AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
No, not on Nigerian nationality alone. The E-2 treaty investor visa needs a qualifying treaty between the US and the investor's country, and Nigeria is not on the State Department's list of E-2 treaty countries. A Nigerian who also holds the nationality of a treaty country, such as the United Kingdom, may qualify through that nationality, provided the business is at least 50 percent owned by nationals of that country.
Why Nigerians are not eligible on their own
The E-2 category comes from section 101(a)(15)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which the State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual (9 FAM 402.9, revised 17 February 2026) says "requires the existence of a qualifying treaty of commerce and navigation". Qualifying treaties include Friendship, Commerce and Navigation treaties and Bilateral Investment Treaties. The investor, whether a person or a business, "must ... possess the nationality of the treaty country".
The State Department's treaty countries page lists every country with E-1 or E-2 status. Nigeria is not on it. So a person whose only nationality is Nigerian cannot apply, however large the investment.
Which African countries do have E-2 status
For context, the State Department's list includes these African countries for E-2, with the date each treaty entered into force:
| Country | E-2 in force from |
|---|---|
| Liberia | 21 November 1939 |
| Ethiopia | 8 October 1953 |
| Togo | 5 February 1967 |
| Cameroon | 6 April 1989 |
| Congo (Kinshasa) | 28 July 1989 |
| Senegal | 25 October 1990 |
| Morocco | 29 May 1991 |
| Egypt | 27 June 1992 |
| Tunisia | 7 February 1993 |
| Congo (Brazzaville) | 13 August 1994 |
Ghana and South Africa, two countries Nigerians often ask about, do not appear on the list either.
The second-nationality route
Many Nigerians hold a second nationality, most often British. The FAM sets out how nationality works for E-2:
- The investor must hold the nationality of the treaty country.
- Where an organisation is the investor, nationals of the treaty country must own at least 50 percent of the business, traced through each layer of ownership.
- A business may have only one qualifying nationality, unless it is owned and controlled 50/50 by nationals of two treaty countries.
- For a dual national, the owners choose the nationality, and the owner and all E visa employees must hold themselves out as nationals of that country for E visa purposes.
The State Department's treaty page adds a footnote for the United Kingdom: the investor must be a UK national, and Commonwealth nationals other than UK nationals do not qualify under that treaty. Nigeria's Commonwealth membership does not help.
What the investment must look like
The FAM says "no set dollar figure constitutes a minimum amount of investment". Instead, it applies a proportionality test: whether the amount is substantial relative to the cost of the business, the investor's financial commitment, and whether it lets the investor develop and direct the enterprise. The business must not be marginal: one that "does not have the present or future capacity to generate enough income to provide more than a minimal living", with that capacity generally expected within five years.
Routes that do not depend on a treaty
If you hold only Nigerian nationality, other categories may suit a founder or investor. Two worth knowing:
- L-1A for executives of a Nigerian company. If you have run a Nigerian company for at least a year, it can open a related US office and transfer you. See our guide to the L-1A new-office route.
- H-1B through your own company. Since January 2025, a company you control can petition for you as a beneficiary-owner, with early approvals limited to 18 months. See whether an H-1B holder can own an LLC.
Each has its own tests and none is a shortcut. If you hold a second nationality, check first that the country is on the treaty list at all; do not assume that any second passport qualifies. An immigration lawyer can compare them for your case; this article is information, not advice.
A worked comparison
Example only. Two siblings each want to open a logistics business in Texas.
- Ada holds only a Nigerian passport. The E-2 is closed to her. If her Lagos logistics company has traded for years and she has managed it for a continuous year, the L-1A new-office route is the one to explore.
- Bayo is Nigerian by birth and a naturalised British citizen. He can apply for an E-2 as a UK national, provided UK nationals own at least half of the Texas business and his investment passes the proportionality and non-marginality tests.
Where Pryme fits
Investors moving funds between Nigeria and the US need to see each conversion. A Pryme Business Account, opened from the US or Nigeria, holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR with local details for each, and Swap shows the rate and fee before you approve. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's activities are carried out through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
Is Nigeria an E-2 treaty country?
No. Nigeria is not on the US State Department's list of E-1 or E-2 treaty countries, so Nigerian-only nationals cannot get an E-2 visa.
Can a Nigerian with a British passport get an E-2 visa?
Possibly, as a UK national. The State Department says the investor must be a UK national, and the business must be at least 50 percent owned by UK nationals.
What is the minimum investment for an E-2 visa?
There is none. The State Department says no set dollar figure is the minimum; the investment must be substantial in proportion to the business and not marginal.
What visa can a Nigerian business owner use instead of E-2?
Common alternatives are the L-1A for executives of a Nigerian company opening a US office, and an H-1B filed by a company you control. Each has its own tests.
Sources
- US Department of State: Treaty countries (E-1 and E-2) · accessed Oct 2026
- US Department of State, 9 FAM 402.9: Treaty traders and treaty investors (revision 17 Feb 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- US Department of State, 9 FAM 402.12: Intracompany transferees (L visas) · accessed Oct 2026
- Federal Register: Modernizing H-1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Program (final rule, 18 Dec 2024, effective 17 Jan 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Constitution of Nigeria 1999, section 28: dual citizenship (transcription) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.