
Golden Ticket to America: Is the Trump Gold Card a New Path to U.S. Permanent Residency?
A New Era in America with the Gold Card. Donald Trump's Gold Card, introduced in February 2025, creates a thrilling new opportunity for skilled professionals and capital owners to establish permanent residency in the United States. This program, which shares parallel objectives with the renowned EB-5 investor visa program, aims to increase the growth of the American economy and increasing global competitiveness through strategic immigration initiatives.
The Trump Gold Card officially opened for applications on December 11, 2025. At this point, many investors are wondering how this high-end Green Card will work.
The golden card, which enters the U.S. immigration system as a fast-track option for residency, is as much talked about for its prices as it is for the speed it promises.
We have listed the total cost for the Trump Card fees payable to USCIS and the Trump Gold Card cost for you in separate headings.
The Gold Card (also known as the Trump Card) is a new America immigration plan launced by US President Donald Trump to offer wealthy foreigner investors an easier way to get US citizenship.
For a full explanation of the Trump Card program and to better understand its legal framework, see our main guide: Full Trump Gold Card overview
To apply for a Trump Gold Card, applicants must first meet certain criteria within the existing U.S. immigration system.
The Gold Card program launched by Trump offers affluent foreigners various advantages:
Easier immigration to the US for wealthy foreigners
A faster and more direct path to residence compared to other immigration programs
The opportunity to obtain legal residency without the requirement to invest in a specific business or project, as mandated by the current EB-5 program.
A much simpler and more transparent application process compared to the EB-5 program, which is frequently criticized for its flawed and abuse-prone structure.
Potential appeal for companies wishing to bring highly qualified employees to the US
Unlimited right of residence in the US
Path to US citizenship
It was announced that the Platinum version, which is said to offer “special tax benefits” in exchange for $5 million, will also be launched soon. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said applicants would undergo “the most comprehensive security screening the government has ever done” and that cardholders would have a path to citizenship after 5 years.
The main benefits of the Trump Platinum Card, described as “coming soon” on the official program website, are primarily focused on more flexible stays in the US and foreign income tax claims:
Trump platinum card details also include a “Tax history” filter: There is a rule that individuals who have previously been subject to U.S. taxation on “non-U.S. income” (e.g., U.S. citizens and resident aliens) are not eligible to apply.
The process of becoming a Trump Gold Card holder essentially consists of three stages:
As the review process conducted by USCIS is quite detailed, we strongly recommend that you apply for your Trump Card with the assistance of professional legal counsel. Our experienced US immigration visa attorneys will be pleased to guide you through this process.
As the review process conducted by USCIS is quite detailed, we strongly recommend that you apply for your Trump Card with the assistance of professional legal counsel. Our experienced US visa attorneys will be happy to guide you through this process.
Contact us: info@gozellaw.com or call us at: +1 (862) 799-2200.
The program states that online applications and the initial processing fee should be submitted via trumpcard.gov, followed by creating a myUSCIS.gov account to track the application and upload documents, as per USCIS instructions.
Important warning: If other domains promise “instant approval” or request payment via wire transfer before any review steps, consider this a red flag.
The Trump Gold Card price is $1 million.
The Trump Platinum Card will cost $5 million. It will allow stays of up to 270 days per year. Cardholders won't have to pay US taxes on income earned outside the United States.
Additionally, companies have the opportunity to acquire a Trump Corporate Gold Card for $2 million. This allows businesses to transfer residency rights from one employee to another, subject to a transfer fee and renewed DHS vetting.
The program is offered with a two-tiered cost structure:
The $15,000 payment is positioned as the first step. It is associated with background checks and the expedited review process.
The gift is defined as the amount deposited after the review is completed, if deemed appropriate, and is described as part of the “substantial benefit” evidence.
Separate from the program's main payments, applicants should expect standard visa processing fees directed by the Department of State and medical examination fees.
See the main guide for a complete overview of the process from start to finish: how the Gold Card process works end-to-end
Family fees are structured on a per-person basis. If a spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21 is to be included in the initial application, the following applies for each family member:
For example, if you estimate the total cost for a family of 4, each person would pay $15,000 in processing fees plus a $1,000,000 contribution. That comes to at least $4,060,000 in total (not including any additional government or consular fees that may apply).
For corporate sponsors, the program outlines a per-employee structure:
Additionally, only two additional fees are listed in the corporate section:
Applicant type | Processing fee | Gift / contribution | Notes |
individual gold card | $15,000 | $1,000,000 | Gift is described as paid after vetting |
trump gold card spouse or child (under 21) | +$15,000 per person | +$1,000,000 per person | Each family member is priced separately |
trump corporate gold card | $15,000 per employee | $2,000,000 per employee | Includes ongoing/transfer fees |
trump platinum card | $15,000 | $5,000,000 | Listed separately as “coming soon” |
The Trump Gold Card is an investor visa announced by US President Donald Trump that allows investors to quickly obtain residency and citizenship in exchange for a minimum payment of $1 million, granting them the right to obtain residency (a green card) in the United States.
The cost is described as $15,000 to initiate the review and $1,000,000 after the review. Additionally, visa-related fees may apply depending on the case.
For the Trump Corporate Gold Card, the program lists a 1% annual maintenance fee and a 5% transfer fee. For individual applicants, the listed costs focus on the $15,000 processing fee and the $1,000,000 contribution (plus any case-specific government/consular fees).
The program explains that successful applicants will obtain lawful permanent resident (green card) status as EB-1 or EB-2 visa holders, depending on eligibility and visa availability.
See our main guides on how these talent-based categories work:
Based on the program’s pricing structure, the cost is calculated per person. Each family member included (spouse and unmarried children under 21) is described as requiring an additional $15,000 processing fee plus an additional $1,000,000 contribution. For example, a family of four would pay $15,000 + $1,000,000 per person, for a total of at least $4,060,000, not including any additional government or consular fees that may apply.
If you are planning to obtain a Gold Card, it is critically important to conduct a preliminary legal review regarding issues such as documentation of funding sources, family/company structure, and compliance with EB-1/EB-2 standards. This framework must be clarified before making any payments or submitting any official documents.
Trump Card applicants must prove that the assets they will use come from legal and traceable sources. Gozel Law prepares a professional “source-of-funds report” that documents the origin of your investment funds in a manner that is compliant with and transparent to the requirements of the U.S. government. The completeness of this report is one of the most fundamental elements for the successful approval of your Trump Card application.
The Gold Card program is a relatively new system. Therefore, if you plan to apply in 2026, it would be a strategic step to start gathering the necessary documents and information early. The Gold Card offers a promising new alternative for those seeking to build a successful future in the United States. We would be delighted to manage all procedures on your behalf on this path to US citizenship through the Gold Card.
Have you made a firm decision to apply for a US Gold Card, or would you prefer our expert attorneys to guide you through the application process?
With our comprehensive consulting services for Gold Card applications, we are with you every step of the way. Our services are not limited to visa law; they also include eligibility assessments to protect your citizenship rights and analysis of the tax implications of the U.S. citizenship process.
If you are looking for a professional “golden card lawyer” Gozel Law Firm can assist you with matters such as source-of-funds documentation, family-specific structuring, and corporate strategies. You can also benefit from our expertise on how to best structure your case within the EB-1 / EB-2 categories.
At Gozel Law, we can evaluate the following:
You can contact us to schedule a consultation with our investor visa experts: by email (info@gozellaw.com) or by phone (+1 862-799-2200).
If you would like to consult with an immigration attorney regarding your Gold Card strategy and documentation plan:
Consultation appointment: https://calendly.com/gozel-law
Contact our team: https://www.gozellaw.com/contact
Email: info@gozellaw.com
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