US President Donald Trump has launched what he calls the “Trump Card,” a high-value immigration initiative offering foreigners a pathway to US citizenship in exchange for a $5 million payment to the government.
Also referred to as the Gold Card, Trump described the programme as “somewhat like a Green Card, but at a higher level of sophistication.” The announcement was made on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he stated that those interested can now visit the newly launched website, trumpcard.gov, to fill out a form and join the waitlist.
“For five million dollars,” Trump wrote, individuals could begin the journey toward what he described as “a beautiful road in gaining access to the Greatest Country and Market anywhere in the World.” He claimed that “thousands” had already inquired about how to apply.
However, the fine print in Trump’s own statement clarifies that the Gold Card does not directly grant US citizenship. Instead, it offers what he called a path—or more precisely, an opportunity—to access it. Trump said the programme will not require congressional approval since it does not confer citizenship but just opens a path toward it.
The most common route to acquiring permanent residency is through the naturalisation process, which requires a person to be at least 18 years old, have lived in the US for a minimum of five years, possess basic English communication skills, and be of “good moral character” as defined by US law.
Under the current US law, the most common path to citizenship is through naturalisation, which requires individuals to reside in the country for at least five years, demonstrate basic English proficiency, and be of “good moral character.” There is no existing immigration category that directly aligns with the terms of the Gold Card, raising questions about how it would be implemented.
Despite those uncertainties, the programme is already being positioned for international appeal. Earlier this month, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressed optimism about its reception in India. “We are going to be incredibly successful in India. So, when people ask me, ‘When are you coming to India?’ I’d say, ‘When I launch the Trump Card, I promise you I’m coming to India,’” Lutnick said during his keynote address at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit 2025.
While the Trump Card has generated attention for its scale and price point, the lack of clear legal grounding and the absence of a guaranteed outcome suggest that, for now, it may be more of a political statement than a practical immigration pathway.
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