If you’re wondering what is the eb5 visa minimum investment in 2026? In short, it is $800,000 if you invest in a Targeted Employment Area (a rural or high unemployment area) or a qualifying infrastructure project, and $1,050,000 everywhere else.
Both figures were set by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 and are scheduled to rise on January 1, 2027. The lower $800,000 tier is the milestone most foreign investors aim for, but qualifying for it depends on where your new commercial enterprise puts its capital. This guide explains how the minimum investment amount works and what counts toward it.
What Is the EB5 Visa Minimum Investment in 2026?
The EB-5 program offers two investment thresholds. The standard minimum is $1,050,000 for a new commercial enterprise that is not located in a special economic zone. The reduced minimum is $800,000 for a qualifying investment in a Targeted Employment Area or an eligible infrastructure project. The difference of $250,000 is significant, so understanding which tier applies to your capital investment is one of the first questions every EB-5 immigrant investor should answer.
The same minimum investment amount applies whether you invest directly or through one of the eb-5 regional centers that pool capital into larger projects. In both cases the money must be placed into a qualifying commercial enterprise and kept genuinely at risk.
How the Thresholds Were Set
Congress created the EB-5 program in 1990 to encourage foreign investment and job creation, and in 1992 it added the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program, the forerunner of today’s regional center program. For most of the program’s history the thresholds were $1,000,000 for a standard project and $500,000 for a Targeted Employment Area. Those long-standing figures defined the EB-5 immigrant investor experience for nearly three decades.
That changed with the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. President Biden signed the integrity act into law on March 15, 2022, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103). The reform and integrity act reset the minimum investment to $1,050,000 for standard projects and $800,000 for Targeted Employment Areas and infrastructure projects, and it tied future increases to inflation.
It also rebuilt the rules administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, strengthening the integrity measures that the immigration services USCIS applies to every petition.
The $800,000 Tier: Targeted Employment Areas and Infrastructure
The lower threshold exists to channel capital toward places that need it most. You can qualify for the $800,000 amount in three ways: by investing in a project located in a rural area, in a high unemployment area, or in a qualifying infrastructure project. The first two are collectively known as a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), and the third covers public works administered by a government entity.
A rural area is defined as a place with fewer than 20,000 people that sits outside any metropolitan statistical area. A high unemployment area is one where the weighted average unemployment is at least 150% of the national average. Under the reform and integrity act, only the Department of Homeland Security designates high unemployment areas, and a TEA designation is valid for two years. Because high unemployment is measured against current data, the boundaries can shift over time, which is why timing and documentation matter.
Targeted Employment Areas also carry a second advantage. The integrity act reserved set-aside visas for these projects: 20% of annual EB-5 visas for rural projects, 10% for high unemployment projects, and 2% for infrastructure projects. These reserved categories often move faster than the general pool, so for many investors the choice of project location affects both the price and the speed of the journey.
The $1,050,000 Tier: Standard Projects
If a project is not in a Targeted Employment Area and is not a qualifying infrastructure project, the required capital investment is $1,050,000. Some investors deliberately choose standard projects despite the higher amount, because the best business opportunity for them happens to sit in a strong market rather than a designated zone.
The TEA label is based on geography and economics, not on the quality of the underlying deal, so a standard project can be an excellent investment. What does not change at either tier is the at-risk requirement and the job creation obligation.
What “At-Risk” Capital Really Means
Hitting the dollar threshold is only part of the test. The capital invested must be genuinely at risk, meaning there can be no guaranteed return, no fixed redemption right, and no promise that the money will come back. Capital can take several forms, including cash, equity investment, the fair market value of assets acquired or contributed, and lawfully obtained loans or gifts. Whatever the form, the full minimum investment amount must be committed to the commercial enterprise.
Just as important is proving where the money came from. The investor carries the burden of documenting a lawful source and the path of funds, tracing every dollar from its origin (such as salary, business profits, the sale of property, inheritance, or a gift) into the new commercial enterprise. Weak or incomplete source-of-funds evidence is one of the most common reasons petitions stall, so this work deserves the same care as the investment decision itself.
Direct Investment vs Regional Center Investment
The minimum investment is identical whether you pursue a direct investment or invest through a regional center, but the experience differs. With a direct investment, you place capital straight into a new commercial enterprise that you help operate, and only direct jobs created inside that enterprise count toward the requirement. Direct investment is permanently authorized in immigration law, which appeals to entrepreneurs who want to build and run a business.
Most EB-5 projects today are organized through regional centers. Regional centers pool capital from many immigrant investors into larger ventures, and a key benefit is that up to 90% of the required jobs can be counted as indirect jobs created by the project. The regional center program is the route behind the large majority of EB-5 petitions filed, because it lets investors take a more passive role while still meeting the job creation rules. Whether you choose a direct investment or one of the EB-5 regional centers, the qualifying dollar figure stays the same.
The new commercial enterprise itself can be structured in many ways. It can be a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, a business trust, a joint venture, or a holding company together with its wholly owned subsidiaries. What matters is that it is a genuine, for-profit business formed in the United States for the ongoing conduct of lawful activity.
How Your Investment Must Create Jobs
An EB-5 investment is never just about the money. By law the investment must create at least 10 full time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers, generally within about two years. A full-time position means a minimum of 35 hours per week, and short-term, seasonal, or intermittent roles do not count.
How the jobs are counted depends on the structure. In a direct investment, the enterprise must create the positions itself, establishing a clear employer employee relationship. In a regional center investment, indirect jobs created by the project can satisfy most of the requirement.
There is also a special path for a troubled business: a company that has existed for at least two years and has lost at least 20% of its net worth. An investor in a troubled business can satisfy the requirement by preserving existing jobs rather than creating new ones, which makes the troubled business route a useful, if specialized, option for the right opportunity.
Beyond the Minimum: Fees and Total Cost
The threshold is the headline number, but it is not the only cost. On top of the $800,000 or $1,050,000 capital investment, investors should budget for government filing fees (the Form I-526E petition fee is roughly $11,160, plus a $1,000 Integrity Fund fee), regional center administrative fees that often run from $50,000 to $70,000, and attorney fees for preparing the petition and source-of-funds package. Even so, the capital investment itself typically represents around 90% of the total commitment. These figures change from time to time, so confirm current amounts before you file.
The 2027 Increase: Why the $800,000 Window Is Closing
The reform and integrity act did not just raise the thresholds once. It built in automatic inflation adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index, with the next reset due on January 1, 2027.
Based on inflation since 2022, current projections point to a new minimum of roughly $900,000 for Targeted Employment Area projects and about $1.2 million for standard projects. The $800,000 figure that defines EB-5 today is, in other words, temporary.
Investors who file a qualifying petition on or before September 30, 2026 receive grandfathering protection under the integrity act, and filing now also locks in the current minimum investment amount before the 2027 adjustment. For a closer look at how the numbers compare across pathways, see our overview of EB-5 investment amounts.
Conclusion
Choosing between the $800,000 and $1,050,000 tiers comes down to project location, while the deeper work lies in documenting lawful capital and confirming the project will create the jobs your petition needs. With the 2027 increase approaching, understanding these thresholds now is the clearest way for foreign investors to make a confident, well-timed decision on the road to becoming permanent residents in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum EB-5 investment in 2026?
The minimum qualifying investment is $800,000 for a project located in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), such as a rural or high-unemployment area, or a qualifying infrastructure project. For all other projects, the required investment is $1,050,000. These thresholds apply to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which allows eligible foreign nationals to pursue permanent resident status in the United States.
What qualifies a project for the $800,000 amount?
Projects may qualify if they are located in a rural area, a high-unemployment area designated under applicable regulations, or a qualifying infrastructure or economic development project administered by a government entity. These investments are intended to support economic growth while meeting the requirements of the Immigrant Investor Visa Program.
Will the EB-5 minimum investment increase?
Yes. Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, investment thresholds are adjusted periodically for inflation. The next increase is scheduled for January 1, 2027, with the minimum qualifying investment expected to rise to approximately $900,000 for TEA projects and around $1.2 million for standard projects.
Does the money really have to be at risk?
Yes. The capital must be genuinely at risk with no guaranteed return, and the investor must document a lawful source and path of funds into the new commercial enterprise.
Is the investment amount different for direct and Regional Center investments?
The required investment amount is the same for both options. The difference lies in the job creation requirements. Direct EB-5 investments must generally demonstrate direct job creation, while Regional Center investors may count jobs that are created indirectly, in addition to direct jobs, in accordance with USCIS regulations.
Can I invest in a troubled business?
Yes. An investment in a qualifying troubled business can satisfy the job requirement by preserving existing jobs rather than creating new ones, subject to specific rules on the company’s history and net worth.
Can my family apply with me under the EB-5 program?
The Immigrant Investor Visa allows eligible family members, including your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21, to apply as derivative beneficiaries. If approved, they may obtain conditional Green Cards and later apply for permanent residency status once the conditions are removed.
How does the visa application process work after my EB-5 petition is approved?
After U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approves your immigrant petition, applicants outside the United States generally complete immigrant visa processing through the National Visa Center before attending an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Applicants already in the U.S. may be eligible to adjust status, depending on their circumstances.
How does the EB-5 program promote economic growth?
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is designed to encourage immigrant entrepreneurs to invest in U.S. businesses and development projects. By investing capital in such a way that meets program requirements, applicants help create or preserve jobs, support economic development, and contribute to promoting economic growth in communities across the United States while pursuing lawful permanent residence through this immigrant visa category.
