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The Finance Base
EB-5

What We Know About Trump’s $5 Million “Gold Card” Visa

The $5 million Gold Card was an early proposal. The current listed individual terms are a $1 million gift plus a $15,000 processing fee, subject to vetting and visa approval.

By TheFinanceBase Team 5 min read
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Is Trump’s Gold Card really $5 million? No—not under the current terms listed by the official program website. The $5 million figure was an initial proposal in February 2025. The current individual Gold Card requires a $15,000 nonrefundable processing fee and, after vetting, a $1 million gift to the U.S. government. The $5 million amount now belongs to a separate proposed Platinum Card, which the government says has not yet been released.

How much does the Trump Gold Card cost?

The Trump Gold Card website, accessed September 29, 2026, lists a $15,000 nonrefundable Department of Homeland Security processing fee for an individual applicant. If the applicant clears vetting, the next step is a $1 million gift to the U.S. government. State Department fees may also apply. These are the website’s stated terms, not a guarantee of approval or a complete estimate of every applicant’s costs. Trump Gold Card program

Corporate sponsorship

The website lists a $15,000 processing fee and a $2 million gift for each sponsored employee. It also lists a 1% annual maintenance fee and a 5% transfer fee. Under the terms described there, a corporate sponsor may reassign sponsorship to another employee subject to conditions. Trump Gold Card program

Adding family members

The program site says applicants should include a spouse or unmarried child under 21 in the initial application. It lists an additional $15,000 fee and $1 million gift for each family member. Because these amounts materially change the total, confirm the current terms on the official site before applying. Trump Gold Card program

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Why is the Gold Card called a $5 million visa?

In February 2025, Donald Trump publicly proposed a $5 million “Gold Card.” The figure was part of that early proposal, not the current individual Gold Card contribution. The White House’s September 19, 2025 executive order instead set an unrestricted gift of $1 million for an individual and $2 million for a corporate sponsor. The current program page adds the $15,000 processing charge. Associated Press report on the February 2025 proposal Executive Order 14351

The same official website now uses $5 million for its proposed Platinum Card. That separate offer is not the current Gold Card tier. Trump Gold Card program

What does the Gold Card get you—and does it guarantee a green card?

The Gold Card is a process for seeking an employment-based immigrant visa through EB-1 or EB-2, not an unconditional purchase of permanent residence. Executive Order 14351 directs officials, consistent with applicable law, to treat the gift as evidence relevant to EB-1 extraordinary ability or EB-2 exceptional ability and a national interest waiver. The order does not say that paying the gift alone overrides eligibility rules, admissibility requirements, agency adjudication, or statutory limits on immigrant visa numbers. Executive Order 14351

The official program page says applicants must qualify for lawful permanent residence, pass vetting, be admissible, and have a visa available. Successful cases are processed in an EB-1 or EB-2 category, subject to government determination. Form I-140G is the petition associated with the Gold Card framework; it does not make the Gold Card a wholly separate visa category created by Congress. An interview, medical examination, supporting documents, and State Department fees may also be required. Trump Gold Card program USCIS Form I-140G information

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How does the application process work?

  1. Apply and pay the processing fee. Start through the official Gold Card website and pay the listed nonrefundable fee.
  2. Complete Form I-140G when instructed. The program directs applicants to complete the petition through the USCIS portal.
  3. Undergo DHS vetting. The gift comes after the applicant clears this stage; paying the fee is not approval.
  4. Make the gift if cleared. The listed individual gift is $1 million, with different terms for corporate sponsorship and family members.
  5. Complete visa adjudication. The applicant then pursues EB-1 or EB-2 processing and any required interview, medical exam, additional documents, and State Department steps.

The website says processing should take weeks after it receives the fee and application if documents arrive promptly, but it does not promise a completion date. Visa-number availability depends in part on country-based limits and can produce waits of a year or more. Trump Gold Card program State Department Visa Bulletin

Is the $5 million Platinum Card available?

No. As of September 29, 2026, the official website says the Platinum Card “has not yet been released” and accepts waitlist sign-ups. It advertises a $5 million contribution plus a processing fee and says holders would be allowed to spend up to 270 days per year in the United States without tax on non-U.S. income. Those are prospective claims about an unreleased offer, not available immigration status or an independently established tax result. Trump Gold Card program

Do Gold Card holders pay U.S. tax on foreign income?

Yes, according to the Gold Card website’s tax FAQ: it says Gold Card holders, as U.S. permanent residents, are subject to U.S. tax, including on non-U.S. income. That stated treatment is distinct from the Platinum Card website’s prospective tax claim. Individual tax consequences depend on a person’s circumstances; consult a qualified tax professional before making a decision. Trump Gold Card program

How is the Gold Card different from EB-5?

Pathway What it involves Practical distinction
Gold Card An unrestricted gift listed as $1 million for an individual or $2 million for a corporate sponsor, plus processing charges; intended to support EB-1 or EB-2 processing. Applicants remain subject to vetting, eligibility and admissibility rules, adjudication, and visa availability. Program terms Executive order
Platinum Card A proposed $5 million contribution plus processing fee, with an advertised future allowance of up to 270 U.S. days annually without tax on non-U.S. income. The site says it has not been released; it is not an available Gold Card tier. Program terms
EB-5 An immigrant investor pathway based on investment in a commercial enterprise, including regional-center cases. It is a separate pathway from an unrestricted gift. USCIS continues to describe EB-5; the materials establishing the Gold Card do not show that EB-5 has been repealed or replaced. USCIS EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

The meaningful comparison is not just the headline dollar amount: it includes whether the money is a gift or invested in a business, which immigration category applies, any job-creation obligations, family treatment, visa-number availability, tax consequences, and whether the offering is open. The official materials cited here establish the gift-versus-investment distinction, but do not provide a full fee or timeline comparison across all pathways.

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What is known about approvals and program outcomes?

The available sources do not provide a robust, current series of Gold Card applications, approvals, denials, or measured economic impact. A statement reported by the Associated Press that there had been one approval by April 23, 2026 is a dated snapshot, not a current approval count or evidence of overall program outcomes. Associated Press report

For anyone considering an application, the distinction between a government-listed contribution and an approved immigration benefit matters: the fees and gift do not remove the legal requirements or guarantee a visa. Immigration and tax decisions warrant advice from qualified professionals based on current rules and individual circumstances.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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