President Donald Trump has officially unveiled the long-promised “gold card” visa program — a high-priced pathway to U.S. residency and eventual citizenship designed to attract skilled workers, foreign capital and top global graduates. With visas starting at $1 million per individual and $2 million per corporate-sponsored applicant, the program marks one of the most sweeping overhauls of investor-based immigration since the EB-5 system was created more than three decades ago. Trump framed the new structure as both a revenue generator for the federal government and a strategic tool to secure global talent at a moment when U.S. competitiveness is increasingly tied to its technological and human-capital edge.

A Shift From Investment Requirements to Talent Prioritization

Unlike the EB-5 visa — which required applicants to invest in job-creating U.S. enterprises — the gold card program places no explicit obligation on companies to generate employment or meet regional economic targets. Instead, the emphasis is on talent selection and on the financial contribution applicants make directly to the U.S. Treasury. Trump described the program as “a green card but much better,” highlighting what he considers a more flexible and merit-driven route that would allow companies to retain top university graduates and highly skilled foreign workers.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick added that the $15,000 vetting fee per applicant will support a rigorous background review process, reinforcing the administration’s narrative that the program will attract high-earning individuals who “absolutely qualify to be in America.” The policy reflects an ideological split within Trump’s political base: while the administration continues aggressive border enforcement and mass deportation campaigns, it now simultaneously promotes a premium immigration channel for the globally competitive workforce.

Economic Ambition Meets Political Tension

From an economic standpoint, the gold card program is designed to funnel billions into federal accounts, giving policymakers new fiscal flexibility. It also aims to address persistent shortages in STEM-related fields, where U.S. employers have struggled to retain foreign graduates due to restrictive or quota-limited visa systems. Trump argued that companies “can’t hire people from the best colleges” because they cannot guarantee long-term residency — a constraint the new program seeks to eliminate.

Yet politically, the move may widen internal divides. Critics within the MAGA movement have warned that premium visas undermine the administration’s hard-line immigration stance and could invite scrutiny over fairness and equal access. Meanwhile, immigration-policy analysts have raised questions about whether removing job-creation requirements could reduce long-term economic spillovers traditionally associated with investor visa programs.

A Global Race for High-Net-Worth Migrants

While the U.S. is new to the “golden visa” model, the framework is already popular worldwide, with countries like Spain, Greece, Italy and Canada offering similar programs. For the U.S., the new initiative positions Washington to compete more aggressively for globally mobile capital and talent. Trump highlighted potential inflows from graduates of elite U.S. institutions, particularly from China, India and France.

Looking Ahead

The gold card rollout introduces both opportunity and uncertainty. Federal agencies will need to clarify operational details, including potential volume caps and enforcement mechanisms. Markets and employers may welcome the added flexibility, but the program is poised to become a flashpoint in the broader U.S. immigration debate. Investors and companies will closely watch whether the promised revenue materializes — and whether the policy meaningfully expands access to top-tier global talent.