A new era of high-dollar immigration policy has begun. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump officially launched the long-anticipated “Trump Gold Card”, a premium visa category designed to offer wealthy foreign nationals expedited U.S. residency in exchange for substantial financial contributions. With a US$1 million fee for individual applicants—or US$2 million for corporate sponsorships—the administration is positioning the program as both an economic engine and a national-security-minded modernization of America's immigration system.

Announced during a White House roundtable with business executives, Trump described the launch as a “very exciting moment” for the administration and the nation, emphasizing that the program’s goal is to attract what he called “extraordinary global talent.”

The official application portal, trumpcard.gov, went live Wednesday afternoon, highlighting a streamlined path that promises “U.S. residency in record time.”

According to details outlined on the website, the Trump Gold Card involves two major payments:

Once an applicant submits required materials, the process is expected to take “weeks, not months,” a dramatic contrast to traditional visa timelines that can stretch into years. Successful applicants will be granted EB-1 or EB-2 employment-based permanent residency, categories typically reserved for individuals with “extraordinary” or “exceptional” abilities.

The site cautions that applicants must still clear background checks, attend an in-person visa interview, and supply any documentation requested by DHS or the State Department.

For search visibility and global-mobility audiences, this new program may become one of the most searched long-tail visa topics of 2025, competing with queries such as “fastest path to U.S. residency,” “investor visas with quick approval,” and “elite U.S. immigration options for high-net-worth individuals.”

In a strategic preview, the administration quietly teased the arrival of an even more exclusive option: the “Trump Platinum Card,” which is expected to cost $5 million and include high-value tax privileges.

According to the site, eligible applicants will be able to spend up to 270 days per year in the United States without being subject to U.S. taxes on foreign-sourced income—a benefit likely to attract global entrepreneurs, investors, and digital-nomad high earners seeking tax-efficient residency.

While no official release date has been provided, foreign nationals are invited to join the waitlist now. The administration expects significant demand, with the program positioned to compete with global residency-by-investment offerings like those in the UAE, Singapore, and certain European nations.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick previously signaled that the Trump Gold Card would function as a reimagined version of the long-standing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which requires foreign investors to pour at least $800,000 into U.S. job-creating ventures.

Lutnick said earlier this year: “We will modify the EB-5 agreement… For $5 million, they’ll get a license from the Department of Commerce. Then they’ll make a proper investment.”

Though immigration law experts have warned that major changes to the EB-5 program require congressional approval, Lutnick and the administration appear to be forging ahead with their own parallel framework.

Trump has predicted the government could ultimately sell “millions” of Gold Cards, with Lutnick estimating potential revenues of up to $1 trillion—funds the administration argues could help reduce the national debt.

The rollout comes amid one of the most aggressive immigration crackdowns in modern U.S. history. Following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC, the administration has enacted sweeping restrictions across nearly every channel of legal and unauthorized entry.

Yet while the doors have tightened for most forms of immigration, the Trump Gold Card represents a separate track—one that prioritizes “exceptional individuals” and the world’s wealthiest applicants.

Lutnick has been blunt about the administration’s philosophy, arguing the traditional green card system forces the U.S. to absorb the “bottom quartile” of global migrants.

“We’re going to only take extraordinary people at the very top,” he said.

This messaging may resonate with high-net-worth individuals seeking expedited pathways, but critics argue it creates a two-tiered immigration system that favors wealth over merit.

As the Trump Gold Card gains international attention, digital analytics experts anticipate surging search activity around phrases such as:

The administration appears to be betting that the combination of efficiency, status branding, and exclusive benefits will give the program global appeal. Whether it transforms U.S. immigration or sparks legal challenges remains to be seen.

For now, the message from the White House is clear: a new VIP lane into America has officially opened—if you can afford the price of admission.