US President Donald Trump has launched the Gold Card, a new residency pathway for foreign talent. Here are seven key things to know, from cost and vetting fees to the path to citizenship.
Donald Trump unveils Gold Card to retain top foreign talent in US | Photo source: X/@WhiteHouse
US President Donald Trump has formally launched the long-promised “Gold Card”, a residency pathway he says will help US companies retain top graduates from American universities, including thousands from India, instead of losing them to visa uncertainty. Announced at a White House roundtable with leading tech CEOs, the programme is being framed as both an economic tool and a workforce fix at a time when the administration is pushing for US “dominance” in artificial intelligence and chip manufacturing.
The initiative replaces the EB-5 investor visa and is being sold as a faster, more predictable route to long-term residency. A federal website is already live for applications. Trump claimed the programme will generate “billions” for the US Treasury and end what he called a “ridiculous” system that sends highly trained graduates back to their home countries despite finishing at the top of their class.
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“You graduate, number one from your college, and there’s no way of guaranteeing… there’s no way of guaranteeing that they’re able to stay in the country,” Trump said, adding: “They have to go back to India, they have to go back to China, they have to go back to France.”
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While announcing the rollout on Truth Social, Trump called the launch a milestone for his second-term agenda. “THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT’S TRUMP GOLD CARD IS HERE TODAY! A direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people. SO EXCITING! Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent,” he posted.
1. It costs USD 1 million for individuals
As outlined by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, individuals can buy a Gold Card for USD 1 million, giving them a direct residency pathway that bypasses the uncertainties of employment-based visas.
2. Companies must pay USD 2 million per employee
Corporations can purchase a Gold Card for USD 2 million to retain a foreign-born employee. Trump said this gives firms “certainty” in hiring, especially for highly trained STEM graduates. Also, there is a Trump Platinum Card, which requires a USD 5 million payment. It also lets holders to spend up to 270 days a year in the US without being taxed on foreign income.
3. There is a USD 15,000 vetting fee
Each applicant undergoes an intensive background check costing USD 15,000. The check will be carried out by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Lutnick called it the “best vetting the government has ever done,” designed to ensure candidates “absolutely qualify to be in America.”
4. Approved candidates get a five-year path to citizenship
Once granted, the Gold Card places the holder on a five-year track to US citizenship, a faster and more defined route than many existing employment-based pathways.
5. Companies can rotate employees on a single Gold Card
After one foreign employee completes their five-year path, a company can assign another worker to the same Gold Card slot. Lutnick said this model effectively allows firms to maintain long-term, employment-linked residency opportunities.
6. The programme replaces the EB-5 visa, but without its caps or job-creation rules
Unlike EB-5, Trump made no mention of job-creation requirements or numerical caps. The AP report notes these omissions mark a significant departure from the original investor-visa framework created in 1990.
7. Applications are open via a federal website
During the White House announcement, Trump revealed that a new website is already accepting applications, signalling that the programme is active even as broader details on implementation remain unclear.
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