President Donald Trump on Wednesday formally unveiled a new, paid immigration pathway dubbed the “Trump Gold Card,” a White House program that will let foreign nationals fast-track lawful permanent residency after making a US$1 million contribution, or allow companies to sponsor workers for US$2 million.
The administration launched a dedicated website, trumpcard.gov, and said applicants must also pay a US$15,000 Department of Homeland Security processing fee and pass background checks.
The site promises “U.S. residency in record time,” says the application page, and states successful applicants will be admitted as EB-1 or EB-2 lawful permanent residents, employment-based categories reserved for people of “extraordinary” or “exceptional” ability. The site says the process, including an interview, will take “weeks.”
Trump says the gold card will ensure ‘the best people come in’
“Very excitingly, for me and for the country, we’ve just launched the ‘Trump Gold Card,’” the president said at a White House roundtable. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who has promoted the plan, told Fox News the program will ensure “these are the best people coming in; they’re economically capable of driving our economy.” Lutnick has previously said the initiative could raise as much as US$1 trillion to help pay down the national debt.
The White House also previewed a higher tier, a “Trump Platinum Card,” that would be available later for US$5 million and, the website says, would allow holders to “spend up to 270 days in the United States without being subject to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income.” That option is listed on the site as coming soon and invites foreigners to join a waiting list.
THE TRUMP GOLD CARD.
Unlock life in America. https://t.co/ui2ZkkdxEH pic.twitter.com/7pxuVvnC6z
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 10, 2025
The launch formalizes a proposal Trump first floated in February. It was originally pitched as a US$5 million citizenship pathway, and follows an executive order in September directing the program’s creation. The version unveiled Wednesday, however, relies on existing employment-based visa categories rather than immediate citizenship.
The extension of the EB-5 investor program will likely require approval from Congress
Despite administration enthusiasm, legal and policy questions loom. Immigration law experts have warned that altering or ending the existing EB-5 investor program, which the administration has said it will modify, would likely require congressional action. Critics also note the program comes as the administration has tightened legal and illegal forms of entry after recent security incidents, a posture the White House says makes reform urgent.
The Trump administration has repeatedly framed the plan as a way to attract wealthy, high-skilled migrants, arguing it will lift national economic prospects. Supporters say the funds generated could bankroll public priorities; opponents counter that selling expedited residency privileges to the wealthy undermines fairness in the immigration system and risks creating a two-tiered pathway to permanent status.
The new program’s rollout leaves other details unresolved. The website notes that additional State Department fees may apply, and does not set a precise timetable for the platinum option. Observers say how the policy will operate in practice, and whether it will withstand legal and political scrutiny, remains to be seen.