Gold Card for the USA: Trump Card as a New Way to Obtain a U.S. Residence Permit
The “Gold Card” presented by Donald Trump in February 2025 offers an exciting opportunity for skilled workers and investors to gain a foothold in the USA. Similar to the well-known EB-5 visa, the Gold Card aims to strengthen the U.S. economy through immigration.
What is the Gold Card?
The Gold Card, sometimes referred to as Trump Card, is a new immigration plan introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump to give wealthy foreigners an easier path to U.S. citizenship. The main features of this plan are:
- Cost:
- The acquisition of a Trump Gold Card is expected to cost around USD 1 million.
- A planned Trump Platinum Card, on the other hand, is expected to cost USD 5 million and allow stays of up to 270 days per year – without having to pay U.S. taxes on income earned outside the United States.
- In addition, companies have the opportunity to acquire the so-called Trump Corporate Gold Card for USD 2 million. This allows businesses to transfer the right of residence from one employee to another – subject to a transfer fee and renewed DHS vetting.
- Rights: The Gold Card would grant an unlimited right of residence in the USA.
- Citizenship: The program would also provide a pathway to permanent U.S. citizenship.
- Target group: Trump names Russian oligarchs and wealthy foreigners in general as potential beneficiaries of the program.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced in September 2025 that an initial 80,000 Trump Cards will be made available. The Gold Card is intended to replace the existing EB-5 program, which already offers investors the opportunity to obtain a green card.
Trump argues that this program would bring economic benefits to the country, as the rich immigrants would spend a lot of money, pay taxes and create jobs.
Advantages of the Trump Card
The Gold Card proposed by Trump would offer several advantages to wealthy foreigners:
- Unlimited right of residence in the U.S., similar to a green card
- A possible path to U.S. citizenship, what Trump calls “privileges plus”
- Legal residency without the need to invest in specific businesses or projects, as is the case with the existing EB-5 program
- Faster and more direct path to residency compared to other immigration programs
- Opportunity for oligarchs and other wealthy foreigners to immigrate to the U.S. more easily
- Potential attractiveness for companies looking to bring highly skilled workers to the U.S.
- Simplified process compared to the existing EB-5 program, which has been criticized as flawed and prone to fraud
- Tax exemption for up to 270 days with the Trump Platinum Card
How do I get the Trump Card?
The path to the Trump Gold Card is structured in three clear steps.
- First, you submit your application and pay the nonrefundable processing fee – this lays the foundation for your Gold Card.
- Next, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) carefully reviews your documents, conducts comprehensive background checks, and ensures that all requirements are met.
- Once your application has been successfully approved, the Trump Gold Card will be issued to you and can be used throughout all 50 U.S. states as well as the territories.
In light of the intensive review by USCIS, we strongly advise against applying for the Trump Card without legal assistance. Our U.S. visa attorneys will be happy to support you!
Advice on the U.S. Gold Card
As soon as the legal arrangements have been finalized, we will support you as experienced lawyers in U.S. visa law in all steps on the way to the Gold Card:
- Examining your individual requirements: We analyze your qualifications and investment opportunities to determine if you meet the criteria for the Gold Card.
- Gold Card application: We prepare all the necessary documents and submit your application to the U.S. authorities.
- Support throughout the process: We are always available to answer your questions and keep you informed about the status of your application.
- Legal advice on the Gold Card: We provide you with comprehensive advice on all legal aspects of the Gold Card, including tax issues and company formation in the USA.
Lawyer for Gold Card: Next steps
The Gold Card is a promising option for a new start in the USA. Since the details are not yet fully finalized, it is important to get informed and prepare early. We will be happy to assist you with all the necessary steps on the path to U.S. citizenship with the Gold Card.
Have you decided to apply for a U.S. Gold Card? Would you like our experienced lawyers to provide professional support for your Gold Card application? We will be happy to provide you with comprehensive advice on applying for a Gold Card and guide you through all the necessary steps. In addition to advising you on visa law and checking whether you can retain your own citizenship, our lawyers will evaluate the tax implications of your U.S. naturalization.
Contact us at any time if you would like to make an appointment for a consultation with our experts, either by e-mail (info@visum-usa.com) or by phone (+49 69 76 75 77 85 26).
Contact
Fields marked with * are mandatory.
