President Donald Trump officially launched the Trump Gold Card program in December 2025 as an expedited pathway to U.S. residency for wealthy individuals and corporations. [1, 2]
Despite early claims of over $1.3 billion in "sales," recent government filings in April 2026 revealed that only one person has been formally approved for the program so far. [1, 2]
💳 Program Tiers and Costs
The program offers three main tracks, each requiring a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee per person. [1, 2]
| Tier [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] | Contribution Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Card | $1 million | For individuals seeking lawful permanent residence (green card). |
| Corporate Gold Card | $2 million | Allows a company to sponsor an employee; can be transferred to a new employee if the original leaves for a 5% transfer fee. |
| Platinum Card | $5 million | Coming Soon. Intended to allow stays up to 270 days/year without U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income. |
📝 Key Requirements and Process
- Legal Basis: Applicants apply under existing EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability) or EB-2 (National Interest Waiver) visa categories.
- Vetting: All applicants must pass a background check by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- Expedited Timeline: The administration claims the process will take "weeks," significantly faster than the 8 months to 3 years standard for green cards.
- Pathway to Citizenship: Cardholders can apply for U.S. citizenship after approximately five years of permanent residency.
- Dependents: Spouses and children under 21 must each pay the $15,000 fee and a $1 million contribution to be included. [, 2, 3, 4, 5]
⚠️ Current Status and Controversies
- Low Approval Rate: As of late April 2026, only 338 people have requested the card, and 165 have paid the processing fee. Only one approval has been granted. [1, 2, 3]
- Legal Challenges: Immigration lawyers and watchdog groups have questioned the program's legality, arguing that it essentially "sells" residency and may exceed executive authority without Congressional approval. [1, 2]
- Potential Beneficiaries: One reported applicant is Jeffrey Chao, the founder of TP-Link Systems, a company under investigation by the Commerce Department for national security concerns. []
Applications are accepted through the official portal at TrumpCard.gov. [1]
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