A franchise or a group of units can support a direct EB-5 investment when the amount and the creation of 10 jobs are achievable. Given its demands, it usually applies to mid- or high-investment formats, or to multi-unit development.
The EB-5 visa and franchises: what you should know
The EB-5 visa is an immigrant visa: it can lead to permanent residence (a green card) for the investor, their spouse and their unmarried children under 21. Since the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, the general minimum investment is $1,050,000, or $800,000 if the project is in a targeted employment area (TEA) or is an infrastructure project.
Beyond the capital, the investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying workers in the United States, and the funds must have a lawful, documented source. Initial residence is conditional for two years; afterwards you apply to remove the conditions by showing that the investment was sustained and the jobs were created.
A single franchise unit rarely reaches 10 jobs on its own, so EB-5 plans often look at several units, area development or the regional center route. Decisions belong to USCIS and no broker or franchisor can guarantee approval. Before committing funds, review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and validate the strategy with an immigration attorney.
Sources consulted
Data checked in October 2026. Rules and requirements may change: always confirm current information with the official sources.
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