Donald Trump Suggests $5 Million ‘Gold Card’ as Alternative to EB-5 Investor Visa.
On Tuesday, former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested a major overhaul of the existing EB-5 visa program, introducing what he called a “$5 million gold card” as a new way for wealthy foreign investors to gain U.S. citizenship.
Speaking to reporters, Trump criticized the current EB-5 program, which grants green cards to foreign investors who inject significant capital into U.S. businesses that create or preserve jobs. He described it as outdated and flawed, saying his proposed gold card would offer a more direct and transparent pathway to citizenship.
“We’re going to sell a gold card,” Trump said. “We’re setting the price at about $5 million. It will give holders green card privileges, plus a path to full American citizenship.”
He noted that the initiative aims to attract high-net-worth individuals who are willing to make a substantial financial commitment to the United States. More details on the plan, he said, would be announced within two weeks.
When asked if Russian oligarchs might be eligible for the new program, Trump responded: “Yeah, possibly. Hey, I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.”
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program was established in 1990 to encourage foreign investment and job creation in the U.S. economy. However, critics have long argued that it has been plagued by fraud and loopholes that allow investors to obtain green cards without making a meaningful economic impact.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reinforced this sentiment, stating, “The EB-5 program was full of nonsense—just make-believe and fraud. It was a cheap way to get a green card. So, rather than keeping this broken system, the president has decided to replace it with the Trump gold card.”
With Trump teasing a full rollout of the plan soon, the proposed shift signals a significant change in how the U.S. approaches investment-based immigration. If implemented, the gold card could reshape how foreign investors secure residency and citizenship in America.
