US President Donald Trump has introduced his long-anticipated “gold card,” a premium immigration option that grants legal status and a pathway to U.S. citizenship for applicants willing to pay $1 million.
The official platform, Trumpcard.gov, features an “apply now” button and requires applicants to first pay a $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security for accelerated review.
After passing background checks, applicants must then make a $1 million “contribution” — also described on the site as a “gift” — to obtain the visa, which functions similarly to a Green Card but with enhanced privileges.
“It’s basically a Green Card, but much better — much more powerful, a much stronger path,” Trump said at the White House. “A path is a big deal. We want great people.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick revealed that roughly 10,000 people had already pre-registered for the gold card, with expectations that thousands more will join. “Over time, we could sell thousands of these cards and generate billions of dollars,” he told Reuters.
Lutnick added that the program aims to attract individuals who would contribute significantly to the U.S. economy, contrasting them with what he described as “average” Green Card holders — although he offered no evidence for his claims that they earn less or rely more on public assistance.
The gold card comes as the Trump administration continues its tough stance on immigration, including mass deportations and stricter regulations on legal entry. The program serves as Trump’s revenue-generating counterbalance to those measures, similar to the rationale behind his tariff strategy.
Lutnick also noted a corporate version of the gold card, allowing companies to fast-track visas for selected employees at a cost of $2 million per worker.
