Trump's $1 million gold card visa: Who qualifies, what it offers – Here's how to apply

US President Donald Trump has unveiled the “Trump Gold Card”, a new immigration initiative aimed at wealthy individuals and corporations seeking fast-tracked lawful permanent residency in the United States. The program was signed into effect on Friday, with the aim to generate billions in revenue and reform parts of the current legal immigration system.

“It’s going to raise billions of dollars, billions and billions of dollars, which is going to go to reduce taxes, pay off debt and for other good things,” Trump said during the Oval Office announcement.

Also read: To cost up to $5 million: What Trump Gold card looks like? How it differs from Corporate Gold & Platinum

The announcement also marks a significant difference in Trump’s immigration stance - offering high-net-worth individuals a pathway to residency through financial contribution, while simultaneously proposing stricter rules for skilled worker visas like the H-1B.

What is the Trump Gold Card ?
The Trump Gold Card is a visa residency program priced at $1 million for individuals and $2 million for corporations per employee. It promises accelerated processing and lawful permanent residency under existing EB-1 or EB-2 visa categories after vetting.

The card itself features a gold background with Trump’s portrait, the Statue of Liberty, and the American flag, marked with “Trump Gold Card” on the left.

“It is beyond time that the American People, and American Taxpayers, are benefitting from our LEGAL Immigration System,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.


How to apply for the card?
Individuals interested in obtaining US residency through the Trump Gold Card program must follow these key steps, as per gold card site:

Step 1: Pay the nonrefundable Processing Fee
Begin your application by visiting the official website - trumpcard.gov.
You’ll be required to pay a nonrefundable processing fee, which initiates the application process.

Step 2: Submit supporting documents
After the fee is paid, applicants must submit additional documents as requested. These may include personal identification, financial records, and other materials needed for background checks and eligibility verification.

Step 3: Undergo immigration vetting
US citizenship and immigration services (USCIS) and the department of homeland security (DHS) will conduct a thorough background check and vetting process to assess the applicant’s profile and intent.

Step 4: Make the $1 Million financial gift
If the application is approved, the individual must then make a $1 million gift to the US government. This contribution is legally considered evidence that the applicant will substantially benefit the United States, a key requirement for residency under this program.

Step 5: Receive lawful permanent residency
Once all steps are completed and verified, the applicant will be granted lawful permanent resident status under either the EB-1 or EB-2 visa category, and issued the Trump Gold Card for use across all US states and territories.

Also read: 'National security': Why Trump imposed $100,000 fee per year on H-1B visas; likely major blow to tech

What about corporations?The Trump Corporate Gold Card allows companies to pay $2 million per employee to obtain US residency. The program includes the flexibility to transfer residency benefits from one employee to another, subject to a transfer fee and fresh vetting.

A small annual maintenance fee will also apply, with other vetting and application processes similar to gold cards. Corporations can apply for multiple cards at once.


Who is eligible?
To qualify for the Trump Gold Card, applicants must meet the following key requirements:

• Be eligible for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status under US immigration laws (typically EB-1 or EB-2 categories).
• Be admissible to the United States, meaning they must pass national security, criminal background, and health screenings.
• A visa number must be available at the time of adjudication, in line with annual caps and quotas.

Additional financial and documentary requirements, such as making a $1 million qualifying gift and providing proof of identity and source of funds, also apply.

Only those who meet both the legal and financial criteria will be considered for approval.


Platinum card coming soon
The Trump administration also plans to introduce a Trump Platinum Card, which will cost $5 million. This version offers up to 270 days of US residency per year, while exempting holders from US taxation on non-US income - a feature aimed at attracting ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

Also read: Big change for H-1Bs: Donald Trump signs proclamation imposing $100k annual fee on visa application; aim to protect US tech jobs


Target: $100 billion revenue
Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, who joined Trump at the White House announcement, projected that the program could raise over $100 billion in the short term.

However, immigration experts note that congressional approval may be required for parts of the program to be fully enacted.

Despite that, Trump remains optimistic: “The main thing is we’re going to have great people coming in, and they’re going to be paying,” he said.


Warning! Trump Gold Card can be revoked. Under what situation?
The Trump Gold Card functions as a US visa, and like all visas, it can be revoked under certain conditions.

Revocation may occur if:

• The cardholder is found to pose a national security threat
• There are issues related to criminal activity, fraud, or misrepresentation
• The individual becomes inadmissible or violates visa conditions

While the program offers fast-tracked residency, it is still subject to standard US immigration enforcement rules and oversight by the department of homeland security.