Trump Launches $1 Million Gold Card Visa Program For Residency

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the launch of the "Trump Gold Card" visa programme, offering wealthy individuals and corporations a fast-tracked path to U.S. residency in exchange for substantial fees paid to the Treasury. In a Truth Social post, Trump detailed that individuals must pay $1 million, while corporate sponsorships require $2 million, positioning the initiative as a revenue generator to bolster the economy and reform legal immigration. The programme, accessible via trumpcard.gov, aims to prioritise high-value contributors while addressing what Trump described as a "broken" system overwhelmed by illegal entries.

Trump elaborated on the programme's potential, stating it would attract "extraordinary people at the very top" who can create businesses and jobs for Americans. "We're taking in hundreds of billions of dollars. The Gold Card will be taking in hundreds of billions of dollars, and companies will be able to keep some people they need," he wrote, projecting $100 billion in quick revenue to reduce national debt and taxes. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed this, emphasising the cards' role in curbing H-1B visa abuses through a new $100,000 annual fee for applications and renewals, forcing firms to prioritise essential talent or hire domestically.

This initiative builds on Trump's February 2025 proposal for a $5 million "Gold Card" investor visa, intended as a premium alternative to the EB-5 programme, which grants green cards for $800,000–$1.05 million investments in job-creating projects. The revised structure lowers the entry barrier but introduces corporate tiers and tax incentives, exempting holders from federal taxes on foreign-earned income—a feature not available in EB-5. Unlike EB-5's job creation mandates, the Gold Card focuses on direct fiscal contributions, with no issuance caps, though it requires congressional approval for full implementation amid ongoing legal debates.

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The announcement has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters hail it as an economic boon, with over 68,000 waitlist signups reported in June, potentially rivalling global "golden visa" schemes in Portugal and Malta. Critics, including immigration lawyers and policy experts, warn of hurdles like tax code amendments and risks of money laundering or housing inflation, similar to discontinued programmes abroad. As registration opens, the programme underscores Trump's dual focus on border security and elite immigration streams, though its fate hinges on legislative progress.

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