The United States is currently conducting a “quiet trial” of a new immigration initiative known as the Gold Card visa, according to Elon Musk. Designed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the program enables foreign nationals to purchase a path to US residency and eventual citizenship through a $5 million investment.
Announced by President Donald Trump in February 2025, the initiative is being positioned as a higher-tier alternative to the existing EB-5 investor visa. The project has already sparked debate about the role of wealth in determining access to immigration privileges and the broader implications for the US immigration system.
Gold Card Trial Underway Amid Digital Rollout
According to Musk, the Gold Card visa is currently in a quiet testing phase aimed at verifying its infrastructure before a public launch. “Once it is fully tested, it will be rolled out to the public with an announcement by the president,” Musk said in a post on X.
The system is being developed by DOGE, with Musk at its helm, and includes the establishment of a dedicated website and coordination with federal agencies including US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the State Department.
The Gold Card is intended to streamline the immigration process for high-net-worth individuals. Compared to the EB-5 visa, which requires an investment of between $800,000 and $1 million and the creation of ten jobs, the Gold Card removes job-creation criteria and simplifies the application process in exchange for a significantly higher fee.
According to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the program has already sold 1,000 cards, raising $5 billion in a single day.
Replacing EB-5 With Cash-Based Citizenship Route
The program is being described by Trump allies as a more transparent and effective alternative to merit-based systems. “We are going to be selling a Gold Card,” Trump told reporters in February.
“It’s going to give you green card privileges plus a route to American citizenship.” The card, which reportedly features Trump’s image, is also said to exempt holders from paying US taxes on overseas income.
According to Howard Lutnick, up to 250,000 individuals have already applied. Meanwhile, critics have voiced concern over prioritising wealth over skills. As Representative Ro Khanna told Newsweek: “You don’t need to have $5 million in your bank account to build a successful company in America.”
While some lawmakers, including Senator John Cornyn, support the measure as a form of “ultimate merit-based immigration”, others argue it risks sidelining skilled labour in favour of elite capital. The timeline for full implementation remains unclear.
