Trump Gold Card Visa 2026 Guide: Cost and How to Get

On Sept. 19, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a potential new pathway for wealthy individuals to become lawful permanent residents: the Trump Gold Card visa.

The program, detailed in Executive Order 14351, would expedite residency applications for those who make financial gifts of $1 million or more to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The program is expected to launch by Dec. 18. The departments of Commerce, State, and Homeland Security have 90 days from September 19 to finalize the visa requirements, application process, and other details.

🧑‍⚖️Clear guidance, without the legal jargon. This article is informed and reviewed by Manifest Law’s experienced immigration attorneys—and written to make the law make sense. Because you deserve to understand the system, not fight it. Check out our editorial policy for more info.

The Trump Gold Card visa officially launched Wednesday as the program’s official website, trumpcard.gov began taking applications. 

“Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable talent,” President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The Trump Gold Card allows applicants to qualify for a visa under the EB-1 and EB-2 visa categories by making a $1 million contribution ($2 million for corporations sponsoring an employee). The contribution replaces the obligation to provide evidence of extraordinary ability to qualify for a visa and promises to approve applicants “on an expedited basis.”

Even before making the $1 million gift, applicants must first pay an nonrefundable $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security. Family members can also join an application—for an extra $1 million each (plus the $15,000 fee per person).

What is the Trump Gold Card visa?

The Trump Gold Card visa establishes a new, expedited pathway for certain wealthy individuals to obtain U.S. permanent residency by making a significant financial contribution to the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

This non-refundable contribution is structured differently depending on the source of the funds:

• $1 million for individuals petitioning on their own behalf
• $2 million for a corporation contributing on behalf of an employee or prospective employee

How the Trump Gold Card visa works

The Gold Card program isn’t a brand new visa category. It operates within the existing employment-based immigration system.

Instead of evidence of eligibility like documented achievements, sustained acclaim, or proof that your work advances the national interest, you give a financial gift: $1 million for individuals or $2 million for corporate sponsors. 

The White House says the purpose of the Gold Card program is twofold:

1. To attract capital and talent: The program is designed to prioritize immigrants who will “affirmatively benefit the Nation, including successful entrepreneurs, investors, and businessmen and women.”
2. To promote commerce: The executive order says the financial gifts (the $1 million or $2 million contributions) will be deposited into a special fund in the U.S. Department of Commerce to be used to “promote commerce and American industry.”

Tax implications of the Trump Gold Card

The Trump Gold Card visa grants you status as a lawful permanent resident. As such, you’ll be subject to U.S. taxation on your worldwide income upon obtaining residency. 

As with investment-related visas, immigrants must prove that capital investments come from lawful sources, as proven by business records, tax records, and other evidence.

Who qualifies for the Trump Gold Card visa?

While the Trump Gold Card program can help you qualify for a visa more quickly, it isn’t the only hurdle. Simply having $1 million isn’t enough either.

Aside from the financial gift, you must be eligible for lawful permanent resident status under standard U.S. immigration law. You’ll have to undergo security vetting and provide evidence of the source of your finances. There may be additional requirements not yet mentioned.

What is the application process for Trump’s Gold Card visa?

The Trump Gold Card visa application process substitutes traditional evidence requirements with a financial contribution. The Trump administration is still finalizing the application process, but here are the steps we know about so far:

Register interest and pay processing fee

The first step is for the applicant or sponsoring corporation to register interest through the official portal at trumpcard.gov. You’ll submit your name, region, and email, and pay a non-refundable processing fee.

File an immigrant petition (Form I-140)

Because you’ll be applying under the existing EB-1 and EB-2 categories, you’ll still have to file Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker), with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Under the executive order, the financial gift should qualify your application for expedited processing, which means you’d move up in the line ahead of other applicants.

Complete security vetting

Every Green Card applicant goes through a rigorous vetting process. USCIS will conduct criminal background and security checks, which will include collecting your fingerprints and requesting a name check from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Transfer the financial gift

Once you’ve cleared security vetting, you will transfer the financial gift into a fund in the Department of Commerce.

Apply for lawful permanent resident status

Once your financial gift has been processed and your petition is approved, the final step is to apply for adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident. If you’re already in the U.S., you need to file Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), with USCIS. If you’re living abroad, you will have to go through consular processing and complete your application at a U.S. Department of State consulate.

Final adjudication

The Gold Card process offers expedited adjudication of your application, but otherwise, you will need to follow the standard Green Card application process. Once your application is approved, you can receive the Trump Gold Card.

Required documentation

The Gold Card process waives most of the evidence necessary to prove extraordinary ability, but you must still provide a comprehensive set of documents, including:

• A copy of a government-issued ID with photograph
• A copy of your birth certificate
• Form I-693 (Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record)
• Certified police and court records of all criminal charges, arrests, or convictions
• A minimum of seven years of personal income tax returns
• Bank records covering at least the past five years, demonstrating the accumulation and movement of funds
• Documentation tracing the transfer of funds from your account to the Department of Commerce, including SWIFT/BIC codes or IBAN numbers
• For cryptocurrency: Blockchain transaction records with wallet identification through a regulated financial institution

You must also disclose all financial accounts worldwide, including cryptocurrency accounts.

Heads up: Form I-140G may be changing. USCIS has proposed updates to the Gold Card application form that would remove the question asking you to select a Green Card category and adding new questions about finances and family members. Here’s what we know so far.

Benefits of Trump’s Gold Card visa program

The Trump Gold Card grants lawful permanent resident status, just like a Green Card obtained through  standard EB-1 or EB-2 visas. The main privilege that comes from a Gold Card is a fast track to permanent residency. 

Because you can use a financial gift as a substitute for evidence that you meet the extraordinary ability requirements of the EB-1 and EB-2 visa categories, you reduce the time, effort, and documentation needed to apply for permanent resident status. The Gold Card also expedites the processing for visa petition and LPR application, steps that would otherwise take months or years.

Once approved, the Gold Card gives you full LPR rights and a path to citizenship, just like any other Green Card. That means you have the right to live and work anywhere in the U.S., including the freedom to change jobs or start a company without needing a new visa or sponsorship. 

You also have the ability to petition for your spouse and unmarried children under 21 to immigrate to the United States. After meeting the standard five-year continuous residency requirement (three years if you’re married to a U.S. citizen), you can apply for U.S. naturalization and citizenship.

Limitations of Trump’s Gold Card visa

Gold Card recipients will be drawn from the same annual visa quotas as traditional EB-1 and EB-2 applicants. No additional visa numbers have been created.

For nationals of India and China, existing backlogs mean a wait of potentially several years for a visa number to become available, even if your Gold Card petition is approved.

The Gold Card also doesn’t remove all documentation requirements. You still need proper evidence of your eligibility for permanent residency as part of the application. You also need to meet the same background and security checks as other Green Card applicants. Just like any other visa, the Trump Gold Card and your permanent resident status can be revoked based on national security or if USCIS believes you included false information in your application.

Since the Gold Card is based on an executive order and not a permanent change to U.S. immigration law, it’s also possible for a future administration to end the program.

What corporate sponsors need to know about the Trump Gold Card visa

The Trump Gold Card visa offers U.S. corporations a quicker way to secure LPR status for foreign talent. Here’s what Executive Order 14351 says about the corporate-sponsored pathway:

• Financial contribution: The sponsoring U.S. corporation must make a non-refundable financial gift of $2 million to the Department of Commerce on behalf of the employee or prospective employee.
• Employee transferability: The Gold Card allows the sponsoring corporation to transfer LPR status to another employee, which could apply if the original recipient leaves the company. While the new employee needs to undergo their own vetting process, the corporation won’t need to pay another $2 million gift. However, it will have to pay an annual maintenance fee and transfer fee.

Trump Gold Card visa vs. the EB-5 visa

Both the Trump Gold Card visa and the EB-5 Immigrant Investor program provide a pathway to lawful permanent resident status based on financial contribution, but they have different investment requirements. The table below breaks down key differences.

Alternate visa options for immigrants

The Trump Gold Card visa is a new pathway to a Green Card, but it’s not the only option for high-skilled professionals seeking U.S. permanent residency. Professionals can still apply for traditional EB-1 and EB-2 visas. Here’s a closer look at these options.

EB-1 visa

If you’re at the top of your field in science, arts, education, business or athletics, you may qualify for an EB-1 visa as an “alien of extraordinary ability.” You must have received sustained acclaim for your abilities through things like major awards, publications, or significant contributions in your field. 

Your employer can also sponsor you as an outstanding professor or research by showing that you’ve published original research or scholarly books. Certain executives also qualify for sponsorship.

EB-2 visa

You can qualify for an EB-2 visa if you have an advanced degree or proven exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business. The EB-2 NIW visa is also available if your work will demonstrably aid the national interest of the U.S.

Explore your Green Card options with Manifest Law

The Trump Gold Card visa introduces a new—and potentially faster—path to U.S. permanent residency for individuals prepared to make a qualifying financial contribution. 

While key details are still unfolding, it signals a shift toward investment-driven immigration alternatives, standing apart from traditional employment-based categories like the EB-1 or EB-2. For those considering this option, the next step is clear: stay informed, assess eligibility early, and align your strategy with your long-term immigration goals.

 👉 If you’re ready to stop guessing and start planning, our immigration attorneys are here to help. Request a consultation with Manifest Law now.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Platinum Card program?

The Trump Platinum Card is a separate proposed tier of the wealth-based immigration program. It would allow the holder to spend up to 270 days a year in the U.S. without being subject to U.S. taxation on non-U.S. income, in exchange for a $5 million financial contribution. There are no further details about how the Platinum Card program would be established.

Is the Trump Gold Card tax-deductible?

No. Charitable contributions to certain organizations are tax-deductible, but the Gold Card financial contribution is considered a gift, which is not tax-deductible.

Are families included?

Yes. Employment-based visa applications, like the Trump Gold Card program, allow you to include family members in your petition. This can include your spouse and unmarried children under 21. But each person on the petition costs an additional $1 million and $15,000 processing fee.

Will Trump’s Gold Card visa fully replace the EB-1A and EB-2 NIW Green Card paths?

It is not clear yet. Trump’s Gold Card visa could just be an additional or alternative criterion in qualifying for an EB-1 or EB-2 category visa that will lead to lawful permanent residency or completely take the place of the current EB-1 and EB-2 categories. There is still ambiguity about Trump’s Gold Card and how individuals will be qualified for each category.

What if I’m already in the U.S.?

The instructions for I-140G say applicants must go through consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate to get an immigrant visa, but make no mention of applicants who are in the U.S. It’s unclear how USCIS would treat someone already in the U.S., but the Immigration and National Act says you can apply for adjustment of status with Form I-485 if you’re legally present and have an approved immigration petition and current priority date.