Is There a US Golden Visa? Green Card and Citizenship Myths, 2026

Does the US have a golden visa?

No. There is no US programme called a golden visa. In many countries a golden visa means a residence permit granted for a qualifying investment, often in property or a fund, as listed on our golden visa programmes overview. US immigration law has no route of that kind.

What people usually mean by a "US golden visa" is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. EB-5 is the only US green card category based on investment, and it works very differently from a passive golden visa:

• The capital is at risk. The money must be invested in a new commercial enterprise for the purpose of generating a return. Property bought for your own use, or money held in a bank account, does not qualify.
• Jobs must be created. The investment must create at least 10 full-time positions for qualifying US workers. The investor, the spouse and the children do not count.
• USCIS acts on two petitions. USCIS first acts on Form I-526 or I-526E. If approved, you receive a conditional green card for 2 years. You then file Form I-829 in the 90 days before the second anniversary, and USCIS reviews whether the investment was sustained and the jobs were created.
• The source of funds is examined. You must document the lawful source and path of every dollar invested.

The legal basis is section 203(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. The official description is on the USCIS page on the EB-5 visa classification.

Can you buy a US green card?

No. A green card is never sold, and no payment to a government body, developer or agent grants permanent residence on its own. Under EB-5, the investment is a condition of eligibility, not a purchase price: USCIS acts on the petition, background and security checks apply, and certain criminal, fraud, immigration or security grounds make an applicant inadmissible.

The investment is also not a donation. The capital is invested at risk with the aim of a return, and whether you may get your capital back depends on how the investment performs. Losses are possible. Mirabello does not name, rate or recommend any regional centre or project; independent legal and financial due diligence comes before any commitment. The full cost picture, including USCIS fees before and after 30 November 2026, is in our article on the EB-5 visa cost in 2026.

Two other green card routes need no investment at all, but they are merit-based rather than money-based: the EB-1A green card for extraordinary ability and the EB-2 National Interest Waiver, which is built on exceptional ability or an advanced degree. They are different standards, and neither can be bought.

Is there US citizenship by investment?

No. The United States has no citizenship-by-investment programme. US citizenship comes by naturalisation, and naturalisation follows permanent residence.

For an EB-5 investor the sequence is: conditional green card, removal of conditions through Form I-829, then an application for naturalisation after 5 years as a lawful permanent resident. The 2 years of conditional residence count towards the 5 years. According to the USCIS naturalisation page for permanent residents of 5 years, you must also meet these requirements:

• continuous residence in the United States for 5 years;
• physical presence in the United States for at least 30 of those 60 months;
• good moral character;
• basic English (reading, writing and speaking) and knowledge of US history and government;
• a minimum age of 18.

Living in the United States is therefore part of the route, not an option. Absences of six months or more may disrupt continuous residence, and a green card holder must keep the United States as their permanent home. Green card holders are also US tax residents, and the IRS taxes them on their worldwide income, so independent tax advice belongs in the plan from the start.

US law does not prohibit dual nationality. Whether you keep your current nationality after naturalising in the United States depends on the law of your home country, and every country sets its own rule: some remove the original nationality automatically on naturalisation abroad. German, Austrian and Swiss readers will find their own countries' rules in our guide on how Germans, Austrians and Swiss become US citizens.

What is the lowest investment route to the US?

The answer depends on what you need: temporary residence to run a business, or a green card.

The E-2 Treaty Investor visa has no legal minimum investment. Consular officers apply a proportionality test: the capital must be substantial in relation to the cost of the business, irrevocably committed and at risk, and the business must be real and not marginal. Our article on the E-2 visa minimum investment explains how that test works. Two limits matter. First, E-2 is open only to nationals of a country with an E-2 treaty in force; Germany, Austria and Switzerland are such countries, but China, India, Russia and Brazil are not. Second, E-2 is a temporary visa, not a green card. According to USCIS, the maximum initial stay is 2 years, with extensions of up to 2 years at a time and no limit on the number of extensions, as long as the business continues to qualify.

EB-5 is the lowest statutory amount that leads to a green card through investment: USD 800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area or an infrastructure project, or USD 1,050,000 elsewhere. One investment covers the investor, the spouse and unmarried children under 21. The law adjusts these amounts for inflation for petitions filed on or after 1 January 2027; the new figures have not yet been published.

Can an E-2 visa lead to a green card?

Not by itself. E-2 is a non-immigrant visa and never becomes a green card automatically. A green card requires qualifying separately in an immigrant category, such as EB-5 or a merit-based route, which our guide to E-2 visa to green card options explains. Investors who are not treaty nationals sometimes first acquire a treaty nationality, for example Grenadian citizenship by investment; Grenada’s investor citizens become eligible for E-2 only after three continuous years of domicile in Grenada. That second citizenship does not create any permanent US status; the treaty countries are set out in our E-2 treaty countries guide.

Not sure which of these routes fits your family and your capital? A short, free conversation with our team usually clarifies the question in one call. Book a free consultation.

Who prepares an EB-5 or E-2 case?

An independent licensed US immigration attorney prepares and files the petition or application. Mirabello Consultancy advises you on the choice of route, prepares you for the source-of-funds work and coordinates the case with the attorney and your other advisers. No adviser can promise an outcome: approval is discretionary and rests with USCIS or the consular officer. Processing times vary by category, country of birth and filing date; check the current USCIS processing times and the State Department Visa Bulletin before you plan.