The Trump Gold Card is a proposed U.S. immigration residency permit introduced by former President Donald Trump in early 2025. It is a new immigration plan designed to offer wealthy foreigners, such as investors and skilled workers, an easier and faster path to permanent U.S. residency and citizenship. The key points about the Trump Gold Card are:
- Cost: The card requires a $5 million payment, significantly higher than the existing EB-5 investor visa program, which usually requires around $1 million.
- Residency Rights: It grants an unlimited right of residence in the U.S., similar to a green card.
- Citizenship Path: It offers a pathway to permanent U.S. citizenship after a certain period (typically five years).
- Target Group: Aimed at wealthy foreigners, including Russian oligarchs and other affluent individuals.
- Tax Considerations: Cardholders reportedly would only be taxed on income earned within the U.S., potentially exempting foreign income from federal taxes, though there are legal uncertainties about this.
- Simplified Process: Unlike the EB-5, the Gold Card does not require investment in specific businesses or job creation projects.
- Economic Goal: The program aims to bring economic benefits through the influx of wealthy immigrants who would spend money, pay taxes, and create jobs.
- Scale: Trump envisioned selling up to one million cards, amounting to $5 trillion in revenue to help reduce the U.S. national debt, although experts consider such sales volume unrealistic.
The Trump Gold Card is intended as a high-dollar alternative to replace the EB-5 visa program, simplifying and expanding the opportunity for wealthy immigrants to obtain residency and citizenship in the U.S. The card itself carries Trump's name and image and is sometimes called the "Trump Card." However, the program faces legal and political challenges, including questions about presidential authority to grant such residency without Congressional approval and concerns from immigration experts about the feasibility and implications of the plan. In summary, the Trump Gold Card is effectively a $5 million "golden visa" providing wealthy foreigners a fast track to live, work, and eventually gain citizenship in the U.S., with fewer investment restrictions and favorable tax considerations compared to existing programs.
