Trump Gold Card Visa Price Remains at $1 Million, Officials Say

(UNITED STATES) President Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 19, 2025, creating the Trump Gold Card Visa—a new path to U.S. permanent residence in exchange for a $1 million donation to the federal government. The order directs the Departments of Commerce, State, and Homeland Security to stand up the program within 90 days, with the Commerce Department overseeing the rollout.

Officials say an initial batch of 80,000 Trump Gold Cards will be offered once systems are in place. As of September 22, 2025, there is no official confirmation of any price change; the donation levels remain $1 million for individuals and $2 million for corporate sponsorships.

Program concept and political framing

The administration frames the Gold Card as a fast, direct route to a green card for wealthy foreign nationals and a flexible tool for global companies to move top talent. Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes the program marks a sharp break from traditional immigration models by tying permanent residence to a government gift rather than to job creation, specialized skills, or family ties.

• Supporters say it will draw major capital and high-net-worth residents who will spend, invest, and pay taxes in the United States.
• Critics argue it attempts to “sell” residency and creates a new green card path by presidential action alone—an approach likely to be challenged in federal court.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, named as the program’s lead, outlined core features:

• One-time $1 million individual donation (or $2 million via corporate sponsor).
• Security and background checks by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• Issuance of permanent residence upon approval.
• A corporate option allowing companies to transfer Gold Card sponsorship from one employee to another for a fee, subject to renewed vetting.
• Discussion of a small annual maintenance fee for corporate-held cards (final amounts and procedures to be released during implementation).

Some outlets and social media posts have claimed an “80% price cut.” Government officials have not confirmed any such change. Legal and immigration practitioners caution that any fee shift would need to appear in formal guidance or an amended order. Until then, individuals should treat the current donation amounts as binding.

How the Gold Card differs from EB-5

The Gold Card borrows the broad idea of exchanging money for status from the EB-5 investor program but removes key requirements.

• EB-5 requires investment in a U.S. enterprise and proof that the investment creates or preserves at least 10 jobs.
• The Trump Gold Card Visa requires no investment in a business, no job creation, and no project oversight—only a direct gift to the U.S. government.

That structure appeals to wealthy applicants who prefer a straightforward payment over years of complex project monitoring.

Officials say Gold Card recipients would receive the same core benefits as other permanent residents:

• The right to live and work anywhere in the U.S.
• The ability to sponsor certain family members.
• A path to citizenship under existing naturalization timelines.

Like all green card holders, Gold Card residents would be U.S. tax residents and taxed on worldwide income.

The administration also floated a not-yet-launched “Platinum Card,” with a proposed $5 million contribution and special tax breaks allowing up to 270 days in the U.S. without U.S. tax on non-U.S. income. That higher tier would require Congressional action and changes to federal tax law and is not in effect.

Quotas and potential mapping into existing categories

The executive order instructs agencies to align the new category with annual quotas that currently govern employment-based green cards. That raises key questions:

• Gold Card applicants could be placed in the same numerical system that causes multi-year backlogs for some countries (notably India and China), unless the administration creates a separate allocation within existing limits.
• The Secretary of Commerce has suggested the idea of replacing certain employment categories (such as EB-1 or EB-2) with Gold Card pathways. Any change of that scale would require legislation.

Implementation timeline, legal risks, and application steps

The order gives agencies through December 2025 to build application pipelines, payment systems, and adjudication standards. The Commerce Department will publish program instructions; the State Department and DHS will handle screening and approvals.

Basic process described by officials includes:

1. Submit application with a nonrefundable processing fee.
2. Undergo security screening and background checks overseen by DHS.
3. Confirm the $1 million donation (or $2 million corporate sponsorship).
4. Receive approval and issuance of permanent residence, subject to standard admissibility rules.

Officials say corporate sponsors may transfer a Gold Card from one employee to another for a fee, but each transfer would trigger a new DHS review. This option aims to give multinationals flexibility when moving executives between markets. Details on transfer limits and timing remain under development.

Legal risk and likely litigation

Attorneys expect opponents to sue soon after launch, arguing the executive branch cannot create a new route to a green card without Congress. The administration will likely counter that presidents have wide authority to set immigration priorities and manage admissions processes, especially if framed as an expansion or reallocation within existing employment-based categories. Courts will test those claims.

• If judges pause the program during litigation, some applicants could face delays after paying large sums.
• Prospective applicants must weigh timing and legal risk before committing.

Impact on applicants, families, employers, and taxes

For wealthy individuals, the appeal is speed and certainty: a direct line to a green card without job offers, labor certification, or project oversight. Still, applicants should expect rigorous security checks and standard bars to admissibility, which the order does not waive.

Families will face the usual questions around dependents:

• Can a spouse work? (Generally yes for permanent residents.)
• Will children qualify as dependents before aging out? (Standard permanent residence rules apply; final guidance pending.)

For employers, the corporate sponsorship option offers a new tool to move senior staff without prevailing wage requirements, lotteries, or multi-year PERM processes.

• Companies could pay the $2 million corporate donation and potentially shift the sponsored Gold Card between executives as business needs change—if regulations allow.
• Finance teams will weigh the cost; compliance teams will scrutinize transfer rules, maintenance fees, and any clawback policies if an employee leaves shortly after receiving permanent residence.

Tax planning is central:

• Gold Card holders are taxed on global income as U.S. tax residents.
• Applicants based in low-tax jurisdictions should consult qualified tax counsel before committing.
• The proposed Platinum Card’s tax relief is not law and should not be relied upon.

Operational questions agencies must resolve

Before launch, agencies must answer several nuts-and-bolts questions:

• How will agencies verify the source of funds, and what anti-money-laundering checks will apply?
• What happens if a donor withdraws after submission but before final approval?
• Will there be a public-interest or security bar that allows denial even after payment?
• How will consular processing work for applicants outside the U.S., and what interview waivers, if any, might apply?
• If corporate transfers are allowed, how often can companies reassign a Gold Card and how will the government track that?

Until those rules are spelled out, cautious applicants may choose to wait while others pre-assemble documentation to move fast once the window opens. Law firms report strong interest, particularly from families comparing the Gold Card to EB-5 regional center investments and from corporations weighing the $2 million donation against multi-year sponsorship costs.

Political and policy implications

The Gold Card represents a broader shift toward wealth-based selection. Presidents of both parties have debated the right mix of family, skill, and investment routes. President Trump’s order elevates raw capital—even as the administration signals possible changes to employment categories that typically reward exceptional ability or advanced degrees.

• Whether Congress steps in to rewrite the rules is an open question, especially if lawsuits create uncertainty.
• Stakeholders should expect political pushback and potential legislative or judicial interventions.

Key current facts: the executive order is signed; agencies have a 90-day clock to implement; the government plans to offer 80,000 initial slots; the donation is set at $1 million for individuals and $2 million for companies; and there is no official 80% price cut as of September 22, 2025.

Practical guidance for interested parties

• Applicants should monitor program notices on the official site at trumpcard.gov, where the administration will publish application instructions, donation payment procedures, and adjudication timelines.
• Given the legal sensitivity, experienced counsel recommend saving dated copies of guidance and receipts for all payments in case rules shift mid-process.
• Consult experienced immigration and tax professionals before committing significant funds.
• Keep thorough documentation to protect against potential changes, delays, or litigation-related freezes.

Final takeaway

The Gold Card is a high-stakes program with potentially rapid benefits for wealthy applicants and new options for employers—but it carries significant legal, tax, and operational uncertainties. Watch for formal agency guidance, court challenges, and any Congressional responses as the program moves from announcement to implementation.