Elon Musk Reveals Secretive Gold Visa Initiative Linked to Trump Era

Classified documents with Top Secret stamps on wooden surface.

Elon Musk confirms the Trump administration’s $5 million Gold Visa program has quietly begun trials, potentially revolutionizing America’s approach to wealthy immigrants while raising billions for federal coffers.

Quick Takes

The $5 million “gold card” visa program is now in a “quiet trial” phase, confirmed by Elon Musk
The program aims to replace the current EB-5 visa with a “high-roller fast lane” to U.S. residency
Trump’s goal is to sell 1 million cards, potentially raising $5 billion in a single day
The card exempts holders from paying U.S. taxes on overseas income
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Musk, is developing the program

Musk Confirms “Quiet Trial” of Gold Card Program

The Trump administration’s ambitious $5 million “Gold Card” visa program has officially entered a trial phase, according to Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) commission. This premium immigration pathway, designed to replace the existing EB-5 visa program, offers wealthy foreign nationals a streamlined route to American residency and eventual citizenship. While details remain limited by design during this test period, the program represents a significant shift toward investment-driven immigration policy that prioritizes capital infusion into the American economy.

“It’s going to be a route to citizenship, and wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card. They will be wealthy, they will be successful, they will be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes.” stated President Donald Trump

Ambitious Revenue and Implementation Plans

The Gold Card program features an ambitious financial target. President Trump aims to sell 1 million of these premium visas, with reports indicating approximately 1,000 have already been secured. At $5 million per card, this initiative could potentially raise $5 billion in a single day—a substantial revenue stream for federal coffers. The implementation process involves coordination between multiple federal agencies, including Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the State Department. DOGE is currently developing the necessary infrastructure, including a dedicated website for applications and processing.

“We are going to be selling a Gold Card” promised Trump

Premium Benefits and Tax Advantages

The Gold Card offers significant advantages beyond traditional immigration pathways. Cardholders will receive exemption from U.S. taxes on overseas income—a substantial benefit for wealthy international investors. This places the program several steps above the existing EB-5 visa program, which was established in 1990 to stimulate economic growth through foreign investment. While the EB-5 program requires substantial investment and proof of job creation for American workers, the Gold Card represents a more direct pathway focused primarily on attracting high net worth individuals who can make immediate financial contributions to the American economy.

“We’re trying to come up with some legislation that would make that happen. It is sort of the ultimate merit-based immigration. And if we continue to attract the smartest, most accomplished people from around the world to America, that’s good for all of us.” expressed Senator John Cornyn

Debate Over Approach to Immigration Reform

The Gold Card program has sparked significant debate among policymakers. Supporters, including President Trump and Senator John Cornyn, view the initiative as the “ultimate merit-based immigration” approach that will attract successful individuals who can contribute substantially to the American economy. Critics, however, have raised concerns about creating a system that prioritizes wealth over other potential contributions. Representative Ro Khanna has argued for welcoming talented workers regardless of their financial status, citing successful immigrant tech leaders like Sergey Brin and Satya Nadella who transformed American business without necessarily bringing millions in investment capital.

“You don’t need to have $5 million in your bank account to build a successful company in America. Just look at Sergey Brin, Sundar Pichai, or Satya Nadella. We should welcome talented workers to America who will bring their creativity and productivity while also reforming the H1-B program to prevent abuses.” stated Representative Ro Khanna

Timeline for Full Implementation

While the program was initially introduced by President Trump in February 2025, the full public launch date remains unspecified pending completion of the current “quiet test” phase. The administration has provided limited details by design, focusing first on ensuring the system functions correctly before a broader rollout. Officials are expected to make further announcements about implementation timelines and application procedures once the trial period concludes successfully. The calculated approach demonstrates the administration’s commitment to launching a fully functional program rather than rushing an incomplete system.