Trump Launches $1 Million Gold Card Visa: Record-Time US Residency for Global Elite and Corporate Investors

Trump’s Gold Card Revolution: $1 Million Investment Unlocks Expedited Path to American Residency

The United States immigration landscape experienced seismic disruption in December 2025 as President Donald Trump officially launched the “Trump Gold Card” visa program—a premium immigration pathway enabling wealthy foreign nationals and corporations to purchase expedited US residency for a minimum $1 million contribution to the federal government.​

Unveiled through Executive Order 14351 signed in September 2025 and activated for applications in December, the Gold Card fundamentally restructures America’s investor immigration framework by replacing eligibility criteria with financial capacity. The program represents a stark philosophical departure from traditional merit-based immigration, offering what Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick describes as “the greatest country on Earth” to those willing to pay premium entry fees.​

For the C-suite executive, private equity investor, or ultra-high-net-worth individual navigating global mobility strategies, the Gold Card introduces unprecedented speed and simplicity—but also sparks critical questions about value proposition, competitive positioning against international alternatives, and long-term strategic implications.

Program Architecture: Three-Tier Investment Structure

The Trump administration structured the initiative across three distinct product offerings, each targeting specific investor segments:​

1. Standard Gold Card ($1 Million Individual): Foreign nationals contribute $1 million as an unrestricted gift to the Department of Commerce, establishing eligibility for expedited immigrant visa processing under EB-1 (extraordinary ability) or EB-2 (national interest waiver) categories. Recipients receive lawful permanent resident status—equivalent to a Green Card—enabling indefinite US residence, employment authorization, and citizenship eligibility after five years.​
2. Corporate Gold Card ($2 Million Per Employee): Businesses sponsor foreign talent by paying $2 million per individual, with the distinctive advantage of transferability between employees. Corporations pay a 1% annual maintenance fee ($20,000) and face transfer fees of 5% ($100,000) each time visa status moves from one employee to another. This creates a reusable immigration asset for enterprises managing global talent pipelines.​
3. Platinum Card ($5 Million): The premium tier, requiring Congressional approval before launch, permits holders to reside in the United States up to 270 days annually without incurring US taxes on foreign-sourced income. Unlike the Gold Card, the Platinum option does not provide a direct citizenship pathway but offers substantial tax optimization for ultra-wealthy individuals maintaining international business operations.​

All applicants face a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee payable to the Department of Homeland Security before background vetting commences, with additional State Department visa fees assessed separately.​

Speed as Competitive Advantage: “Record Time” Processing

The program’s central value proposition centers on velocity. The official government website promises US residency “in record time”—a stark contrast to the existing EB-5 immigrant investor program, which faces processing backlogs extending years and country-specific caps creating decades-long wait times for Chinese and Indian nationals.​

Commerce Secretary Lutnick announced 80,000 initial Gold Cards would be made available, positioning the program as a replacement for EB-1 and EB-2 visa categories. He stated in September 2025 that “in less than a month, the other visa Green Card categories are likely to be suspended, and this will be the model that people can come into the country”.​

By June 2025, before the program’s official application launch, approximately 70,000 individuals had joined the waitlist, with Lutnick reporting 250,000 people expressing interest by February 2025—predominantly from the existing EB-5 backlog. This immediate demand signal suggests significant pent-up appetite among wealthy foreign nationals for streamlined US immigration pathways.​

Economic Calculus: Projected $100 Billion Revenue Windfall

The Trump administration frames the Gold Card as a fiscal strategy instrument. Lutnick projected the program could generate over $100 billion in federal revenue, with potential to reach $500 billion over a decade if 10,000 visas are issued annually at the proposed $5 million price point.​

President Trump emphasized during the December launch that funds would be directed to “an account where we can do something very positive for our country,” specifically targeting debt reduction, tax cuts, and infrastructure investment. This positions the program within broader economic policy objectives rather than pure immigration reform.​​

The revenue model dramatically exceeds the existing EB-5 program’s economic contribution. Pre-pandemic estimates indicate approximately $6 billion in annual investment through EB-5, with only a fraction returning to Treasury as tax receipts since investors retain ownership of capital. The Gold Card transforms this dynamic by treating the entire contribution as an unrestricted gift—generating immediate federal revenue without repayment obligations.​

However, independent analysis from the Cato Institute and other policy organizations raises questions about legal authority and practical implementation. Critics note that Congressional statute, not executive order, establishes visa categories and annual numerical caps. The administration’s ability to “replace” existing programs or issue unlimited visas faces potential legal challenges without legislative authorization.​

Global Competitive Landscape: How Trump’s Offering Stacks Against International Alternatives

For strategic decision-makers evaluating investment immigration options, the Gold Card enters a crowded global marketplace where over 100 countries offer some form of residency or citizenship-by-investment program.​

European Union Golden Visas present the most direct competition. Portugal offers residency leading to citizenship in six years for €250,000 investments in cultural preservation or qualified funds—one-quarter the Gold Card’s price. Greece provides Schengen access for €250,000 in designated regions, with no minimum physical presence requirements. Malta grants permanent residency for approximately €182,000 through a five-year rental route, with citizenship possible after demonstrating substantial ties to the country.​

Hungary’s recently relaunched program provides 10-year EU residency permits for €250,000, while Latvia offers Europe’s cheapest entry point at just €60,000. Each of these programs provides visa-free travel across the 27-nation Schengen Zone—a mobility benefit the US cannot match.​

Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programs offer even more affordable alternatives. Dominica grants full citizenship for $200,000 with visa-free access to 145+ countries, while St. Kitts and Nevis—operating the world’s oldest citizenship-by-investment program since 1984—requires $250,000. These programs provide immediate passport privileges without residency requirements or taxation on worldwide income.​

Asia-Pacific options include Singapore’s Global Investor Programme requiring $1.85 million but offering potential citizenship within two years in one of the world’s premier financial hubs. The UAE’s Golden Visa starts at approximately $204,000 for long-term residency in a zero-tax environment with strategic geographic positioning.​

The Trump Gold Card’s $1 million price point positions it at the premium end of the global market—double Portugal’s requirement, quadruple Greece’s, and five times Caribbean citizenship programs—while offering comparable or inferior mobility benefits in the short term. The value proposition rests entirely on access to the US market, economy, and eventual citizenship rather than immediate travel privileges or tax optimization.

Strategic Considerations for Corporate Sponsors and Individual Investors

For Multinational Corporations: The Corporate Gold Card’s transferability feature creates a novel talent management tool. Technology companies, financial institutions, and consulting firms managing global workforces can secure immigration status as a balance sheet asset, transferring it between high-value employees as business needs evolve. The $2 million upfront cost plus ongoing maintenance and transfer fees must be evaluated against H-1B visa expenses—which now carry a new $100,000 annual fee under concurrent Trump administration reforms—and the strategic value of guaranteed long-term US employment authorization for mission-critical talent.​

For Individual Ultra-High-Net-Worth Investors: The calculus hinges on three factors: speed requirements, tax planning objectives, and desired end-state citizenship. Individuals requiring immediate US presence for business operations, family education access, or geopolitical risk mitigation may find the premium justified. Those willing to tolerate longer timelines might achieve superior financial outcomes through EB-5 programs where capital is invested rather than gifted, or through European alternatives offering faster citizenship at lower cost.

Tax Implications Demand Professional Analysis: Gold Card holders become US permanent residents immediately upon approval, triggering worldwide income taxation—a critical distinction from the Platinum Card’s 270-day exemption structure. High-net-worth individuals must model the tax burden against alternative second residency strategies, particularly for those maintaining significant foreign business interests or investment portfolios.

Implementation Timeline and Application Process

Executive Order 14351 directed implementing agencies to establish operational procedures within 90 days of September 19, 2025—setting a December 19, 2025 deadline. The December 10-11 official launch met this timeline, with President Trump announcing at a White House business roundtable that “the site goes up and all funds go to the United States government”.​

The application process follows a three-stage structure:​

1. Initial Application and Processing Fee: Applicants submit basic information and pay the non-refundable $15,000 DHS processing fee via credit card or ACH debit.
2. Background Vetting: US Citizenship and Immigration Services conducts comprehensive background checks and documentation review. Applicants must already qualify under existing EB-1 (extraordinary ability) or EB-2 (national interest waiver) statutory criteria—the Gold Card donation serves as evidence of exceptional business ability and national benefit, but does not waive underlying visa category requirements.​
3. Gift Payment and Visa Issuance: Following successful vetting approval, applicants remit the $1 million (or $2 million corporate) contribution via international wire transfer. The State Department then issues the immigrant visa, conferring lawful permanent resident status upon entry to the United States.

The timeline from application to residency approval remains undefined, though “record time” promises suggest significantly faster processing than the multi-year EB-5 standard.

Strategic Verdict: When the Gold Card Makes Sense

The Trump Gold Card occupies a specific niche in the global investment immigration market. It delivers maximum value for:

Time-Constrained Business Leaders: Executives requiring immediate US market access for business operations, fundraising, or strategic positioning may find the premium justified by velocity benefits, particularly if EB-5 backlogs would otherwise create unacceptable delays.

Corporate Talent Strategies: Multinational enterprises managing critical employees across borders gain a novel workforce planning tool through transferable immigration status, though the economics must be carefully modeled against alternative visa strategies.

US-Specific Objectives: Individuals or families prioritizing US citizenship as the ultimate goal, American educational system access, or who maintain primary business interests within the United States find the most compelling value proposition.

The program proves less attractive for individuals prioritizing tax optimization, immediate travel mobility, capital preservation, or those comfortable with longer timelines at lower price points through European or Caribbean alternatives.

As with any seven-figure investment decision, sophisticated purchasers will conduct rigorous comparative analysis, engage specialized immigration and tax counsel, and carefully evaluate the intersection of personal objectives, risk tolerance, and financial capacity before committing to this novel pathway to American residency.

The Trump Gold Card represents a fundamental reimagining of US immigration policy through a market-based lens—whether it succeeds in attracting global wealth at scale while withstanding legal and political scrutiny will define its legacy in the investment immigration landscape.