Trump unveils $5 million gold card with his mugshot: How to get it? Who is buying?

US President Donald Trump has unveiled his $5 million ‘gold card’, which offers foreigners a pathway to American citizenship.

While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump introduced the card - and what caught the eye of many was what appeared on its front: a very familiar face.

Yes, his own mugshot.

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The gold-coloured card, roughly the size of a regular credit card, features the image taken at the Atlanta courthouse – a photo that has come to define his re-election campaign.

In this report, we take a closer look at the design of the gold card, what Trump had to say about it, when it will be rolled out, and who will be eligible to get one.

What does Trump’s $5 million gold card look like?

The gold-coloured card features the president’s official portrait, which many have likened to the stern expression seen in his mugshot taken at an Atlanta courthouse during his reelection campaign.

Printed are the words ‘The Trump Card’, and the name is both a nod to the common phrase and a branding play on his surname.

“For $5 million, this could be yours,” Trump told reporters. “That was the first of the cards. You know what that card is?”

“It’s the gold card — the Trump card.”

Trump said that he was the first to purchase one, though he added he did not know who the second buyer was.

He added that the card “will be out in less than two weeks, probably.”

BREAKING: President Trump Reveals $5 Million Gold Card While Flying Aboard Air Force One 🇺🇸 ✈️ pic.twitter.com/TlQVsivmkS

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 3, 2025

What is the ‘gold card’ programme?

Trump introduced the concept of the higher-tier gold card in February as an upgrade to the existing EB-5 visa scheme.

The EB-5 programme currently permits foreign nationals to apply for a special visa by investing either over a million dollars, or $800,000 in regions facing economic challenges.

“We’re going to be selling a gold card,” Trump announced at the time.

“We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million and that’s going to give you green card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship. And wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card,” he said.

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The proposed visa would require a significantly larger financial contribution and is intended to tighten loopholes and curb fraud that Trump claimed has infested the EB-5 system. Like other green cards, the gold card would also serve as a step towards acquiring US citizenship.

Trump said the visa would attract wealthy individuals who, upon arrival, would likely thrive, invest heavily, pay substantial taxes, and help generate employment across the country.

How to purchase the gold card? Who is buying?

The gold card was introduced as a new pathway for wealthy investors seeking to settle in the United States, with Donald Trump pitching it as a win-win for both the applicants and the country.

While detailed steps to apply for the gold card have not yet been made public, it is expected that buyers will have to comply with regulations set by US immigration authorities once the programme is formally launched.

Trump has indicated that the cards will likely be made available within “less than two weeks,” which means that a rollout could be expected around April 17–18 or later in the month.

As for who is purchasing it, Trump himself claimed to be the first buyer. When asked about the second, he said he was unsure.

Given the steep $5 million price tag, the offer is clearly targeted at high-net-worth foreign nationals looking for a direct route to American residency and eventual citizenship.

“It’ll be people with money,” Trump said, without referencing job creation or investment conditions tied to the card.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick added that while all applicants will be subject to strict screening, they must be “wonderful, world-class global citizens.”

There appears to be no official cap on the number of gold cards available. Trump has floated the idea of issuing up to 10 million visas under this scheme as a means to ease the U.S. national deficit.

Lutnick also claimed that as many as 1,000 gold cards were sold in just one day, with over 37 million people worldwide eligible to apply.

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Can the gold card help the US economy?

Donald Trump has claimed that the gold card programme could contribute significantly to the US economy, suggesting that millions of these cards could be sold to help lower the national debt.

At present, the US national debt stands at over $36.22 trillion, growing by around $4.87 billion each day, or roughly $202.94 million every hour, according to Forbes.

Howard Lutnick estimates that around 37 million people globally could afford the $5 million gold card, forming a sizeable potential market for the scheme.

However, the programme essentially puts a price tag on US residency, allowing the ultra-wealthy to access citizenship benefits more quickly, while millions of others face a slower and more uncertain immigration process.

This has caused concerns about creating a two-tiered system - one for those who can afford to buy their way in, and another for those who cannot.