Gold Card Visa

Gold Card Visa Eligibility Requirements for South Africans

The US Gold Card visa offers a fast-tracked route to permanent residency for high-net-worth South Africans. Understanding the specific eligibility criteria, from the required financial gift to the legal classifications, is the first step toward securing your future in the United States.

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Expert Reviewed by Global Immigration Partners PLLC
Co-Managing Partner, Global Immigration Partners PLLC — Washington DC & London
Last updated: 11 March 2026
Direct Answer
To be eligible for the US Gold Card visa, South African applicants must make an unrestricted gift to the US Department of Commerce ($1 million for individuals or $2 million if sponsored by a corporation, plus $1 million per dependent). Applicants must also qualify as either an alien of extraordinary ability (EB-1) or an alien of exceptional ability seeking a National Interest Waiver (EB-2 NIW), and prove all funds were obtained lawfully.
— Global Immigration Partners PLLC
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How Many People Have Applied for the Trump Gold Card?

A common question among prospective immigrants is: How many people have applied for the Trump Gold Card?

The direct answer is: Zero.

As of early 2026, it is not yet possible to apply for the Gold Card visa because the program has not been officially enacted into US law.

Why Are There No Applicants Yet?

The Gold Card was introduced as a policy proposal by Donald Trump. For any new visa category to become active, it must go through a rigorous legislative process:

  1. Congressional Approval: A bill outlining the Gold Card program must be drafted, debated, and passed by both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate.
  2. Presidential Signature: The passed bill must be signed into law by the President.
  3. USCIS Implementation: US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must draft the specific regulations, create the application forms, and establish the processing infrastructure.

Until this process is complete, the Gold Card remains a concept rather than an actionable immigration pathway.

What Are the Alternatives?

Because the Gold Card is not yet available, high-net-worth individuals seeking US permanent residency are actively utilizing the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.

The EB-5 program is fully operational and requires a significantly lower investment of $800,000 (in Targeted Employment Areas). Thousands of investors globally apply for the EB-5 visa every year, making it the proven, reliable route for investment-based US immigration while the Gold Card proposal navigates the legislative process.