On September 19, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to create the Gold Card visa program, to facilitate “expedited immigration for aliens who make significant financial gifts to the United States.” In other words, the program provides a fast track to U.S. lawful permanent residence in exchange for a significant financial contribution. The executive order directs the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, in coordination with the Secretaries of State, Marco Rubio, and Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, to establish a “Gold Card” program. The Trump Gold Card provides immigrant visas for aliens donating $1 million individually or $2 million if paid for by a corporation or similar entity on behalf of an individual.
The Trump Gold Card official website states that for individuals:
“The Trump Gold Card is a visa based upon an individual’s ability to provide a substantial benefit to the United States. To apply, an applicant must pay a nonrefundable processing fee. Once an applicant’s processing fee is received, the process for visa adjudication will take place, assuming applicants submit additional documents in a timely manner. If approved, an individual must make a gift of $1 million, which has been determined to provide sufficient evidence that the individual will substantially benefit the United States.”
The official website also states that for corporations:
“The Trump Corporate Gold Card is issued to a corporate sponsor for one or more of the sponsor’s employees. To apply, the corporate sponsor must pay a nonrefundable processing fee per employee. Corporate sponsors may apply for multiple employees at once. A $2 million per employee gift upon completion of the employee’s vetting is evidence that the employee will substantially benefit the United States. The advantage of the Trump Corporate Gold Card is that corporate sponsors may cease sponsoring one employee and use the gift contribution tied to the prior application as a basis for sponsoring a new employee without a new $2 million gift. The Trump Corporate Gold Card is subject to a small annual maintenance fee and a transfer fee.”
The administration has also stated that the program applicants “must be eligible for lawful permanent resident status, admissible to the United States, and a visa must be available,” which seems to contradict the promises of an “expedited” processing. Further, the official website also states that “…appropriately determined by the Department of Homeland Security and subject to availability, an applicant receives lawful permanent resident status as an EB-1 or EB-2 visa holder.” In reference to tax treatment, gold card applicants “…will be treated similarly to other permanent residents and citizens.” Interestingly, however, the official website states that the “…Trump Gold Card is a visa; therefore, national security and other risks are a basis for revocation.” It is not clear, however, how it will work.
Furthermore, the official website states that there will be a “Trump Platinum Card,” which will allow individual applicants to reside in the U.S. for up to 270 days per year without being subject to tax on non-U.S. income. However, the Trump Platinum Card has not been released yet. The official website encourages applicants to “…join the waitlist now, as they will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis.”
According to the present administration, the program is intended to attract “high-skilled workers.” A White House Fact Sheet on the Trump Gold Card states that the executive order “instructs that these gifts serve as evidence of exceptional business ability and national benefit, expediting adjudication consistent with legal and security concerns.” Further, the stated expectation of the Trump Gold Card is that it will generate revenue for the U.S. Treasury, to be used to cut taxes and pay down national debt.
The Trump Gold Card has been described as a “replacement” for the existing EB-5 investor visa program, which some officials have characterized as ineffective and slow at best.
There are a good number of questions at present as the Trump Gold Card program poses some potential legal challenges. Legal experts and immigration attorneys are questioning the president’s authority to create a new “visa” category through an executive order, arguing that such a program requires congressional approval. Other concerns, including the program’s economic and financial viability still remain. The details on eligibility and implementation are still unclear, and our team will continue to monitor the ongoing developments of this program.
