Announced in June and initially intended for individuals willing to pay five million dollars, the “gold card” has become a reality as of mid-September with the signing of a decree by Donald Trump. However, it has only been effective since the end of the year.
According to Commerce Minister Howard Lutnick, only one “gold card”, a permanent visa for the United States modeled after green cards and sold for one million dollars, has been issued since the program’s launch at the end of 2025. The Ministry of Commerce, in partnership with the State Department, is responsible for issuing this visa.
During a hearing with a House of Representatives committee, Howard Lutnick stated that “one person has recently been approved and there are several hundred people who have initiated the procedures” to obtain this visa.
The final text of the program allows any individual willing to pay one million dollars to apply for a permanent visa, with the process taking “a few weeks” according to the government’s dedicated website. This visa is open to anyone willing to pay the fee and can lead to permanent residency.
While a similar program, EB-5, exists for foreign nationals making certain investments in the United States, the government considers it susceptible to fraud. The “gold card,” being a visa, can be revoked for national security reasons, as stated on the dedicated website.
