International Trump's "Gold Card" for rich immigrants is here
For the sum of one million US dollars (around 855,000 euros), wealthy people from abroad can now buy a right of residence in the USA.
11.12.2025, 02:08
SDA
President Donald Trump announced the start of the application phase for the "Trump Gold Card" after the plans had already been presented months ago.
This is a US government program which, according to official statements, is intended to attract particularly qualified and pre-screened workers to companies in the USA. Trump has promised huge revenues for the treasury. The "Gold Card" program is expected to generate more than 100 billion dollars for the USA, according to earlier figures from the Department of Commerce, while an even more costly "Platinum" program is expected to generate around one trillion dollars. The period over which these sums are to be raised was not explained.
Fully tailored to Trump
The program is strongly tailored to the US President, and not just because of its name. The gold-colored card features Trump's likeness next to the Statue of Liberty, and the application website also mentions a waiting list for a "Trump Platinum Card". After its introduction and a payment of five million US dollars (4.2 million euros), rich people can spend up to 270 days a year in the USA without having to pay tax on their income earned outside the United States.
Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform: "SO EXCITING! Our great American companies can finally keep their valuable talent." For the sum of two million dollars (1.7 million euros), companies will be able to acquire a residence permit for an employee in "record time", who will then undergo the security check. The US government also holds out the prospect of becoming a citizen after a few years.
The system is similar to the well-known "green card", which gives foreigners the regular opportunity to live and work permanently in the USA. As an example of the "Trump Gold Card", the US government cited companies that could keep students in the USA after completing their studies instead of having to let them return to their home country.
Other visa rules restricted
While the "Trump Gold Card" is now intended to attract workers, the US government had restricted other visa rules in the fall that also affected companies. At that time, it was announced that a fee of 100,000 dollars (currently around 85,000 euros) would be charged for a work visa category frequently used by companies - the so-called H-1B visa. Previously, the visa only cost a processing fee of a few thousand US dollars.
The H-1B visa enables companies to bring qualified employees into the country and is particularly popular in the US tech industry. Critics accuse the US government of opening the door for the rich and closing it for skilled workers with the new rules.
