The U.S. government is gearing up to launch a bold new immigration initiative this week: the “Gold Card” visa program. Designed to appeal to ultra-wealthy foreign nationals, the program offers permanent residency — and a possible path to citizenship — in exchange for a hefty $5 million investment into the U.S. economy.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed the upcoming launch during the “Building the Future” summit hosted by Axios in Washington, D.C. “A new website — likely to be called ‘trumpcard.gov’ — should be live within a week,” he announced, signaling the start of registrations for interested applicants.
Inside the Gold Card Visa
Minimum Investment: $5 million in qualifying U.S. ventures.
Residency Benefits: Permanent resident status with a path to eventual U.S. citizenship.
The Gold Card is positioned to replace the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which currently grants green cards for significantly lower investments — $1.8 million generally, or $900,000 in targeted employment areas. The Trump administration argues the EB-5 has become vulnerable to misuse and no longer serves its intended economic purpose.
A New Vision for Investment-Based Immigration
President Donald Trump’s leadership, the Gold Card aims to:
- Attract high-caliber foreign capital.
- Revitalize the U.S. economy post-pandemic.
- Crack down on fraudulent practices in visa-for-investment schemes.
The administration reportedly has ambitious goals, with projections of up to one million visas potentially being issued under this new initiative — a move that could generate billions in economic impact.
However, legal obstacles loom. The current Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) doesn’t accommodate a visa like the Gold Card. Launching it would require either an amendment passed by Congress or a more unconventional route — an executive rollout that could face legal challenges, possibly ending up before the Supreme Court. Given President Trump’s history of circumventing bureaucratic roadblocks, many are watching closely to see if he pursues this route.
Who Will Apply?
The steep $5 million price tag will restrict access to only the global financial elite. But for high-net-worth individuals looking for political stability, economic opportunity, and a secure residency option in the United States, the Gold Card may be an attractive proposition.
Preparing for Launch
Prospective applicants are advised to:
- Monitor the official Gold Card website launch.
- Begin compiling financial and legal documentation to prove investment eligibility.
Wealth Magnet: Why the U.S. Still Leads
Despite recent global economic tremors, the United States remains the epicenter of personal wealth. According to Henley & Partners’ 2025 Global Wealth Report:
- The U.S. holds 34% of the world’s liquid wealth.
- It’s home to 37% of the planet’s millionaires — over 6 million people with $1 million+ in liquid assets.
- The country has experienced a 78% increase in millionaires between 2014 and 2024.
These numbers highlight why America continues to be a top destination for the world’s affluent.
A Goodbye to EB-5?
First established in 1990, the EB-5 program was intended to stimulate job creation through foreign investment. However, critics — including President Trump — have called it ineffective and riddled with fraud.
Congress passed the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) in 2022 to address those concerns. It reauthorized the EB-5 program through 2027 and introduced a slew of accountability measures: increased oversight, stricter fund-tracking, and enhanced investor protections.
Yet Trump’s Gold Card proposal notably omitted mention of these recent reforms. “We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million, and that’s going to give you green card privileges — plus,” Trump said cryptically, without clarifying what the “plus” entails.
Jake Campbell, senior immigration counsel at Seyfarth, noted that ambiguity: “It’s unclear what additional benefits the president is referring to.