U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday formally rolled out his long-discussed “gold card” initiative — a programme that grants legal residency and a pathway to American citizenship in exchange for large investments from individuals and companies.
The announcement came as an application website went live, marking the official launch of a plan the administration has been previewing for months.
Under the new scheme, foreign nationals can obtain legal status by paying $1 million, while corporations will have to contribute $2 million for each foreign employee they intend to sponsor. Trump revealed the programme in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, flanked by business executives.
The initiative is designed to replace the existing EB-5 investment visa route, created in 1990 to stimulate U.S. economic development by requiring a $1 million investment generating at least 10 American jobs.
Trump has framed the gold card as a revamped and more advantageous version of the EB-5, arguing that it will both attract global talent and deliver substantial revenue to the federal government. In earlier remarks, he had floated a much higher price tag of $5 million per card before settling on the current structure.
According to him, all proceeds collected through the programme will be deposited into a Treasury-run account earmarked for national projects. He predicted the government would receive “billions” as applications begin to pour in. Though the branding differs, the gold card effectively functions as a form of green card, offering permanent residency and a stepping stone to citizenship.
“Basically, it’s a green card — but stronger,” Trump said, describing it as a “more powerful path” into the United States.
Noticeably absent from Trump’s announcement were details on job-creation requirements or limits on the number of cards that can be issued, both of which are features of the current EB-5 system. Instead, he focused on complaints from business leaders who said they struggled to retain high-achieving international students graduating from U.S. universities because their immigration status was uncertain.
“You can’t hire people from the best colleges if you’re not sure they can stay in the country,” Trump said, suggesting the new pathway would resolve that concern.
While Trump’s political agenda has long centred on strict immigration enforcement — particularly a hard-line approach to the southern border and aggressive deportation actions — he has, at times, expressed support for increasing access for highly skilled workers. This tension has drawn criticism from some within his own “Make America Great Again” base, who oppose expanded immigration of any kind. The gold card programme is expected to revive that debate.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick offered additional details, stating that each application will include a $15,000 vetting fee to support rigorous background checks. He noted that companies can sponsor multiple gold cards but must assign each card to a single individual. Lutnick also said the administration believes current green card holders tend to earn less than the typical U.S. worker — something Trump wants to change.
“So the same visas — but filled with the best people,” Lutnick said.
Investment-based immigration programmes exist worldwide, with countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Malta, Australia, Canada and Italy offering similar “golden visa” opportunities to wealthy individuals. Trump argued that the American version will draw exceptional talent, noting that top graduates from nations like China, India and France are likely candidates for companies seeking to utilise the programme.
“We think we’re going to get tremendous people,” Trump said. “The companies are going to be very happy.”
Also Read: Trump Unveils $5 MN ‘Gold Card’ For US Citizenship Path https://www.vibesofindia.com/trump-unveils-5-mn-gold-card-for-us-citizenship-path/
