Courtesy: Geo News/Reuters
“Basically it’s a Green Card, but much better,” says US president
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s administration officially launched his “Trump Gold Card” visa program on Wednesday to provide a pathway, with a steep price, for non-US citizens to get expedited permission to live in the United States.
The website Trumpcard.gov, complete with an “apply now” button, allows interested applicants to pay a $15,000 fee to the Department of Homeland Security for speedy processing.
After going through a background check or vetting process, applicants must then make a “contribution” – the website also calls it a “gift” – of $1 million to get the visa, similar to a “Green Card,” which allows them to live and work in the United States.
“Basically it’s a Green Card, but much better. Much more powerful, a much stronger path,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “A path is a big deal. Have to be great people.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said some 10,000 people have already signed up for the gold card during a pre-registration period and he expected many more to do so. “I would expect over time that we’d sell, you know, thousands of these cards and raise, you know, billions, billions of dollars,” Lutnick told Reuters in a brief interview.
Lutnick said the gold card program would bring people into the United States who would benefit the economy. He compared that to “average” Green Card holders, whom he said earned less money than average Americans and were more likely to be on or have family members on public assistance. He did not provide evidence for that assertion.
Trump’s administration has pursued a broad crackdown on immigration, deporting hundreds of thousands of people who were in the country illegally and also taking measures to discourage legal immigration.
The gold card program is the Trump version of a counterbalance to that, designed to make money for the US Treasury in the same way the president, a former New York businessman and reality television host, has said his tariff program has successfully done.
Lutnick noted that there was also a corporate version of the gold card that allowed companies to get expedited visas for employees they wanted to work in the United States, for a $2 million contribution per employee.
Trump launches $1 million ‘Golden Visa’: Here’s how it works, who can apply
Trump gold card is open for applications
U.S. President Donald Trump officially introduced his “Trump Gold Card” program on Wednesday, December 10.
This creates an expedited pathway to U.S. lawful permanent residency for foreign nationals who can pay a $15,000 processing fee and a $1 million “contribution” or “Gift” to the U.S. treasury.
Following the announcement, an official website has also been created “TrumpCard.gov.” Initially, the policy was announced in February and created by an executive order signed by Trump on September 19, 2025.
How “Gold Card” works
Unlike a new visa category, the Gold Card will serve as an expedited application route within the existing U.S. Immigration framework.
The $1 million financial gift from an individual applicant, or a $2 million gift from a sponsoring corporation will be evidence that the applicant is a substantial benefit for the United States.
With this evidence, the applicants will be eligible to apply for EB-1 visa (for individuals of extraordinary ability) or an EB-2 visa with a national interest waiver.
The application procedure has several steps and major costs including significant new fees for family members. Key costs and steps include:
| Applicant type | DHS Processing Fee | Financial Gift | Key Processing Step |
| Individual | $15,000 per person | $1 million | Submit application and fee at TrumpCard.gov
Vetting and background check by USCIS Submit $1 million Consular interview and immigrant visa processing |
| Corporation (per employee) | $15,000 per person | $2 million | Same as above with the corporation acting as the sponsor and paying the gift |
| Dependent family member | $15,000 per person | $1 million (per person) | Spouses and unmarried children under 21 are subject to the same fees to obtain derivative green cards |
Trump platinum card
Beyond the gold visa card, the program also previews a more exclusive “Trump Platinum Card,” which is “coming soon” as per the official site.
The card has a processing fee of $15,000 and a $5 million contribution. With this a foreign national will be able to spend up to 270 days per year in the United States without being subject to U.S. taxes on their non U.S. income.
The site clarifies that current U.S. citizens and resident aliens are not eligible for this card.