President Donald Trump has officially launched a new fast tracked immigration scheme offering wealthy foreign nationals a direct route to United States residency and eventual citizenship in exchange for a minimum payment of $1 million. Known as the Trump Gold Card, the programme is aimed at attracting high net worth individuals and senior professionals whom the administration believes can deliver significant economic value to the country.
Announcing the initiative on social media, Trump said the Gold Card would give buyers a direct path to citizenship for all qualified and vetted applicants. He added that the scheme would allow American companies to retain what he described as invaluable global talent. According to the president, the initiative is designed to strengthen the US economy by welcoming productive individuals who are able to invest, innovate and create jobs.
The Gold Card was first announced earlier this year and is described on its official website as a US visa awarded to individuals who can demonstrate that they will provide a substantial benefit to the United States. The programme promises permanent residency in record time, significantly shortening the process compared to traditional immigration routes.
How the Gold Card works
Under the scheme, individual applicants must pay a minimum fee of $1 million. In addition, all applicants are required to submit a non refundable processing fee of $15,000 before their application is reviewed. Depending on personal circumstances, further administrative fees may also be charged.
Businesses seeking to sponsor foreign employees under the programme face even higher costs. Corporate sponsors are required to pay $2 million per applicant, excluding additional government fees. The administration argues that this ensures only serious and economically beneficial applications are submitted.
Once an application is filed, the Department of Homeland Security begins a vetting process, which includes background checks and a review of the applicant’s professional and financial profile. Upon successful vetting, applicants are invited to make a formal financial contribution to the US government, described as evidence of their ability to benefit the country. According to the programme’s website, the full process may take several weeks following payment of the initial fees.
Secretary Lutnick announces the Trump Gold Card:
— U.S. Commerce Dept. (@CommerceGov) December 10, 2025
“For an individual, it’s $1 million, and for a corporation, it’s $2 million. And as the President said, if a corporation spends $2 million, they can have an employee fully vetted — the best vetting the government has ever done.… pic.twitter.com/mhY7TmKmMd
What happened to the $5 million Gold Card?
The current $1 million Gold Card launch follows earlier announcements that caused confusion over a $5 million version of the programme. In March 2025, Travel Tomorrow reported on a proposed premium Gold Card pathway that would offer additional tax advantages and was discussed as a potential mechanism to help reduce the national debt.
That higher tier option was presented as a Platinum version of the Gold Card aimed at ultra wealthy investors. Supporters claimed it could generate significant revenue for the federal government, while critics warned it would commercialise citizenship and deepen inequality within the immigration system.
Since then, the administration has scaled back public references to the $5 million option. Officials now say the higher tier has not been cancelled but remains under review. For the time being, only the $1 million Gold Card is actively being promoted and processed, while the Platinum version may be introduced at a later stage pending legal and fiscal assessments.
President Donald Trump said he is starting a program to offer residency and a path to citizenship to investors who pay $5 million.
— Bloomberg (@business) February 25, 2025
The US leader said the program, dubbed the “gold card,” would launch in two weeks https://t.co/53AXI2hNhl pic.twitter.com/UkmJzEDAuo
Political reaction and criticism
The Gold Card scheme has faced criticism since it was first announced, particularly from Democratic lawmakers who argue that it unfairly favours wealthy individuals over refugees, family reunification applicants and skilled workers without access to large financial resources.
Critics also point out that the programme is being rolled out at a time when the US government is tightening access to immigration through more traditional routes. Advocacy groups have raised concerns about fairness, transparency and the broader social impact of linking residency and citizenship so closely to financial capacity.
Supporters of the scheme, however, argue that it reflects economic reality and global competition for talent. Trump has repeatedly stated that individuals who can afford high entry fees are more likely to create jobs, invest in businesses and contribute positively to economic growth. “The people who can pay $5 million are going to create jobs,” Trump previously said, calling the programme a bargain.
Part of a wider immigration clampdown
The Gold Card launch comes as the Trump administration intensifies its broader immigration crackdown. Work visa fees have been increased across several categories, while deportation efforts targeting undocumented migrants have been significantly expanded.
Immigration applications from nineteen countries, mostly in Africa and the Middle East, remain suspended under the administration’s travel restrictions. At the same time, the government has halted all decisions on asylum applications and announced plans to review thousands of cases approved under the previous administration of President Joe Biden.
In September, Trump also signed an order imposing a $100,000 fee on new applicants to the H 1 B visa programme for skilled foreign workers. The announcement caused widespread concern among international students and technology companies, prompting the White House to clarify that the fee would apply only to new applicants currently living outside the United States.
