US launches new visa programme Trump Gold Card

The United States has officially launched a new visa programme, the “Trump Gold Card,” under President Donald Trump’s administration, offerring wealthy foreign nationals immediate permanent residency—equivalent to a green card—along with a direct pathway to U.S. citizenship.

The announcement was first made on his Truth Social account on Tuesday, and was later confirmed to reporters at the White House.

“Great news for qualified and verified applicants—the Trump Gold Visa is now live. It will provide a direct pathway to U.S. citizenship, and it will help our great companies retain their talented workers,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Under the new scheme, an individual applicant must pay US$1 million as a “gift” to the U.S. Treasury, along with a US$15,000 processing fee, and pass a background check administered by the Department of Homeland Security. Corporations seeking to sponsor foreign workers must pay US$2 million per employee.

According to U.S. officials, the Gold Card is intended to replace older investor-visa programmes such as the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme, which linked residency to investment in job-creating U.S. businesses. Under the new system, there is no requirement to create or preserve American jobs — the residency is awarded on the strength of the financial contribution alone.

Officials say the move aims to attract wealthy, skilled foreigners and investment to the United States — even as the administration enforces stricter immigration controls on other visa categories.

However, some legal analysts and immigration experts have raised serious doubts, noting that the programme currently lacks clear statutory authority, detailed regulatory framework, or legislative backing. Without those, they argue, the “Gold Card” remains more of a political proposal than a fully enforceable visa scheme.