Gold Card Requirements 2026: Eligibility and Application

Program status as of March 2026#

The Gold Card program was established by Executive Order 14351, signed September 19, 2025, and launched December 10, 2025 through the official portal at trumpcard.gov. It is a new category of premium immigration to the United States, offering permanent residency in exchange for a $1,000,000 non-refundable "gift" to the U.S. Treasury, without the job creation or business investment requirements of the EB-5 program. The program has received over 10,000 pre-registrations as of March 2026.

This article presents what is publicly known about Gold Card requirements, eligibility criteria, and the application process, while identifying areas where details remain subject to change.

Trust tier notice: Gold Card program details carry a Yellow trust tier (estimated/developing) because the program's regulatory framework is newer and less established than the EB-5 program's 34 year statutory foundation. Legal challenges and constitutional questions exist regarding the executive branch's authority to create this program.

Important: Immigration law is complex and individual circumstances vary significantly. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for personalized guidance before making any visa application decision.

Last verified: 2026-03-27

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Core requirements#

Financial requirement: $1,000,000#

The primary requirement for the Gold Card is a $1,000,000 "gift" (the program's official characterization) to the U.S. Treasury. A $2,000,000 corporate option exists for business entities, and a Platinum Card tier is available at $5,000,000. Key characteristics of this payment:

Non-refundable. Unlike the EB-5 program's at risk investment, which may be returned to the investor after immigration conditions are met, the Gold Card contribution is non-refundable. The capital is not returned. The payment is made to the U.S. Treasury and is not structured as an investment in a commercial enterprise.

Single payment. The $1,000,000 is a one time payment, not an installment arrangement. The full amount is due as part of the application process.

Additional fees. Each applicant must pay a $15,000 application fee and a $375 processing fee per person. These fees apply to the principal applicant and each derivative family member.

Source of funds. Applicants must demonstrate that the $1,000,000 originates from lawful sources. While the documentation requirements are expected to be less extensive than the EB-5 source of funds process (which requires tracing capital through every stage of accumulation), applicants should anticipate some level of financial documentation and verification.

Source: Executive Order 14351, September 19, 2025; trumpcard.gov fee schedule. Yellow trust tier.

No job creation requirement#

The Gold Card does not require the creation of U.S. jobs. This is a departure from the EB-5 program, which mandates at least 10 full time U.S. jobs per investor. The absence of a job creation requirement eliminates one of the more complex elements of investment based immigration.

For investors, this means:

1. No need to select or evaluate a job creating project
2. No risk of immigration denial based on insufficient job creation
3. No ongoing obligation to monitor project employment outcomes
4. No I-829 petition to remove conditions based on job creation verification

The Gold Card uses EB-1 and EB-2 visa numbers from the employment based allocation rather than having its own dedicated visa category.

Source: Executive Order 14351; comparison to INA Section 203(b)(5) EB-5 requirements. Yellow trust tier (Gold Card); Blue trust tier (EB-5 comparison).

No business plan requirement#

Gold Card applicants are not required to submit a business plan, identify a commercial enterprise, or demonstrate any business activity in the United States. The contribution goes to the government, not to a business. By contrast, EB-5 requires the investor to identify a qualifying new commercial enterprise, review the project's business plan and economic analysis, and ensure the enterprise meets all regulatory requirements.

Source: Program structure as announced. Yellow trust tier.

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Eligibility criteria#

Who qualifies#

Based on publicly available information, the Gold Card program is open to foreign nationals who meet the following criteria:

Financial capacity. The applicant must have $1,000,000 in lawfully sourced funds available for the contribution. There is no minimum net worth requirement beyond the contribution itself, though practical considerations suggest that applicants should have substantially more than $1,000,000 in total assets to absorb a non-refundable payment of this magnitude.

No nationality restrictions (with exceptions). The Gold Card program is designed to be broadly available to nationals of most countries. However, applicants from countries subject to U.S. sanctions or travel restrictions may face additional screening or exclusion. The specific list of restricted nationalities has not been comprehensively published as of March 2026.

Admissibility. All applicants must be admissible to the United States under general immigration law. Grounds of inadmissibility include criminal history (certain offenses), security concerns, prior immigration violations, communicable diseases, and other factors defined in INA Section 212(a).

Age requirement. Applicants must be adults (18 or older). Derivative benefits for spouses and children under 21 are expected to follow the same framework as other immigrant visa categories, though specific provisions are still being finalized.

Source: Program structure as announced; INA Section 212(a) (inadmissibility grounds). Yellow trust tier (Gold Card specifics); Blue trust tier (general admissibility law).

Who is excluded#

Based on available program information and general immigration law, the following individuals are likely ineligible:

Individuals with disqualifying criminal history. Serious criminal offenses, including aggravated felonies, drug trafficking, terrorism, and certain fraud offenses, render applicants inadmissible under INA Section 212(a).

Individuals on U.S. sanctions lists. Persons designated under the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions programs, including Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list entries, would be excluded.

Individuals from comprehensively sanctioned countries. While program specific guidance is developing, applicants from countries under comprehensive U.S. sanctions face substantial barriers.

Individuals with prior immigration fraud. Those who have engaged in material misrepresentation or fraud in prior immigration proceedings may be inadmissible under INA Section 212(a)(6)(C).

Source: INA Section 212(a); OFAC Sanctions Programs. Blue trust tier (statutory grounds); Yellow trust tier (Gold Card specific application).

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Vetting and background check process#

What is known#

The Gold Card program incorporates a vetting and background check process for all applicants. Based on publicly available information, this process includes:

Criminal background check. Applicants undergo screening against federal and international criminal databases, including FBI records, Interpol databases, and other law enforcement resources.

National security screening. Applicants are screened against terrorism watchlists, intelligence databases, and interagency security checks. This process is similar to the screening applied to other immigrant visa applicants.

Financial due diligence. The source of the $1,000,000 contribution is subject to review for compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. This may include verification that funds do not originate from sanctioned entities, criminal activity, or other prohibited sources.

Identity verification. Standard biometric collection (fingerprints, photographs) and identity document verification are part of the application process.

What remains uncertain#

Several aspects of the vetting process are still being defined:

1. The specific timeline for background check completion
2. Whether the vetting process creates processing delays comparable to other security intensive visa categories
3. The level of source of funds documentation required compared to EB-5's extensive requirements
4. Whether applicants in certain industries or from certain regions face enhanced scrutiny

Source: Program structure as announced; general immigration vetting practices under INA and USCIS procedures. Yellow trust tier.

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Application process#

Known steps#

Based on publicly available information, the Gold Card application process involves:

Step 1: Pre-registration. The program accepts pre-registrations through trumpcard.gov (launched December 10, 2025). Over 10,000 pre-registrations have been received as of March 2026. Engage an immigration attorney to assess individual circumstances before proceeding.

Step 2: Financial preparation. Assemble the $1,000,000 contribution plus the $15,000 application fee and $375 processing fee per person. Prepare source of funds documentation. Ensure funds are in a form readily transferable to the U.S. government.

Step 3: Application submission. Submit the Gold Card application through trumpcard.gov with required supporting documentation, including identity documents, financial evidence, and background check authorization.

Step 4: Vetting and adjudication. Undergo the background check and financial due diligence process. Timeline for this stage is not yet firmly established.

Step 5: Payment. Upon approval (or at a designated point in the process), the $1,000,000 contribution is transmitted to the U.S. Treasury.

Step 6: Consular processing. The Gold Card bars Adjustment of Status (AOS). All applicants must process through a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad to receive their visa. Applicants already in the United States cannot adjust status domestically.

Step 7: Status issuance. Upon completion of consular processing and entry to the United States, the applicant receives permanent resident status (green card).

Uncertain elements#

As of March 2026, the following application details are not fully established:

1. The exact sequence of payment and approval (whether payment precedes or follows adjudication)
2. Processing time benchmarks
3. Whether premium processing or expedited review is available
4. Appeal or reapplication procedures if denied

Source: Program implementation status as of March 2026. Yellow trust tier.

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Comparison to EB-5 requirements#

Side by side#

Source: INA Section 203(b)(5); EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022; Gold Card program announcements. Blue trust tier (EB-5); Yellow trust tier (Gold Card). See Gold Card vs EB-5 for complete comparison.

Key tradeoffs#

Gold Card advantages: No job creation requirement, no conditional period, no business risk, no project selection complexity, no per country visa backlog.

EB-5 advantages: Lower capital requirement (TEA), capital potentially recoverable, 34 years of statutory and regulatory certainty, extensive case law providing predictability, established appeal and remedy mechanisms.

The fundamental question for each investor is whether the simplicity and speed of the Gold Card justifies the additional $200,000 in capital commitment (versus TEA) and the non-refundable nature of the contribution. For investors who prioritize certainty of process and the possibility of capital return, EB-5 may remain preferable despite its greater complexity.

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Limitations and uncertainties#

What investors should understand#

The Gold Card program, as a new initiative, carries inherent uncertainties that more established programs do not:

Regulatory durability. The Gold Card was established through Executive Order 14351, signed September 19, 2025. Its long term stability depends on continued executive support and potentially on legislative codification. EB-5, by contrast, is anchored in the Immigration and Nationality Act and has survived changes in administration for over three decades. The Gold Card has no statutory grandfathering protection, meaning applicants lack the safeguards that EB-5 provides through September 30, 2026.

Legal challenges. Constitutional questions and legal challenges have been raised regarding the executive branch's authority to redirect EB-1/EB-2 visa numbers to the Gold Card program without Congressional authorization. These legal challenges could potentially affect the program's continued operation.

Administrative infrastructure. The processing infrastructure for Gold Card applications (adjudication officers, processing centers, standard operating procedures) is still being built. This may lead to processing delays, inconsistent adjudication, or procedural changes during the program's early years.

Legal precedent. EB-5 benefits from thousands of Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) decisions, federal court rulings, and USCIS policy memoranda that provide detailed guidance on virtually every aspect of the program. The Gold Card has no comparable body of precedent, meaning that individual case outcomes may be less predictable.

Future fee adjustments. The $1,000,000 contribution amount could change through administrative action. Investors should not assume the current fee will remain fixed indefinitely.

Source: EB5Status analysis of program structures. Orange trust tier (editorial assessment).

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Key takeaways#

1. $1,000,000 non-refundable "gift" to the U.S. Treasury is the core financial requirement, plus a $15,000 application fee and $375 processing fee per person. A $2,000,000 corporate option and $5,000,000 Platinum Card tier also exist.

2. No job creation, no business plan, no conditional period distinguishes the Gold Card from EB-5's more complex requirements.

3. Consular processing only. The Gold Card bars Adjustment of Status. All applicants must process through a U.S. consulate abroad.

4. Uses EB-1/EB-2 visa numbers from the employment based allocation, not a separate visa category.

5. Over 10,000 pre-registrations have been received through trumpcard.gov since the program launched December 10, 2025.

6. No statutory grandfathering protection exists, unlike EB-5 which provides grandfathering through September 30, 2026.

7. Legal challenges and constitutional questions surround the program's authority, particularly regarding the redirection of visa numbers without Congressional action.

8. Consult an immigration attorney before deciding between Gold Card and EB-5. The right choice depends on individual financial capacity, risk tolerance, timeline, and immigration objectives.

For current Gold Card and EB-5 program details, visit the EB5Status Gold Card Guide and Processing Times Dashboard.

Disclaimer: This article presents publicly available information about the Gold Card program as of March 2026. Program details are subject to change. This article does not constitute legal advice. Consult an immigration attorney for personalized guidance regarding your specific situation.

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Data sources: Executive Order 14351 (September 19, 2025), trumpcard.gov (launched December 10, 2025), INA Section 203(b)(5), EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, USCIS Policy Manual. Trust tiers: Yellow (Gold Card program details), Blue (EB-5 statutory and regulatory data), Orange (editorial analysis of program uncertainty).