The short answer: The Trump Gold Card is a U.S. green card program launched by executive order in September 2025. Foreign nationals who donate $1 million to the U.S. Department of Commerce (or companies that donate $2 million on behalf of an employee) can get permanent U.S. residency without meeting traditional visa criteria. It does not come with tax benefits. Getting the card means full U.S. worldwide taxation from day one.
Key Takeaways
- Reusable corporate slot. When a sponsored employee naturalizes or exits, the $2M slot can fund a new hire at no extra cost. No other U.S. visa works this way.
- EB-5 deadline: Sept 30, 2026. File before that date and you're grandfathered under current rules, even if the program lapses.
- Intent matters early. Joining the waitlist creates a federal record. Get counsel involved before you register, not after.
- Ellis can help. The tax, immigration, and corporate mechanics all interact. Talk to our team before you commit to anything.
The Trump Gold Card has been one of the most talked-about and controversial visa programs in years. This guide covers what the program is, what it costs, who qualifies, how it compares to EB-5, and what to do before you take any action.
What Is the Trump Gold Card Visa?
The Trump Gold Card is a U.S. permanent residency program (a green card) created by Executive Order 14351 in September 2025. It lets foreign nationals get a green card by donating money to the U.S. Department of Commerce. No job offer required. No extraordinary ability test. No job creation requirement.
Normally, getting an EB-1 or EB-2 green card means proving you have exceptional talent, a qualifying job, or that your presence is in the national interest. The Gold Card replaces all of that with a financial contribution.
Here's how the process works:
- You file an I-140G petition with USCIS, the federal immigration agency.
- For applicants outside the U.S., the file moves to the State Department via Form DS-260G.
- The $1M or $2M contribution is paid only after all approvals are confirmed, not upfront.
The government's legal position is that this doesn't create a new visa category. It uses visa categories that already exist in law (EB-1 and EB-2) but creates a new way to apply for them. Whether courts agree is the program's biggest open question.
Where the program stands as of June 2026
- 15,000+ people on the official waitlist
- 338 formal petitions filed
- 1 person fully approved (as of late April 2026)
- Full agency guidance only released in March 2026
- More applications expected in H2 2026 as legal questions settle
How Much Does the Trump Gold Card Cost?
The Trump Gold Card costs $1 million for individuals. Corporate sponsors pay $2 million, plus ongoing slot and maintenance fees.
Cost | Individual | Corporate sponsor |
|---|---|---|
DHS processing fee (upfront) | $15,000 | $15,000 |
Donation (paid at approval) | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
Slot transfer fee | n/a | 5% of original donation |
Annual maintenance fee | n/a | 1% per year |
Each additional family member | +$1M | +$1M |
Tax gross-up | n/a | Can add significantly to the total |
Who Qualifies for the Trump Gold Card?
To qualify, you don't need a job offer, a special skill set, or a track record of creating jobs. The main requirements are:
- A clean U.S. immigration history
- No disqualifying criminal record
- Ability to pay the contribution ($1M individual / $2M corporate)
- Ability to prove the source of that money, going back five to seven years
Source of funds: where many applications run into trouble
USCIS has a dedicated team reviewing every Gold Card applicant's financial background. Individual applicants need tax returns, bank records, records of major asset sales, and business ownership documentation for the past five to seven years.
If the money comes from a family gift, the donor goes through the same review process. Crypto and cash are acceptable, but you need a clear and complete record of where the funds came from.
For startups: No years of audited financials? You're not disqualified, but you'll need to build the case another way: founder personal tax returns, cap table documentation, investor letters, and business projections. It takes more preparation, but it works.
One more thing: Everything you submit becomes a U.S. government record that can reach agencies beyond USCIS. Non-U.S. banks often close accounts once a client signals U.S. residency intent. Handle your banking relationships before you file.
Is the Trump Gold Card Legal?
The Gold Card is a new program, and like any new executive-order program, there are open legal questions. Things are still developing.
The main question comes from a challenge filed by the American Association of University Professors. The argument is that creating new green card pathways is a legislative function — only Congress can do it. There's also a question of whether the program followed standard rulemaking procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act.
The government's position: no new visa category was created. The program adds a new petition pathway within categories Congress already established. Courts have historically given the executive branch broad immigration authority.
Where things land is genuinely unclear at this stage.
What this means for applicants:
A pending petition could be affected if the legal picture shifts. An issued card is in a stronger position: courts set a high bar before reversing formally granted status, especially without fraud. If you're thinking about timing, that asymmetry is worth knowing.
Trump Gold Card vs. EB-5: Which One Makes More Sense?
Both programs offer a path to a U.S. green card through a financial commitment. The right choice depends on your priorities.
Trump Gold Card | ||
|---|---|---|
How much | $1M / $2M corporate, never returned | ~$800K invested, potentially returned |
Job creation | Not required | 10 full-time U.S. jobs required |
Type of green card | Permanent from day one | 2-year conditional, then a second petition |
Processing speed | ~2.5 weeks for initial petition, no backlog | Much slower; years for some nationalities |
Legal footing | Executive order, legal framework still developing | Congressional statute since 1990 |
Key risk | New program, open legal questions | Investment tied to a project's success |
Best for | Speed, simplicity, no job creation obligation | Capital recovery, established legal framework, job creators |
The EB-5 deadline: If you file an EB-5 petition before September 30, 2026, you're locked in under current rules even if Congress later lets the program expire. If EB-5 is on your radar at all, that date should be driving your timeline.
Running both programs in parallel is something a number of clients are actively doing in 2026. EB-5 is grounded in a congressional statute; the Gold Card provides speed.
Can a Startup or Tech Company Sponsor an Employee?
Yes, and for many tech companies this is the most compelling use of the program.
If your company is dealing with H-1B lottery rejections or multi-year green card backlogs (especially common for employees from India or China), the Corporate Gold Card offers a direct path to permanent residency outside the traditional immigration queue.
The reusable slot
After a sponsored employee becomes a U.S. citizen or gives up their green card, your company's original $2M funds a new sponsorship at no extra cost. Traditional sponsorships are tied to the person. This one is tied to the company. For businesses that expect to need this more than once, the per-hire cost drops significantly over time.
What startups need to prepare
Early-stage companies without audited financials can still qualify. Build the source-of-funds case from: founder personal tax returns and net worth, cap table documentation, investor letters, board-approved projections, and comparable market data.
Before you commit, align these internally:
- Repayment: Draft the clawback agreement before the sponsorship is formalized, not after.
- Sign-off: HR, legal, and benefits all need to be aligned before any offer goes out.
What Is the Trump Platinum Card?
The Trump Platinum Card is a separate proposed program that hasn't launched and legally cannot without an Act of Congress.
The proposed terms: Pay $5 million, get U.S. residency rights for up to 270 days per year, and pay U.S. tax only on income earned while in the country. Income earned abroad stays exempt.
For someone paying full U.S. taxes on large amounts of foreign income, the exemption could theoretically save more than $5 million in year one.
What's still unresolved:
- Final amount: $5M is proposed, not confirmed
- The 270-day rule: Under one interpretation, your foreign income is exempt for your first 270 days of U.S. presence per year. Under another, going even one day over 270 triggers full worldwide taxation for the entire year. No guidance has been issued.
- Congressional requirement: The executive branch cannot change federal tax law by executive order. The Platinum Card requires legislation.
- Prior residents: People already taxed as U.S. residents would likely not be eligible.
Once legislation moves, the planning window will open and close quickly.
What to Do Before You Apply — or Even Express Interest
Most people treat the Gold Card like a normal application: research, decide, then file. But intent matters early in immigration law.
Simply registering on the waitlist at trumpcard.gov creates a federal record that can be used as evidence of U.S. residency intent. That has real consequences for your treaty protections and banking relationships before you've filed anything. Get counsel involved before you register.
Two things to do before taking any action:
- Hire immigration counsel early. The earlier you get counsel involved, the more options you have. Don't wait until you're ready to file.
- Corporate sponsors: run a real internal process first. HR, legal, and benefits all need to be involved. Draft the repayment agreement. Don't make any verbal commitment to a prospective sponsored employee before this work is done.
On EB-5: Petitions must be filed before September 30, 2026 to be grandfathered. That date is firm.
Ready to Evaluate Your Options?
Ellis works with founders, executives, and high-net-worth individuals to make sure the full picture is clear before any decision is made. Get in touch today.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult qualified counsel before taking any action.
