Experts Share: Are There Other Global Initiatives Similar To Trump’s “Gold Card” Visa?

The Gold Card, also known as the Trump Card, is a new U.S. immigration initiative aimed at wealthy foreign investors. First announced in February 2025, it was introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The programme allows applicants to gain legal residence in the United States if they are willing to pay $5 million. According to information from U.S. Gold Card Advice and official announcements, this programme also gives access to permanent citizenship.

Unlike the previous EB-5 visa, which required investment in specific projects, the Gold Card is being promoted as more direct. Investors would not need to tie their money to government-approved businesses. Trump said the programme could attract high networth individuals, including Russian oligarchs, who would spend money in the U.S., pay taxes, and create jobs.

The plan has not yet replaced the EB-5 visa completely, but it is intended to serve as a more flexible alternative. The process is expected to be quicker and less tied to investment in individual businesses.

 

How Many People Have Shown Interest So Far?

 

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that nearly 70,000 people have already signed up for the Trump Card waitlist. This figure was shared after the launch of the TrumpCard.gov website. The site collects basic details such as the applicant’s name, email address, and region of residence.

Lutnick is managing the visa rollout and said that the level of early interest suggests strong demand. This response came before the full legal structure of the programme had been finalised, meaning those signing up are expressing early interest rather than making full applications.

Trump had earlier said he expects to sell a million of these residence permits. The $5 million entry point means this could generate very large sums of money if demand holds.

 

Are There Similar Programmes Around The World?

 

Four experts have shared what different programmes around the world are similar to this…

 

Loren Locke, Immigration Attorney, Locke Immigration Law, said:

 

 

UK Comparisons:

• “The UK’s Global Talent Visa represents everything the U.S. Gold Card isn’t—it’s merit-based, accessible, and designed to attract innovators rather than just wealthy investors. While the UK fast-tracks exceptional talent in technology, sciences, and arts with minimal financial barriers, the U.S. is essentially putting a $5 million price tag on residency, regardless of actual contribution potential.”

• “Britain’s Innovator Founder Visa requires just £50,000 in investment funds—100 times less than the proposed U.S. Gold Card—yet it has successfully attracted groundbreaking startups and entrepreneurs. The UK understands that innovation comes from ideas, not just deep pockets.”

Canada Comparisons:

• “Canada’s Start-up Visa Program brilliantly demonstrates how to attract job-creating entrepreneurs without astronomical financial requirements. They focus on business viability and job creation potential, while the U.S. Gold Card seems more interested in parking foreign wealth than fostering genuine economic growth.”

• “The Canadian approach through their various economic immigration streams—from the Federal Skilled Worker Program to Provincial Nominee Programs—creates multiple pathways for different types of contributors. The U.S. Gold Card, by contrast, creates a single, prohibitively expensive gate that most innovative entrepreneurs simply can’t afford to walk through.”

Australia Comparisons:

• “Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment Program offers multiple tiers starting at AUD $1.25 million—less than half the U.S. Gold Card requirement—and includes pathways for younger entrepreneurs and startup founders. Australia recognizes that economic contribution isn’t solely measured by initial capital investment.”

• “The genius of Australia’s Global Talent Independent Program is that it prioritizes future earning potential and innovation capacity over current wealth. Meanwhile, the U.S. Gold Card essentially ignores the 25-year-old tech genius who could create the next billion-dollar company but doesn’t have $5 million in the bank.”
 

 

Portugal & Greece Comparisons:

• “Portugal’s Golden Visa at €280,000 for real estate investment has attracted over €7 billion in foreign investment since 2012, proving that lower barriers can generate substantial economic impact. The U.S. Gold Card’s $5 million threshold seems designed to exclude rather than attract, which is economically counterproductive.”

• “Greece’s Golden Visa program at €250,000 has revitalized entire neighborhoods and created thousands of jobs. The U.S. is pricing itself out of this proven model of economic revitalization through accessible foreign investment.”

UAE Comparisons:

• “Even the UAE’s premium Golden Visa, which targets ultra-high-net-worth individuals, offers more flexibility and lower investment thresholds than the proposed U.S. Gold Card. The UAE requires $2.7 million compared to America’s $5 million, and includes broader categories like exceptional students and professionals—showing they understand talent comes in many forms.”

• “The UAE has created a comprehensive ecosystem with their Golden Visa, 10-year residence permits, and paths to citizenship that recognizes both investors and skilled professionals. The U.S. Gold Card feels like a half-measure that misses the bigger picture of comprehensive talent attraction.”

Cross-Country Analysis:

• “What’s striking is that every successful global program—from Canada’s startup visas to Portugal’s golden visas—includes multiple pathways and recognizes different types of value creation. The U.S. Gold Card’s one-size-fits-all approach of ‘$5 million or nothing’ ignores decades of evidence about what actually works in talent attraction.”

 

Tahmina Watson, Immigration Lawyer, Watson Immigration Law, commented:

 

 

“In February 2025, the U.S. President announced a proposed new immigration pathway known as the U.S. Gold Card—a green card option based on direct investment. The proposal aims to simplify the process of obtaining permanent residency through investment and is expected to eventually replace the current EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which has been in place since 1990.”

Current Status:

“As of now, the Gold Card programme is not available. In the United States, immigration law must generally be enacted by Congress. However, it remains unclear how the Gold Card will be implemented, as the administration appears to believe it can proceed without Congressional approval.”

Key Differences from EB-5:

“The proposed Gold Card would require a $5 million investment paid directly to the U.S. government, with the stated goal of helping to reduce the national debt. Unlike the EB-5 program, which mandates job creation as a core requirement, the Gold Card does not appear to include this obligation. A path to U.S. citizenship would be included.”

Global Comparisons:

“Other countries—such as Portugal, Greece, Grenada, and several Caribbean nations—offer citizenship or residency-by-investment programs. However, none require an investment as high as $5 million.”

 

Noor Al-Naseri, Author, The Regulatory Roadmap for Fintech and Crypto Firms, The Compliance Blueprint, shared:

 

 

“The U.S. Gold Card is in line with what we’ve seen in places like the UAE, Portugal, and Singapore, programs designed to attract high-value individuals quickly. The difference is, many of those countries have already paired fast-track access with real incentives: tax clarity, startup support, and simple compliance.

“If the U.S. wants this to work, it needs to go beyond marketing and build infrastructure that makes it easy to stay and scale.”

 

Dominic Jones, Managing Director, Greener Pastures

 

 
How does New Zealand’s investor visa compare to other global programs like the UK’s Global Talent Visa?
“New Zealand’s investor visa is designed with long-term impact in mind. We are not looking to just attract talent. We are looking to anchor talent to the country’s future. Unlike the UK’s Global Talent Visa, which is focused primarily on individuals with proven track records in tech or academia, New Zealand’s program targets high-value investors who can fuel innovation, job creation, and regional development.

“It’s less about their résumé and more about a commitment to contributing capital in a meaningful way. Whether that’s through investing in New Zealand companies directly or through managed funds that contribute to business growth, job creation, and economic development. Our framework rewards active participation in the economy and offers real pathways to permanent residency for those willing to invest with long-term purpose.”

What sets New Zealand’s visa apart from similar investment or talent-based schemes worldwide?
“Most investment visa programs are transactional. You park money in a fund or real estate and wait. New Zealand’s approach couldn’t be more different. It’s transformational. The government encourages investment that supports long-term economic growth, including business innovation and job creation. At Greener Pastures New Zealand, we help clients understand the broader landscape, ensure their visa applications are properly structured, and support their connection and the building of their New Zealand lifestyle to make their transition as smooth and successful as possible.

“The minimum stay requirements are also far more flexible, especially under the Growth category where you need just 21 days over three years. That allows global investors to contribute without uprooting their lives immediately, which is increasingly important.”

How does the process compare in terms of transparency, speed, or accessibility?
“New Zealand offers a high degree of transparency. While the application process is rigorous, it’s predictable. There are no surprise quotas or shifting goalposts to worry about. The government publishes clear investment thresholds and residency timelines, which allows applicants to plan long-term.

“Importantly, the current average processing time is just 11 days. This is a significant reduction that reflects how seriously New Zealand is prioritizing investor migration.

“At Greener Pastures, we act as both strategic advisors and on-the-ground partners, helping clients navigate the process efficiently from day one.”