Do I need specific licenses to open a restaurant under EB-5?

Yes. Opening a restaurant as part of an EB-5 investment does not waive the licenses required of any restaurant in the United States. The EB-5 covers the immigration side; the business operation follows its own set of commercial and health regulations.

In practice, a restaurant typically needs authorizations such as:

• A business license to operate the establishment.
• Health and food-handling permits.
• A specific license to sell alcoholic beverages, if applicable.

These requirements are imposed by municipal and state authorities and are separate from the visa requirements: complying with the EB-5 does not exempt the business from being in good standing with local agencies, and vice versa. The rules also vary considerably from place to place, so what applies in one city may differ in another.

Before opening, conduct detailed research into the regulations of the municipality where the restaurant will operate and, ideally, get support from commercial and regulatory consultants. For the immigration side, confirm the latest requirements through official USCIS sources.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.