In brief
- The Trump Administration has announced the "Trump Gold Card" as a possible expedited route to obtain US Green Card (lawful permanent residence) status for eligible applicants who make a US$1 million financial gift to the United States.
- The programme adds to the existing immigration framework without substantially altering the law, operating alongside other employment-based (EB) Immigrant Visa pathways. Similarly, the Green Card status of the Trump Gold Card comes with the same US tax obligations as other Green Card holders.
- By contrast, the Trump "Platinum Card" (yet to be launched) contemplates US residency option without worldwide taxation (however, this option would likely require amendment to existing US tax legislation).
Background
The Administration of US President Donald Trump has placed significant emphasis on promoting the Trump Gold Card. First announced in February 2025, the Gold Card was formally initiated through a Presidential Executive Order on 19 September 2025. The Executive Order describes a programme overseen by the Secretary of Commerce to facilitate the entry of individuals who voluntarily provide a significant financial gift to the United States. The programme was officially launched on 10 December 2025, with updates to the Trump Gold Card website (www.trumpcard.gov) and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) release of a dedicated application Form I-140G, Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program.
The goal of the Trump Gold Card is to attract capital to help reduce US Government debt.
The key elements of this program are as follows:
- a US$1 million contribution is required per person for each applicant and dependant. For example, a family of two parents and two minor children will be required to contribute US$4 million;
- a corporation may pay US$2 million for the Trump Corporate Gold Card for each employee it would like to sponsor. The corporation can transfer the card without incurring a new US$2 million payment if the relevant employee is no longer sponsored (e.g., he or she either relinquished their green card or obtained US citizenship). The corporation is subject to a 1% annual maintenance fee and a 5% transfer fee;
- the contribution allows the applicant to apply for an Immigrant Visa under either the EB-1A Extraordinary Ability or EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) categories;
- the applicant must meet the standard eligibility requirements for a green card, including admissibility to the United States;
- applicants must be eligible for lawful permanent residence status, admissible to the United States, and a visa must be available;
- the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) processing fee is US$15,000 per person, and the processing is expected to be expedited; and
- Trump Gold Card holders are subject to the same path to citizenship that applies to other EB-1 and EB-2 green card holders. In general, they should be eligible to apply for US citizenship five years from the date they became green card holders.
Waiting times and the choice between EB-1 or EB-2
Applicants must decide whether to apply under the EB‑1 or EB‑2 categories. The instructions for Form I‑140G state: "The wait for an immigrant visa may differ between the first preference alien of extraordinary ability classification and the second preference classification as an alien of exceptional ability who is seeking a National Interest Waiver (NIW). Please refer to the U.S. Department of State's Visa Bulletin to see the availability of immigrant visas for each classification."
This confirms that applicants under the programme remain subject to the same worldwide immigrant visa number limits, allocation constraints and potential retrogression that apply to all employment‑based immigrant visa categories. As a result, waiting times vary by classification and, for some applicants, by country of chargeability. The expected waiting time — and the choice between EB‑1 and EB‑2 NIW — should therefore be assessed on a case‑by‑case basis.
What makes the Gold Card unique?
The Gold Card is based on a gift to the US Government whilst retaining the existing EB‑1/EB‑2 framework. Meanwhile, since 1990, the US immigration policy has included a separate investment immigration green card via the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program to stimulate the US job market and capital investment, requiring an investment of US$1.05 million or US$800,000 (depending on the investment location) and the creation of 10 permanent full-time jobs. The EB-5 program is currently authorised until 30 September 2027 and will likely be subject to legislative debate regarding its future.
What about US tax?
The Trump Gold Card website notes: "As with all U.S. citizens and permanent residents, applicants will be subject to U.S. tax, including on non-U.S. income". Therefore, there are no special rules for Green Card holders under this category.
In general, a person becomes a US tax resident for US federal income tax purposes upon entering the United States on a Green Card. As a US tax resident, this person must pay US federal income tax on their worldwide income. Such person will also likely be considered a US domiciliary subject to US federal gift and estate taxes on their worldwide assets. State and local taxes may also apply. Extensive reporting obligations apply with respect to non-US bank accounts, financial assets, trusts, and other assets. Therefore, it is critical that prospective applicants consider their tax position and the possible planning options.
Meanwhile, The Trump Administration has also proposed a so-called "Platinum Card", which would allow individual applicants to reside in the US for up to 270 days per year without being subject to tax on non-US income. According to these proposals, the Platinum Card – unlike the Gold Card which falls under the existing green card categories of EB-1 and EB-2 – would not offer a path to permanent residency or citizenship.
How Mishcon de Reya can help
The Trump Gold Card is a fast‑track option for those willing and able to make a substantial financial gift. But it comes with complexities such as:
- choosing between EB‑1 and EB‑2, which comes with different waiting times and strategies;
- understanding tax implications of US permanent residency;
- managing additional information requests, fees and rules; and
- preparing for the visa interview and other planning.
For further information, or to discuss how we can assist with the application process and the related tax and estate implications, contact:
Mark Lanning, Timothy Burns or Wei Zhang