The closest thing to a US golden visa is the EB-5 investor green card, which needs $800,000 to $1,050,000 and 10 new jobs, plus the new Trump Gold Card, which reports a $1 million gift and a $15,000 fee but had only one confirmed approval by mid-2026. The United States has no official visa named “golden visa,” so check which program an offer really uses before you pay.
People who search for a US golden visa usually mean one of two things. The first is EB-5, a long-running program that gives a green card to investors who put money at risk in a job-creating business. The second is the Gold Card, a program created by executive order in September 2025 that lets applicants make a large payment to speed up an existing green card category. This guide explains both, compares the costs and rules, covers the legal questions around the Gold Card, and lists the mistakes and scams to avoid. The EB-5 figures come from a Congressional Research Service report dated 23 June 2025. The Gold Card details come from law firm and immigration company pages dated between November 2025 and October 2026, so they are secondary sources and the legal picture may have changed. Confirm every figure on the USCIS and State Department pages before you act. If you are an American sponsoring a relative or planning a move abroad, your own passport comes first, and our US passport guide covers how to get or renew one.
Is There a US Golden Visa in 2026?
Not under that name, but two programs work like one: EB-5 for investors and the Gold Card for large payments. Neither is a quick or guaranteed route.
The US sells no residency outright. EB-5 requires an investment that is at risk and creates jobs. The Gold Card, according to a law firm article from November 2025, is not a new visa category. It works within the EB-1 and EB-2 National Interest Waiver categories, and the payment counts as extra evidence in the case. An immigration services page from June 2026 repeats the point: payment alone does not qualify anyone.
That difference matters for planning. A traditional golden visa elsewhere grants residence for a set investment. In the US, you still need to meet the category rules, wait for a visa number if one is required and pass background checks. Our US PR guide explains how the main green card routes and the Visa Bulletin work.
How Do EB-5 and the Gold Card Compare?
EB-5 asks for an at-risk investment and 10 jobs, while the Gold Card asks for a nonrefundable payment and no jobs. The table shows the main differences.
| Feature | EB-5 | Gold Card |
| Legal basis | Immigration law, with regional centers authorized through 30 September 2027 | Executive Order 14351 (September 2025), working within EB-1 and EB-2 NIW |
| Money required | $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project | $1 million individual or $2 million corporate gift, plus a $15,000 processing fee |
| Jobs | At least 10 full-time jobs | No job creation requirement |
| Money back | Capital is at risk, so it can potentially be returned | Reported as a nonrefundable payment |
| Status | In force | Opened December 2025; one confirmed approval by mid-2026; in court |
The EB-5 figures come from the Congressional Research Service. The Gold Card figures come from law firm and immigration company pages, which agree on the main numbers but not on every detail, such as how much each family member adds. Compare either route with the temporary options in our US work visa guide.
How Does EB-5 Work?
EB-5 gives a green card to investors who put $1,050,000, or $800,000 in certain areas, into a new commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs. The Congressional Research Service report lays out the rules.
The report lists these points:
- Investment amounts: $1,050,000 as the standard amount, and $800,000 in a targeted employment area (a high-unemployment or rural area) or for an infrastructure project.
- Inflation: The amounts adjust every five years starting 1 January 2027.
- Jobs: At least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers, permanent residents or others lawfully authorized to work. Regional center investors can count indirect jobs for up to 90 percent of the requirement, or 75 percent when the jobs come from construction lasting under two years.
- Regional centers: The program is authorized through 30 September 2027.
- Set-aside visas: Each year, 10 percent are reserved for high-unemployment areas, 20 percent for rural areas and 2 percent for infrastructure projects.
- Caps: EB-5 is limited to 7.1 percent of the 140,000 yearly employment-based green cards, which is 9,940, including spouses and minor children. A per-country ceiling of 7 percent also applies.
The report adds that, as of December 2024, USCIS had approved 12,252 investor petitions awaiting visa availability, 99 percent from China. The October 2026 Visa Bulletin figures used in our US PR guide show the unreserved EB-5 category current for all countries, with cut-off dates of 1 December 2016 for China and 1 December 2023 for India. Dates change every month, so check the current bulletin.
What Is the Trump Gold Card?
The Gold Card is a program created by Executive Order 14351 that lets applicants make a large payment as part of an EB-1 or EB-2 National Interest Waiver petition. It uses Form I-140G.
An immigration company page from June 2026 says the executive order was signed on 19 September 2025 and that applications opened on 10 December 2025 through a government portal. It lists these costs:
- Individual: A $15,000 nonrefundable processing fee plus a $1 million gift payment.
- Employer-sponsored: $15,000 plus a $2 million payment per employee, a 1 percent annual maintenance fee and a 5 percent fee to transfer a sponsorship.
- Family members: Separate amounts apply for each family member. One law firm page reports an extra $1 million each, so confirm the figure on an official page.
- Other costs: Government filing fees, biometrics and third-party costs are extra.
Another page says the payment is made only after all approvals are confirmed. The same sources say applicants need a clean immigration history, no disqualifying criminal record and documents showing their source of funds. One page says that source-of-funds documents can include tax returns, bank records, records of major asset sales and business ownership documents, and that the look-back is roughly 5 to 7 years. Treat that look-back as an estimate.
How Many Gold Card Approvals Exist?
Very few: reports through July 2026 point to one confirmed approval. The numbers come from a government declaration and testimony.
An immigration law firm article published in May 2026 cites a USCIS declaration saying that, as of late April 2026, there were 338 requests since launch, 165 that paid the filing fee and 59 filed petitions. It reports one approval, citing the Commerce Secretary’s April 2026 testimony. A tax-focused article first published on 27 July 2026 and updated on 18 October 2026 says uptake was still weak and that it could confirm only one approval through that date.
These figures show that the Gold Card is open on paper but slow in practice. The Commerce Secretary’s testimony and the court filings are the source, and the articles quote them rather than showing official data, so check the latest numbers before you rely on them.
Is the Gold Card Legal and Tax-Friendly?
The Gold Card faces a court challenge, and cardholders become U.S. permanent residents who are generally taxed on worldwide income. Both points affect whether it is wise to pay.
The legal challenge is American Association of University Professors v. Department of Homeland Security, filed in February 2026. It argues that creating new green card pathways is a job for Congress and questions whether the program followed required rulemaking. The government’s 28 April 2026 motion to dismiss focuses on standing. As of June 2026 no court had ruled on the merits and no injunction was in place, according to the immigration company page. A law firm page adds that pending petitions could be affected by the outcome, while an issued card would be on firmer ground, but it says the result is unclear.
On tax, the July 2026 article explains that permanent residents are generally taxed on worldwide income and may face reporting duties for foreign accounts. A proposed $5 million Platinum Card, which would offer a foreign-income tax break, is described as not operational and as likely to need an act of Congress. Speak with a licensed immigration attorney and a tax adviser before you pay any Gold Card amount.
Which Route Fits Which Person?
EB-5 suits investors who want a job-creating business and can put capital at risk, while the Gold Card suits people who accept a nonrefundable payment and can qualify in EB-1 or EB-2. Neither suits someone who needs certainty.
Think about four questions. Can you afford to lose the capital in EB-5, since the money is at risk? Can you document the source of your funds for several years? Are you willing to accept a legal challenge hanging over the Gold Card? Does your country face a long wait for the visa number? Our US business visa guide covers short trips, and the US family visa guide covers relatives.
How Do You Avoid a US Golden Visa Scam?
Treat any offer of a guaranteed US golden visa as a warning sign, and use only official channels for the Gold Card and EB-5. Fraud is common around high-value programs.
Be careful when a seller:
- Guarantees a green card for a set payment.
- Sells a “Gold Card slot” or promises early access.
- Asks you to send money to a personal account or through gift cards.
- Cannot name the visa category, form number and filing office.
- Pushes an EB-5 project with no clear job creation plan.
The Congressional Research Service report notes that the EB-5 Integrity Fund helps pay for monitoring and investigations, including fraud-related ones, which shows how seriously the program treats this risk. Use the USCIS and State Department pages to confirm any form and fee, and keep every receipt.
What Mistakes Cause Problems?
Believing a US golden visa promise, ignoring the legal status of the Gold Card and skipping source-of-funds proof cause most problems. Check each point before you invest.
- Paying a middleman for a guaranteed green card.
- Assuming payment alone qualifies you for the Gold Card.
- Treating the Gold Card as risk-free despite the court challenge.
- Investing in EB-5 without checking job creation and the regional center rules.
- Forgetting that the EB-5 amounts rise with inflation from 2027.
- Forgetting worldwide tax duties as a permanent resident.
- Using old Visa Bulletin dates.
- Relying on secondary sources instead of USCIS pages.
When unsure, use the official source. Our guide to visa prices in the USA gives a view of other costs, and the visa documents checklist tool and visa processing time calculator help with planning. For other countries, compare our guides to the Germany golden visa, the UK golden visa and the Canada golden visa.
FAQs
Is there a US golden visa?
Not by that name. EB-5 and the Gold Card are the closest programs. EB-5 needs an at-risk investment and 10 jobs. The Gold Card needs a large payment.
How much is the EB-5 investment in 2026?
$1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or for an infrastructure project, according to a June 2025 Congressional Research Service report.
How much does the Gold Card cost?
Reports list a $1 million gift for an individual or $2 million for a corporate sponsor, plus a $15,000 nonrefundable processing fee.
Is the Gold Card approved yet?
Reports through July 2026 show only one confirmed approval. The program also faces a court challenge, so check the latest USCIS and court updates.
Does the Gold Card guarantee a green card?
No. It works within EB-1 and EB-2 National Interest Waiver categories, and payment alone does not qualify anyone.
Do green card holders pay tax on worldwide income?
Generally yes, according to a July 2026 article. Speak with a tax adviser before paying for any program.
Conclusion
A US golden visa is not an official visa name, but EB-5 and the Gold Card work as the nearest options. EB-5 asks for $800,000 to $1,050,000 and 10 jobs, while the Gold Card reports a $1 million gift and a $15,000 fee, with one confirmed approval and a pending court challenge. Confirm every figure with USCIS, use a licensed attorney and walk away from anyone who guarantees a green card.
