United States President Donald Trump has officially launched a new immigration scheme that offers accelerated American residency to wealthy foreign applicants willing to pay a minimum of $1 million.
The programme, known as the Trump Gold Card, was officially rolled out on Wednesday.
In a social media post, Trump described it as a “direct path to citizenship for all qualified and vetted people,” adding that it would help U.S. companies retain top global talent.
According to details published on the programme’s website, the Gold Card grants rapid U.S. residency to individuals who can provide a “substantial benefit” to the country, with the $1 million payment serving as evidence of that contribution.
A higher-tier Platinum Card, offering additional tax incentives, will cost applicants $5 million.
Businesses seeking to sponsor foreign employees will be required to pay $2 million plus additional fees. Applicants must also pay a non-refundable processing charge of $15,000 before their submissions can be reviewed.
Further government-related fees may apply depending on personal circumstances.
The initiative comes as the Trump administration intensifies its broader immigration crackdown, including increasing work visa fees, pausing asylum decisions, and stepping up deportations.
Immigration applications from 19 countries mostly in Africa and the Middle East remain suspended under Trump’s travel restrictions.
The Gold Card proposal has drawn criticism from Democrats and migrant rights advocates, who argue that it creates an immigration system accessible only to the wealthy.
When first announcing the idea in February, Trump compared the new visa to existing green cards, which allow immigrants of diverse income levels to live and work permanently in the United States.
However, the new programme specifically targets “high-level professionals” and individuals capable of significant financial investment.
“The people that can pay $5 million, they’re going to create jobs,” Trump said. “It’s going to sell like crazy. It’s a bargain.”
The launch also follows a controversial executive order signed in September imposing a $100,000 annual fee on new H-1B applicants currently abroad a move that sparked concern among international students and U.S.-based tech firms before the White House clarified its scope.
