Trump Launches “Trump Card” Program: $5 Million Pathway to U.S. Residency Now Open
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on June 11 that the Trump Card—also dubbed the “Gold Card”—is now accepting applications. Foreign nationals can sign up on trumpcard.gov to enter a waitlist for a pathway to U.S. permanent residency, provided they pay a hefty $5 million fee. The programme could eventually offer a route to citizenship, pending federal approval.
Dubbed “a green card—but at a higher level of sophistication,” the Trump Card replaces the EB‑5 investor visa program, requiring significantly more investment and offering potential tax benefits, including exemption from U.S. federal tax on overseas income.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick framed the programme as a debt-relief tool for the U.S., estimating $5 trillion in revenue if a million cards are sold. However, he stopped short of confirming projected figures, while acknowledging the programme’s launch does not require Congressional approval.
Although interest is reportedly high among global elites in India, Canada, and the Middle East, experts caution the $5 million price tag, combined with global tax obligations, could deter many EB‑5 investors. Critics also raise legal and ethical concerns over executive authority in altering immigration policy without legislative backing.
NPR reports that immigration lawyers in Buffalo, New York, are fielding inquiries from millionaires in Canada and India. Many see the Trump Card as a faster, easier alternative to solve residency and tax concerns.
Similar investor-visa schemes exist in countries like Canada, Malta, and the U.A.E., but many have faced criticism for inflating housing costs, attracting illicit money, or lacking sufficient vetting. Although Trump claims all applicants will be “carefully vetted,” legal experts question whether Russian oligarchs and other high-risk individuals might exploit the system.
Unresolved legal questions surround the Trump Card’s legitimacy under current U.S. law, and no details have been disclosed regarding residency requirements, job creation, or state-level tax implications. Applications are being accepted through trumpcard.gov, but key terms remain undefined.
