{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-a-business-with-owners-who-are-not-u-s-citizens-apply-for-an-sba-7-a-loan","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/can-a-business-with-owners-who-are-not-u-s-citizens-apply-for-an-sba-7-a-loan","question":"Can a business with owners who are not U.S. citizens apply for an SBA 7(a) loan?","topic":"Eligibility & citizenship","audience":"new","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"Yes, a business can apply for an SBA 7(a) loan even if some owners are not U.S. citizens, provided they are lawful permanent residents of the U.S.","rule":"All owners of 20% or more of the equity in the applicant business must be U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders). Owners who are not U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents are generally not eligible to own 20% or more of the equity in the applicant business.","example":"A business has three owners: one U.S. citizen (50%), one lawful permanent resident (30%), and one individual on a work visa (20%). This business would be eligible, as the owners with 20% or more equity are either citizens or lawful permanent residents.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders must verify the citizenship or permanent resident status of all owners holding 20% or more equity using appropriate documentation (e.g., U.S. passport, Green Card) to ensure eligibility and compliance with SBA policy.","required_facts":["Lawful Permanent Resident","U.S. citizen","20% ownership threshold","Verification of status"],"source_families":["SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","Policy Notice 5000-876441 - Citizenship and Residency Requirements","Procedural Notice 5000-876626 - Revised Applicant Ownership, Citizenship and Residency"],"official_sources":[{"title":"SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","url":"https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/SOP%2050%2010%208%20Technical%20Updates%20effective%206.1.2025.docx"},{"title":"13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120"},{"title":"Policy Notice 5000-876441 - Citizenship and Residency Requirements","url":"https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-02/Policy%20Notice%205000-876441%20-%20Update%20to%20Citizenship%20and%20Residency%20Requirements%20and%20Recission%20of%20PN%2050000-872050.pdf"},{"title":"Procedural Notice 5000-876626 - Revised Applicant Ownership, Citizenship and Residency","url":"https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-02/Procedural%20Notice%205000-876626%20-%20Revised%20Applicant%20Ownership%20Citizenship%20and%20Residency%20%20OFA%202.11.pdf"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Do I need to be a US citizen or permanent resident to get an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/do-i-need-to-be-a-us-citizen-or-permanent-resident-to-get-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to get an SBA 7(a) loan for my business?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/do-i-need-to-be-a-u-s-citizen-to-get-an-sba-7-a-loan-for-my-business"},{"question":"Can a non-U.S. citizen, who is a lawful permanent resident, apply for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-a-non-u-s-citizen-who-is-a-lawful-permanent-resident-apply-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"}],"related_terms":[{"term":"Not-for-Profit Business","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/not-for-profit-business"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) program","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-program"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) Loan Program","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan-program"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) loan guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan-guaranty"},{"term":"U.S. territories","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/u-s-territories"}],"related_tools":[{"name":"SBA 7(a) payment & fee calculator","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/calculator"},{"name":"Find an active SBA 7(a) lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/lenders"}],"data_freshness":{"last_reviewed":"2026-06-14","sba_rule_sources_checked_through":"2026-06-14"},"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so SBA 7(a) Q&A","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-a-business-with-owners-who-are-not-u-s-citizens-apply-for-an-sba-7-a-loan","source_type":"DealRoom Q&A"},"caveats":["Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against official sources before relying on it for a live deal.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice and not an approval decision."]}