On December 10, 2025, the Trump administration formally opened applications for a new premium U.S. immigration pathway known as the Trump Gold Card, positioning it as an expedited route to lawful permanent residence for high-net-worth foreign nationals. The launch marks a notable development in U.S. immigration policy, introducing a high-cost, executive-driven pathway alongside existing statutory visa categories.
According to official materials, the Gold Card process begins with a $15,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) processing and vetting fee, followed by a $1 million contribution after applicants pass initial background checks. The program has quickly drawn attention not only for its pricing structure, but also for how it has been introduced within the broader U.S. immigration framework.
The legal foundation of the Gold Card program
The Gold Card program is rooted in Executive Order 14351, signed on September 19, 2025 and published in the Federal Register on September 24, 2025. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, to establish a program that links immigration eligibility to an unrestricted gift to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The executive order relies on the Department of Commerce’s authority under 15 U.S.C. § 1522 to accept gifts, framing the contribution as evidence of substantial benefit to the United States, rather than as a direct purchase of immigration status. Importantly, the order states that all adjudications must remain consistent with existing immigration law and statutory limits.
Under the executive framework established by Executive Order 14351:
- Foreign nationals may qualify for the Gold Card by making an unrestricted $1 million gift to the U.S. Department of Commerce, or $2 million if sponsored by a corporation.
- The executive order directs federal agencies to treat these contributions as supporting evidence within existing employment-based green card pathways, including EB-1 and EB-2, rather than creating a new visa category.
- Official program materials state that approved applicants receive lawful permanent residence through established employment-based criteria, as determined by DHS and subject to normal eligibility rules and visa availability under U.S. immigration law.
Application portal and published fee structure
Applications are currently being accepted through the government portal trumpcard.gov. According to the site, applicants begin the process by paying a nonrefundable $15,000 DHS processing and vetting fee. Only after background checks are completed are applicants invited to proceed with the $1 million contribution.
The portal outlines several tracks:
Individual Gold Card: Applicants pay the $15,000 processing fee, undergo vetting, and then make a $1 million contribution. Successful applicants may be granted lawful permanent residence through employment-based classifications, subject to eligibility and visa availability.
Corporate-sponsored Gold Card: Corporations may sponsor foreign employees by making a $2 million contribution per employee, in addition to the $15,000 DHS processing fee. According to the official program portal, the corporate track also includes ongoing administrative costs, including a 1% annual maintenance fee per sponsored employee and a 5% fee when sponsorship is transferred to another worker, along with new background check requirements.
Family members: Spouses and unmarried children under 21 may be included, with additional processing fees and contributions required for each qualifying family member.
Platinum Card (announced, not yet active): The official program portal states that a future “Trump Platinum Card” is planned, with foreign nationals able to join a waiting list ahead of launch. According to the portal, the Platinum Card would require a $15,000 DHS processing fee and a $5 million contribution, and would allow holders to spend up to 270 days per year in the United States without being subject to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income. The portal notes that individuals who have previously been subject to U.S. tax on non-U.S. income, including U.S. citizens and resident aliens, are not eligible. This tier has not yet been implemented and remains in a pre-launch phase.
USCIS operational developments
In parallel with the portal launch, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced Form I-140G, titled Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program. EB-1 and EB-2 immigrant petitions are already filed through Form I-140, and the creation of Form I-140G reflects a program-specific adaptation of the existing employment-based petition framework, rather than the introduction of a new visa category.
The form’s explicit reference to Executive Order 14351 indicates that Gold Card cases are intended to move through established employment-based filing and adjudication procedures, with the contribution component incorporated as an additional program element. USCIS has not yet issued separate guidance detailing how this element will be weighed in adjudication.
How the Gold Card compares with EB-5
Public reporting has frequently contrasted the Gold Card with the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. Unlike EB-5, the Gold Card does not require capital to be placed at risk in a qualifying commercial enterprise, nor does it mandate job-creation benchmarks. Instead, it centers on a direct government contribution, with eligibility assessed through employment-based criteria rather than EB-5’s regulated investment-and-job-creation model.
This distinction highlights how the Gold Card differs in structure from existing U.S. investor visa models.
Looking ahead
With applications now open and USCIS integrating the program into its filing system, the Trump Gold Card has moved beyond announcement into active implementation. Attention is now shifting toward how the program will function in practice, including how adjudicators apply existing EB-1 and EB-2 standards, how statutory visa limits affect processing, and how the program evolves under future policy and legal scrutiny.
As implementation unfolds, the Gold Card is likely to remain closely watched by immigration professionals, policymakers, and global mobility advisors, both for what it represents in the current administration’s approach and for what it may signal about future directions in U.S. immigration policy.
