The World’s 10 Most Expensive Golden Visas: Where Trump’s $5m Gold Card Would Rank

Donald Trump recently announced his plan to introduce the Gold Card program, which would require a donation of $5 million, more than six times the investment of the EB-5 Visa (regional center option).

This steep price tag had many questioning its viability, while Kristin Surak labelled it the “most expensive Golden Visa option in the world.” That got us thinking: Where would Trump’s Gold Card rank among the world’s priciest investment migration programs?

The World’s Top Ten Most Expensive Investment Migration Programs (in USD)

Number 10: Quebec Immigrant Investor Program – $871,000

Quebec reopened its immigrant investor program in January 2024 after suspending it in 2019. The program costs $871,000 total, with $725,000 as an investment with Investissement Québec for five years at 0% interest, plus $146,000 as a fee through a financial intermediary.

Applicants must work with authorized financial intermediaries, which affects the actual upfront outlay; however, in this piece, we are taking into consideration the overall investment amount, and Quebec’s program edges out the EB-5 visa ($800,000) to take the tenth spot. 

The program now includes stricter requirements: French language proficiency at level 7, a secondary school diploma, and Quebec residency for at least twelve months between two years of work permit issuance.

Number 9: Seychelles Investor Permanent Residence Program – $1 million

The Seychelles grants permanent residency to individuals who invest a minimum of $1 million in a new or existing local business. Applicants must show at least five years of business association in Seychelles and must have lived in the country for at least five years on a valid permit.

Investors must maintain their capital throughout the residency period and provide documentation of their business investment. The government requires that applicants demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for at least one year after receiving their Permanent Residence Permit. Residents can apply for citizenship after 11 years of continuous residency.

Number 8: El Salvador Freedom Passport Program – $1 million

El Salvador grants citizenship through its Freedom Passport program for a one-time payment of $1 million, payable in either USD or Bitcoin. The government limits the program to 1,000 participants annually and processes applications between four to six weeks.

The program targets Bitcoin enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, reflecting El Salvador’s status as the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. Applicants pay an initial non-refundable application fee of $999, an additional $999 per family member for family applications, and must pass a background check. The program has no physical presence requirements.

Number 7: Saudi Arabia Premium Residency – $1.1 million

Saudi Arabia has jumped on the growing GCC Golden Visa bandwagon and now offers immediate permanent residency through its Premium Residency Investor Visa program. Investors can qualify through two main pathways: Purchasing residential real estate worth SAR 4 million ($1.1 million) or investing SAR 7 million ($1.9 million) in Saudi business activities.

For the real estate option, applicants must buy existing properties without mortgages or financing, and values must be certified by accredited Saudi appraisers. The business investment route requires an investment license and the hiring of at least ten employees in Saudi Arabia. The program imposes no physical presence requirements and typically processes applications in one month.

Number 6: Samoa Citizenship by Investment Program – $1.42 million

Samoa grants citizenship after three years to investors who commit SAT$4 million ($1.42 million) to qualifying sectors. Applicants must demonstrate a minimum net worth of SAT$2.5 million ($907,000) and spend at least 15 days per year in the country.

The program accepts investments in diverse sectors, including tourism, agriculture, fishery processing, information technology, renewable energy, and government development funds. Samoa processes applications between two to three months and provides immediate permanent residency upon approval. Investors can also qualify through fund investments or bank deposits.

Number 5: Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate Program – $2.5 million

Bermuda requires that investors commit $2.5 million into one or more qualifying categories to obtain a five-year path to permanent residency. Investment options include residential or commercial real estate, government bonds, the Bermuda Sinking Fund, local charities, or new or existing Bermuda businesses.

The program mandates a physical presence of at least 90 days per year, with eligibility for British Overseas Territories citizenship after five years if the applicant spends no more than 450 days outside Bermuda during that period. Applicants pay a $2,625 fee and may include spouses and dependent children. The government processes applications within one to two months.

Number 4: New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa – $2.85 million

New Zealand’s revamped investor visa program now offers a streamlined investment pathway with a $2.85 million option for direct investments or managed funds. The program requires that investors spend just 21 days annually in New Zealand to maintain their residency status.

The government has eliminated the English language requirement in a bid to attract more international investors, particularly from Asian markets. This follows a period of limited uptake when the program attracted only 35 approved applications in two years.

Number 3: Hong Kong Capital Investment Entrant Scheme – $3.84 million

Hong Kong requires that applicants invest HKD 30 million ($3.84 million) to obtain residency with a path to permanent status after seven years. The investment is divided into HKD 3 million for a government-managed portfolio and HKD 27 million in Permissible Investment Assets.

These assets may include non-residential real estate (capped at HKD 10 million), equities, debt securities, certificates of deposit, subordinated debt, and various investment funds. Hong Kong recently began accepting cryptocurrency holdings as valid proof of wealth for the required asset threshold. Applicants must convert these digital assets into qualifying investments within six months of approval.

Recent policy updates have reduced the asset holding period from two years to six months and expanded investment options to include residential properties valued at HKD 50 million or above. The program has attracted 670 applications and over HKD 20 billion in investments since its March 2024 relaunch.

Number 2: USA Gold Card (proposed) – $5 million

Trump’s proposed Gold Card would offer holders Green Card privileges with a path to citizenship. Unlike traditional USA investment programs requiring business creation, the Gold Card would involve a direct $5 million payment to the US government.

Trump plans to bypass Congress by framing it as a visa rather than a direct route to citizenship, but experts doubt he can pull it off. 

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the existing EB-5 program as “full of nonsense, make-believe, and fraud,” and aims to position the Gold Card as a shift toward wealth-based admission.

Number 1: Singapore Global Investor Program – $7.78 million

Singapore tops the list with its Global Investor Programme (GIP), requiring a minimum investment of $7.78 million in a new or existing business. Investors can alternatively choose to invest $19.4 million in a GIP-approved fund or establish a Single-Family Office with assets of at least $155.6 million, deploying a minimum of $38.9 million in approved investment categories.

The program grants permanent residency within six months of approval and demands a physical presence of only one day per year. After two years, residents can apply for citizenship but must renounce their original nationality, as Singapore doesn’t recognize dual citizenship.

Singapore maintains full discretion in the approval process and may reject applications without providing specific reasons. The permanent residence status requires renewal every five years through a Re-Entry Permit, and male children of PR holders must serve two years of National Service in Singapore’s military.

The resilience of these investment migration programs, despite their steep price tags, speaks volumes about the persistent demand for mobility among the world’s wealthy. Singapore’s premium position reflects a calculated bet: That the privilege of access to its financial system and stable governance warrants the world’s highest entry fee.

Trump’s proposed Gold Card, should it materialize, represents America’s belated recognition of a market long dominated by smaller, nimbler nations. At $5 million per approval, the US Treasury might indeed find itself with a windfall—but the real value will be determined not by the program’s designers but by how many of the world’s wealthy deem American residency worth the price.