President Donald Trump holds up the $5m gold card as he speaks to reporters while on board Air Force One, en route to Miami, on April 3, 2025 [Pool via AP]
Donald Trump, United States president, has officially launched a website inviting applications for his proposed $5 million “Trump Card” — a gold-coloured residency visa aimed at wealthy immigrants seeking permanent residence and a path to citizenship in the United States.
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Unveiled on Wednesday, the new portal, TrumpCard.gov, allows prospective applicants to submit their name, region, and email address, and to specify whether they are applying as an individual or as a business. The site promises to notify registrants “the moment access opens” to the high-value programme.
The scheme marks a significant shift in the United States’ approach to economic migration, and appears to be a direct replacement for the EB-5 visa programme, which has allowed wealthy individuals to gain permanent residency by investing a minimum of $800,000 to $1.05 million in US projects. Under the Trump Card scheme, that threshold has been raised to $5 million.
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“Thousands have been calling and asking how they can sign up to ride a beautiful road in gaining access to the Greatest Country and Market anywhere in the World,” trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social. “It’s called THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE WAITING LIST IS NOW OPEN.”
First floated by trump in February, the Trump Card promises successful applicants permanent residency rights, authorisation to work, and a pathway to US citizenship. The former real estate developer-turned-president previously described the visa as a “gold card” for the global elite—those who would “be spending a lot of money, and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people”.
In April, trump displayed a prototype of the visa—a metallic gold card bearing his image—to reporters aboard Air Force One. The card, he said, would serve as a symbol of “prestige, success and a commitment to the American Dream”.
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While the administration has not released full details of the eligibility criteria, officials have indicated that the only guaranteed requirement is the $5 million price tag. However, there will be a vetting process, and existing naturalisation rules are expected to apply. Under US immigration law, permanent residents may apply for citizenship after five years, provided they demonstrate proficiency in English, good moral character, and an attachment to the Constitution.
Critics have already raised concerns that the initiative could be seen as commodifying US residency, effectively placing it out of reach for all but the ultra-wealthy. Immigration advocates also warn it may deepen inequality within the broader immigration system.
Despite this, the trump administration appears to be positioning the Trump Card as a flagship component of its economic and migration
