Exploring Trump’s New “Gold Card” Visa for Affluent Investors

I don't know who this is, man in suit with thumbs up.

President Trump unveils a $5 million “Gold Card” visa program targeting wealthy investors as a prestigious alternative to the green card, while promising to eliminate the fraud-plagued EB-5 program.

Quick Takes

Trump’s “Gold Card” would cost $5 million and offer enhanced privileges beyond a standard green card
The program aims to replace the EB-5 visa program, which has been associated with fraud issues
Revenue from Gold Card sales would go directly to the government, potentially helping reduce the national deficit
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says applicants will be vetted as “wonderful world-class global citizens”
Trump estimates the program could potentially sell a million or more Gold Cards, generating billions in revenue

A Premium Path to American Citizenship

President Donald Trump has announced a new immigration initiative that would create a luxury tier in the U.S. immigration system. The proposed “Gold Card” would cost wealthy immigrants $5 million and provide an expedited pathway to American citizenship with enhanced privileges. Unlike the current green card system, this premium option targets high-net-worth individuals who can make substantial financial contributions to the American economy through their investments, spending, and job creation potential. The Gold Card is being positioned as a more sophisticated version of the traditional green card with additional benefits for those who can afford the steep entry fee.

“We’re gonna be selling a gold card. You have a green card, this is a gold card. We’re gonna be putting a price on that card of about $5 million and that’s gonna give you green card privileges plus,” said Trump in his announcement of the program.

President Trump wants to offer wealthy immigrants “gold cards,” offering to sell them the possibility of citizenship for $5 million. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested the program would begin in two weeks and replace the existing EB-5 immigrant investor program. pic.twitter.com/SSNMLPjtln

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 26, 2025

Replacing the Problematic EB-5 Program

The Gold Card initiative aims to replace the existing EB-5 visa program, which has been plagued by fraud concerns over its history. Under the current EB-5 program, foreign nationals can obtain permanent residency by investing between $800,000 and $1.05 million in U.S. businesses that create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick outlined the administration’s plan to overhaul this system completely. The new program would eliminate intermediaries and direct the substantial application fees straight to the U.S. Treasury, potentially generating significant revenue for the federal government. “The president said rather than having this sort of ridiculous EB-5 program, we’re going to end the EB-5 program. We’re going to replace it with the Trump gold card,” explained Lutnick.

According to the Trump administration, the Gold Card would target a specific demographic of wealthy global elites seeking American residency. The program would implement a rigorous vetting process to ensure only qualified individuals receive this premium immigration status. Trump specified that the card would primarily be for “people with money and people that create jobs,” suggesting a focus on economic contributions rather than humanitarian or family reunification aspects of immigration. The administration plans to be highly selective about who qualifies for the program.

Economic Impact and Implementation Timeline

Trump has made bold predictions about the potential economic impact of the Gold Card program. He suggested the government could potentially sell “a million or more” Gold Cards, which at $5 million each would generate at least $5 trillion in revenue. While economic analysts have not yet verified these projections, the administration is positioning the program as a significant revenue generator that could help address the federal deficit while simultaneously attracting wealthy investors to the United States. The funds would flow directly to the government rather than through regional centers or investment funds as in the current EB-5 program.

According to Trump, the Gold Card program could be implemented quickly, with a potential launch in as little as two weeks. The president indicated that the program would not require Congressional approval, though legal experts have not yet weighed in on this assertion. The administration has not released complete details about the implementation process, including how the cards would be distributed, what specific additional privileges beyond green card status would be included, or how the vetting process would work. These specifics are reportedly still under development as the program moves toward its launch.