Topline
The Trump administration began accepting applications Wednesday for the Trump “Gold Card” program, a fast-tracked pathway for foreign nationals to gain permanent resident status in the U.S. for $1 million.
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 19: A poster of the “Trump Gold Card” is seen as President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Oval Office at the White House on September 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The “Trump Gold Card” is a visa that allows foreign nationals permanent residency and a pathway to U.S. citizenship for a $1 million investment in the United States. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
The Trump administration debuted a website accepting applications for the million-dollar Gold Card visa program, inviting applicants to pay a nonrefundable $15,000 processing fee to begin the process.
The card features President Donald Trump’s portrait with an American flag, and the words “TRUMP GOLD CARD.”
Applicants receive a fast-tracked pathway to permanent resident legal status in the U.S., subject to receipt of the payment and a vetting process by the Department of Homeland Security.
Employers also have the ability to sponsor workers for $2 million with the program’s Gold corporate cards, coming with a 1% annual fee and 5% transfer fee in the event a company wants to change the recipient.
In September, Trump signed an executive order creating the program, presenting it as a way to “promote commerce and American industry.”
Key Background
Trump has attempted to overhaul the U.S.’ immigration policy and visa programs, signing an executive order in September imposing a $100,000 fee for foreigners who enter the U.S. on an H-1B visa. The H1-B program has a point of contention even among some close to Trump, with former Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk praising the program earlier this year. The Trump administration announced a campaign performing additional vetting for H1-B applicants last week. Big tech companies like Google, Amazon, Meta and Apple are some of the biggest users of the H1-B visa program, attracting top engineers to their companies. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Gold Card will replace the current EB-1 and EB-2 programs, two key employment-based visas for workers with “extraordinary ability.” The Trump administration has made stopping illegal immigration a key focus, placing deportation quotas and carrying out raids using Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The president has also put an end to the Temporary Protected Status program, placed a hold on all immigration applications filed by nationals from 19 countries and paused decisions on asylum applications.