Program Overview
The Trump Gold Card is a proposed immigration program announced by President Donald Trump in February 2025. This premium immigration pathway is designed for wealthy foreign investors seeking U.S. residency and citizenship.
Key Investment Amount: $5,000,000 per card
What is the Trump Gold Card?
The Gold Card is a new route for foreign nationals to obtain green card privileges in the United States. Unlike traditional immigration programs that require business investments or job creation, the Gold Card has a nonrefundable payment of $5 million to the U.S. government.
Core Benefits:
- Permanent U.S. residency rights
- Work authorization for any employer
- Unrestricted travel in and out of the U.S.
- Enhanced path to U.S. citizenship
- No specific business investment requirements
- No job creation mandates
Requirements and Qualifications
Financial Requirements
- Primary Investment: $5 million direct payment to the U.S. government.
- Tax Obligations: Gold Card holders will not be required to pay any tax on income earned outside the U.S
Eligibility Criteria
- Background Vetting: Comprehensive security and character screening
- Global Citizenship: Must demonstrate status as “wonderful world class global citizens”
- Legal Compliance: Must meet all U.S. immigration law requirements
- Nationality: Open to wealthy individuals from any country (subject to vetting)
Gold Card vs. EB-5 Visa
Initially, the Gold Card was presented as a potential replacement for the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. This initial approach sparked debate regarding its possible impact on the U.S. investor visa. Since then, the government has shifted its narrative to suggest that the Gold Card would coexist with the U.S. EB-5 investor visa.
How do these visas compare?
Primarily, the main difference between the two is in their purpose. The EB-5 visa is an immigration pathway designed to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation. The Gold Card, on the other hand, involves a higher investment amount with no return, as the funds are allocated directly to the U.S. Treasury for various purposes.
The EB-5 visa program has raised billions in foreign investments and created millions of American jobs since its inception in 1990. It generated $184 billion in economic activity and supported 7 million jobs across the country during a three-year peak period, according to the EB-5 regional center organization Invest In the USA (IIUSA).
IIUSA also highlights the following EB-5 key contributions to the U.S. economy:
$184 billion added to U.S. GDP
$14.5 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues
Average wage of $74,000 for EB-5-supported jobs—48% higher than national private sector average
As to the Gold Card’s potential contributions to the U.S. economy, the Trump administration has projected that if one million investors participate, this new visa program could generate $5 trillion. The President has also mentioned the possibility of offering the card to ten million people, which could potentially raise $50 trillion for the U.S. government. The government has stated that it would use $36 trillion of the revenue generated from this program to eliminate the current outstanding U.S. Treasury debt, with the remainder allocated for other purposes.
Trump Gold Card (proposed)
- Investment: $5 million direct payment
- Job Creation: Not required
- Business Investment: Not required
- Timeline: Streamlined process (proposed)
- Path to Citizenship: Enhanced “privileges plus”
- Status: Website launch, application not active yet
EB-5 Investor Visa (current)
- Investment: A minimum $800,000 million investment in a qualifying business in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA); $1,050,000 million to non-TEA businesses.
- Job Creation: Must create/preserve 10+ full-time jobs (indirect jobs also qualify if the investment is through a USCIS-designated regional center).
- Business Investment: Required investment in USCIS-approved projects
- Timeline: Varies depending on the investment category and investor’s nationality
- Path to Citizenship: Standard green card pathway
- Status: Active
How will the Gold Card impact the EB-5 visa program?
Initially, the Gold Card was presented as a potential replacement for the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. This initial approach sparked debate regarding its possible impact on the U.S. investor visa. Since then, the government has shifted its narrative to suggest that the Gold Card would coexist with the U.S. investor visa.
What is the status of the EB-5 visa today?
The EB-5 program is currently active. The Trump Administration requires Congressional approval to eliminate the EB-5 visa program before its official sunset date on September 30, 2027, as established by its reauthorization through the Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this new visa attractive to wealthy foreign investors?
The new visa provides U.S. residency, a pathway to citizenship, and potential taxation benefits. U.S. Gold Card holders will not be required to pay any tax on income earned outside the United States, highlighting a significant tax advantage compared to traditional green card holders and U.S. citizens.
Where can foreign investors acquire the Gold Card?
The official website for the U.S. Gold Card visa program is trumpcard.gov. As of now, the site only allows interested foreign investors to register for information about purchasing the card.
What must investors do to register?
Visitors can enter their personal information, including their name, region, and email address, in a form to receive notifications when applications for this program become available. Once the investor fills out the form, they will receive a verification code via email.
When will applications open?
An official date is yet to be announced. Foreign investors are unable to apply for a U.S. Gold Card at this time.
Who can apply?
The program is open to wealthy individuals from any country who can meet the $5 million investment requirement and pass a comprehensive background vetting process.
At present, there are no reports of specific nationality, age, gender, or residency requirements. However, a recent U.S. visa and travel ban against 12 countries would exclude investors from those nations.
Key Advantages Over Traditional Immigration
- No Business Risk: Direct payment eliminates investment risk associated with business ventures
- No Job Creation Requirements: Removes the burden of creating specific numbers of jobs
- Streamlined Process: Designed to be faster than traditional investor visas
- Enhanced Benefits: Offers more than standard green card privileges
- Direct Revenue: Payments go directly to the U.S. government rather than private investments
Gold Card Status
The Trump Gold Card represents a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy for wealthy investors, offering a streamlined, high-investment pathway to American residency and citizenship. While the program promises substantial revenue generation and enhanced benefits for qualified applicants, potential participants should await official implementation details and seek professional legal guidance before proceeding.
Disclaimer: This information is based on public statements and announcements. Official program details, requirements, and procedures should be verified through U.S. immigration authorities and qualified legal counsel.
