The ‘Golden Visa’ initiative, introduced by former President Donald Trump, has seen only one issuance since its inception in September 2025, according to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Latnik. This program requires applicants to contribute over $1 million to the U.S. government.
Despite the single issuance, Latnik noted that there are currently hundreds of applicants waiting for their visas. Each applicant is also required to pay an additional fee of $15,000, which aids in the thorough vetting process necessary for those seeking to participate in the program, ultimately leading to U.S. citizenship.
“Every applicant pays a contribution of $15,000, in addition to their million-dollar donation, which allows for careful screening of those applying for the program that ultimately opens the path to U.S. citizenship,” Latnik stated.
Reports from The Hill suggest that the sole recipient of the ‘Golden Visa’ is Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj, who shared a photo of her visa on social media in January 2026. This has drawn attention to the program’s limited accessibility.
Latnik previously announced that the government has received applications for the ‘Golden Visa’ that could potentially generate over $1.3 billion for the U.S. budget. This figure reflects the total contributions proposed by applicants seeking the visa.
The ‘Golden Visa’ was launched as a replacement for the EB-5 visa program, which allowed foreign investors to obtain visas by investing at least $800,000 in U.S. businesses employing a minimum of ten people. The ‘Golden Visa’ offers a pathway to residency and eventual citizenship in exchange for a $1 million donation to the U.S. budget.
In addition to the ‘Golden Visa,’ Trump also introduced a ‘Platinum Visa’ program, which requires a minimum donation of $5 million. This program began alongside the ‘Golden Visa’ in September 2025.
The 'Golden Visa' program initiated by Donald Trump has issued only one visa since its launch, despite significant interest from applicants. The program requires substantial financial contributions, raising questions about its accessibility and effectiveness.