President Trump launches ‘gold card’ path to citizenship for foreign investors
President Donald Trump has launched a $1 million gold card to replace the EB-5 foreign investor program.
Sorry, Statue of Liberty – the unwashed masses need not apply.
Trumpcard.gov, a website that reopened on December 10, says foreign elites flush with cash and looking to “liberate their lives in America” have a golden opportunity to get visas and a path to citizenship cheaper than originally thought.
President Donald Trump’s long-touted Trump Gold Card, which he said in February would cost $5 million, is now on sale for as little as $1 million.
President Trump wrote on Truth Social on December 10th, “The US Government’s Trump Gold Card is here today!” “It’s a direct path to citizenship for all qualified and vetted people. It’s so exciting! Our great American companies will finally be able to retain their valuable talent.”
Trump Gold Card: Not just gold but also platinum
For a $5 million contribution, foreign high rollers also now have access to the Platinum Card, which allows them to spend up to 270 days in the U.S. without paying U.S. taxes on their non-U.S. income.
The first step in the application requires a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security. Applicants can expect to receive U.S. residency in “record time” after donating $1 million, subject to review and approval by DHS, the website said.
There are also relief measures for companies considering sourcing foreign talent. But that would require a $2 million gift. President Trump has defended the H-1B visa, which businesses use to attract skilled foreign workers, but made it harder for businesses by raising the application fee to $100,000. However, his defense of the program drew ire from his MAGA base.
Individual applicants and corporate sponsors who wish to sponsor a spouse or unmarried child under 21 will have to pay an additional $15,000 DHS processing fee and a $1 million gift per person, according to the site, which accepts online fees.
A family of four would be looking at spending more than $4.6 million.
President Trump said he did not seek Congressional approval because it would not grant citizenship to gold card buyers, but only a path to citizenship.
Other countries have immigration programs that grant foreign investors permanent residency or citizenship in exchange for investment. Portugal, for example, offers residency rights and a path to EU citizenship after five years.
Gold Card is not an overseas investment but a “gift”
When he first floated the idea in February, President Trump said the card would replace the EB-5 green card visa program for immigrant investors. However, immigrants entering the country with the new Gold Card will have an EB-1 or EB-2 visa, according to the website. These visas are employment-based visas for highly skilled professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability in a particular field.
“A gift of $1 million upon completion of an individual’s review is evidence that the individual will provide material benefit to the United States,” the site states.
The EB-5 visa allows immigrant investors to invest between $800,000 and $1.05 million to obtain a green card. Investment funds will be used to create or retain U.S. jobs. And at some point, that investment can also be claimed back by immigrants. However, the program currently has long wait times and national caps.
The new $1 million Trump Gold Card is a donation, and there is no indication that the money will be returned to the purchaser.
When President Trump first introduced the concept in February, he said, “We’re going to see wealthy people come into our country by purchasing this card.” “They’ll be rich, they’ll be successful, they’ll spend a lot of money, they’ll pay a lot of taxes, they’ll employ a lot of people.”
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is USA TODAY’s White House correspondent. You can follow her at X @SwapnaVenugopal.
