President Donald Trump has unveiled a new visa program “Gold Card”, setting a price of $ 5 million for rich investors in search of American residence and citizenship. The initiative, which aims to replace the existing EB-5 visa program, is designed to inject capital into the American economy while approaching national debt.
Golden visas – residence or citizenship programs in exchange for investment – are not new. Many countries offer similar programs, offering individuals high advantages of high value such as visa -free trips, tax incentives and improved global mobility.
Here’s how the American “gold card” compares to some of the best gold visa programs in the world:
Malta: requires an investment of € 738,000, compliance with residence and contributions to a national fund.
Greece: grant a residence for a real estate purchase of € 250,000, with a path to citizenship after seven years.
Italy: requires an investment of € 250,000 in government bonds, stocks or philanthropy.
Spain: offers a residence for a real estate investment of € 500,000, allowing free trips to the EU.
Portugal: grant a residence for a real estate investment of € 280,000, with eligibility for citizenship after five years.
United Arab Emirates: a 10 -year renewable visa is available for landowners and exceptional talents, requiring 10 million AED ($ 2.7 million) of assets.
Türkiye: Citizenship is granted for a real estate investment of $ 400,000 or other capital routes.
Canada: offers a permanent residence to entrepreneurs as part of its start -up visa program.
New Zealand: requires an investment of $ 15 million ($ 9 million) for its active investor plus a visa, with citizenship possible after five years.
The United States had previously had the EB-5 visa, which required an investment of $ 800,000 in companies creating jobs. The Visa “Gold Card”, more than six times the price, is now among the most expensive investor programs in the world.
Critics argue that such programs promote the rich and the goods of citizenship, while supporters see them as a means of attracting precious investments. With many nations in competition for high net individuals, the United States hope that its “gold card” will be a world leader in the investment residence market.
