Table of contents
- Table of contents
- What is the US Golden Visa?
- Who is Eligible for the US Golden Visa?
- Benefits of the US Golden Visa
- Investment Options for the US Golden Visa
- US Golden Visa vs EB-5 and E-2 Investor Visas – Key Differences
- How to Apply for the US Golden Visa
- Required Documents for a US Golden Visa Application
- US Golden Visa and Path to US Citizenship
- Living in the US as a US Golden Visa Holder
- FAQs
What is the US Golden Visa?
The U.S. Golden Visa is a planned immigration initiative that would grant residency and a quicker route to citizenship for foreign investors contributing $5 million or more to the U.S. economy.
To shake up the federal bureaucracy and streamline immigration processes, the Trump administration announced on 25 February 2025 that they’d be replacing the existing EB-5 investment visa with a new ‘gold visa’.
The new golden visa or US gold card is similar to a traditional US green card – a term used for describing people who have gained residency in the US. Unlike a green card, the gold card is designed for high-net-worth individuals who invest in the US and comes with added benefits.
To date, the fine details about the golden visa have yet to be disclosed, however, President Trump has provided a broad overview of how he envisions the golden visa will work and why it is important to replace the EB-5 visa.
Here’s what we know so far:
- The golden visa permits individuals who invest $5 million or more directly into the US to obtain residency with a fast-tracked route to citizenship.
- It will be a new route to a ‘green card’ and is different from the E-2 visa, which offers entry to the US but not residency.
- It is similar to other golden visas used across Europe that allow foreigners to invest in a country and get residency with privileges.
- Each country offering a golden visa has different eligibility requirements, and when the US gold visa is formalized it will likely reshape the current EB-5 visa requirements and bring them up to date.
Several countries in Europe have established golden visa programs, including Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Italy, Hungary and Latvia. There are also several non-European countries that offer a golden visa equivalent, including St Kitts, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Turkey.
Who is Eligible for the US Golden Visa?
We don’t know the exact details for eligibility so far, with President Trump simply stating a gold visa would be available to purchase for a one-time fee of $5 million.
Minimum Investment Requirements
There is no minimum investment requirement attached to the gold visa. Instead, it is a one-time purchase.
With 10 million gold visas anticipated, this simple fee system would attract a lot of revenue for the United States treasury – a hefty $50 trillion if all gold visas sell.
However, President Trump has indicated that any visa program would need to go through Congress, and they may put additional terms on eligibility, such as:
- A requirement to start a business in the US.
- Create a certain number of jobs.
Both the above requirements are currently in place with the EB-5 visa, which President Trump is hoping to replace.
Eligible Applicants
President Trump has highlighted that the gold visa is open to all immigrants who can afford the fee.
There are basic requirements:
- A passport from the applicant’s original country.
- Enhanced security checks and anti-terrorism checks.
- Enhanced criminal record background checks.
- Financial standing checks.
Nationality Restrictions
The gold card will probably be available to citizens from all countries of origin, even if the country is on a sanctioned countries list. Individuals will need to demonstrate financial solvency and pay the fee for the gold card.
There are also likely to be enhanced security checks for applicants, as is common across US entry points.
Background Checks and Financial Requirements
We expect that foreigners applying for a golden visa will need to demonstrate good financial standing after the fee has been paid. This is for the US government to verify that an applicant can financially support themselves in the US and pay their taxes.
Standard US immigration checks will also likely apply, such as anti-terrorism checks and criminal record disclosures.
Due to the large upfront fee for a gold card, it is also expected that anti-money laundering checks will be completed to ensure the source of funds is legitimate and legal.
Benefits of the US Golden Visa
For foreigners with the necessary capital who want a straightforward way to get residency in the US, the golden visa could be an excellent option.
Fast Track to Residency and Citizenship
President Trump has said there would be a fast-track citizenship process for gold visa holders, for anyone wishing to hold dual nationality or permanently reside in the US.
US Passport
Being a citizen of the US affords individuals a great deal of protection they may not enjoy in their native country, including generous travel freedom with the US passport being accepted in more countries than most other originator countries.
Family Visas
Though the golden visa is not a family visa, once you are a US resident or citizen, you can sponsor additional family members for residency and citizenship.
Working, Voting, and Benefits
With residency via the US golden visa, you can have:
- Access to specialized grants, scholarships, and US government benefits.
- Ability to vote in state and federal elections.
- Ability to work for the federal government.
Investment Options for the US Golden Visa
With the EB-5 visa, there were specific categories of investment for individuals making an application. For example, starting a business in a key industry was treated with preference over other industries.
We don’t know whether investment options will be required for a gold visa, and it may be the case that the golden visas can be attained on a ‘buy now’ basis. This would mean you apply for the gold visa, pay the fee, and (if you meet the security requirements) can get the gold visa without needing to start a business or employ a certain number of people.
US Golden Visa vs EB-5 and E-2 Investor Visas – Key Differences
Comparing the EB5 vs the gold card, there are some key differences you should know.
The EB-5 visa is the entry route that President Trump wants to close and replace with the gold visa. Currently, under the EB-5 rules (sometimes known as the Green Card Investment Visa), applicants must invest at least $1.8 million in a US business and create a minimum of 10 jobs in the U.S. There are also many other subsequent requirements. For example, once the investment is made, the applicant must show that they have increased the net worth of 40% of the individuals they hire, or 4 out of the 10 employees.
EB-5 visas can only be granted after commercial investments and property-residential investments are prohibited. President Trump has said that this makes the EB-5 visa program open to fraud and favoritism.
The E-2 visa is similar to the EB-5 visa but with more restrictions. For E-2 visas, applicants must come from a set list of countries and invest capital in a US commercial enterprise. The visa also has time limits, with the initial period fixed at 2 years and extensions available.
Treaty countries eligible for the E-2 visa are:
| Albania | Argentina | Armenia |
| Australia | Austria | Azerbaijan |
| Bahrain | Bangladesh | Belgium |
| Bolivia | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bulgaria |
| Cameroon | Canada | Chile |
| China (and Taiwan) | Colombia | Congo |
| Costa Rica | Croatia | Czech Republic |
| Denmark (not Greenland) | Ecuador | Egypt |
| Estonia | Ethiopia | Finland |
| France | Georgia | Germany |
| Grenada | Honduras | Iran |
| Ireland | Italy | Jamaica |
| Japan | Jordan | Kazakhstan |
| Kosovo | Kyrgyzstan | Latvia |
| Liberia | Lithuania | Luxembourg |
| Macedonia | Mexico | Moldova |
| Mongolia | Montenegro | Morocco |
| Netherlands | New Zealand | Norway |
| Oman | Pakistan | Panama |
| Paraguay | Philippines | Poland |
| Romania | Senegal | Serbia |
| Singapore | Slovak Republic | Slovenia |
| South Korea | Spain | Sri Lanka |
| Suriname | Sweden | Switzerland |
| Switzerland | Togo | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Tunisia | Turkey | Ukraine |
| United Kingdom |
President Trump seems happy to continue the E-2 visa program but wants to simplify the EB-5 visa to make sure nationals from a broader range of countries have access to US residency. Specifically, he was asked about Russian oligarchs who may have previously struggled to meet the requirements of the EB-5 visa, to which he responded he would welcome Russians to the US on the golden visa program.
How to Apply for the US Golden Visa
Now, President Trump has announced the gold card visa, his government will draw up details, including legislation to put before Congress. Congress will then vote and make any changes it thinks should be made to the gold visa application process.
So, we don’t currently know what the final application process will be like. We also don’t know when the program will launch. There may be a delay before golden visa applications are opened, as the existing visa program will need to be phased out.
Where to Apply?
Gold cards are currently not open to applications. It is expected that the application process will be in place by 2027.
Processing Time
President Trump wants to expedite investment into the US, so it is expected that gold card applications will be processed quickly. Applicants for the current green card visa wait a minimum of 9 months for their application to be processed.
Required Documents for a US Golden Visa Application
We don’t currently know what documents will be required for a US gold visa. However, most US visa applicants need to provide the following.
Passport
You will need a valid passport from your country of origin.
Proof of Investment
You may need to provide proof that you have the money to make the investment required for the visa, or pay the fees for the visa. This might include bank statements.
Additional Documents
The US may request extra documentation to help them:
- Check for money laundering.
- Conduct detailed background checks.
- Check your criminal record.
US Golden Visa and Path to US Citizenship
President Trump has highlighted a key difference between the EB-5 visa and the proposed US Golden Visa: the Golden Visa offers a route to permanent US citizenship!
Based on current information, we believe that once someone has received their gold visa, they will take up permanent residency in the US and after a period of time be eligible for citizenship.
The goal is to maximize the amount of revenue for the US Treasury from golden visas, as there will be ongoing tax requirements after the initial payment for the visa.
The timeframe for citizenship has not yet been detailed and typically it takes 2 years for a new visa program to be taken from initial consultation to passing into law. For example, the EB-5 visa was first floated in 1990 but took until 1992 for the legislation to be passed.
Living in the US as a US Golden Visa Holder
Based on the current information from President Trump, gold visa holders should be able to reside and work in the US without restrictions.
They will likely need to file federal and state tax returns for the duration of their residency, especially if they expect to be granted citizenship at a future date.
As the idea for a gold visa has only been discussed in a press conference, and no official statement has been made, we don’t currently know exactly what the program will involve or what life will be like for US golden visa holders.
However, we do know that President Trump is very keen to get the golden visa program rolled out, and more information will come as plans are formalized.
FAQs
The so-called Trump gold card is a newly proposed investor residency visa that costs $5 million and provides a route to US citizenship. It is designed to allow high-net-worth individuals to buy entry into the United States and be eligible to become permanent residents of the United States after a period of time.
Find all the latest Trump immigration news and US entry requirements at visaindex. The information will be updated regularly as more details are formalized for the US Gold Card.
The USA Green Card program will continue with a different set of requirements to the Gold Card citizenship requirements. The Trump Card is a specially designed visa program for foreign investors. Unlike the American green card, the Golden Visa has a more straightforward route to US citizenship. The Green Card to citizenship route remains unchanged and is subject to all rules currently in place.
Currently, President Trump has stated that it will cost $5 million for each Gold Card. However, as the legislation is not yet in place, the fee applicable may be different when the visa program is launched.
The gold card will replace the EB-5 visa and is not yet valid. Once the legislation passes through US Congress, the gold card will be valid. It is expected to take at least 2 years to come into effect, however, the program may be fast-tracked by the Trump administration.
A Trump gold card has two key aspects: an upfront payment for the gold card (without an investment requirement) and a streamlined process from permanent residency to US citizenship. Details about the entry requirements and restrictions are yet to be finalized, although it is expected that basic US entry requirements will apply, such as criminal record checks and anti-terrorism checks.
Applications for a golden visa are expected to open by mid-2027 due to the time it takes for laws to be passed by the US Congress. However, the Trump administration may push for the legislation to go through sooner, especially as they believe the EB-5 program is open to abuse.
Even with an expedited legislative process, it is not expected for applications to open in 2025. 2026 may be the earliest point for golden visa applications.
The Trump immigration policy on green cards remains unchanged, with legal entry routes to the US currently operating as usual. However, President Trump has specifically targeted illegal entry routes and is set to crack down on illegal and undocumented immigrants.
A previous criminal record can exclude you from American green card eligibility. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clear guidelines on how you should disclose previous criminal convictions.
You must tell the USCIS about:
•Any criminal convictions you have in your home country.
•Criminal convictions from the US.
You do not need to disclose traffic violations if they do not go beyond simple traffic offenses like speeding. A DUI (driving under the influence) would need to be disclosed, however.
Some convictions will automatically stop you from gaining entry to the US, including:
•Sexual assault offenses.
•Homicide.
•Terrorism charges.
•Fraud.
Whether you can get American citizenship using the investor visa program is dependent on which visa you apply for. The Gold Card will be designed to help investors become US citizens. E-2 investor visas are normally short-term residency visas that can be extended.
The USCIS conducts anti-money laundering checks for all invested funds coming into the US. They will request documentation to verify that your money has been obtained legally. Documents requested might include:
•Business records.
•Bank statements.
•Letters from a US-approved certified accountant.
•Personal statements.
•Source of funds statements.
