Per the official FAQ checked September 7, 2026: a nonrefundable US$15,000 processing fee per person and, after successful vetting, a US$1 million gift for a principal and a further US$15,000 fee and US$1 million gift for a joining spouse. Amounts must be re-verified before payment.
Two million in gifts plus fees, none of it returned
Hypothetical example: a Frontenac Islands couple price the Gold Card at one million dollars and plan the resort sale around that figure. The official terms describe a US$15,000 processing fee for each person, which is nonrefundable, and a US$1 million gift for the principal after vetting; a joining spouse adds another US$15,000 fee and another US$1 million gift. The household cost is therefore roughly US$2,030,000 before State Department fees, medical examinations, translations and professional fees, and before any tax consequences of selling the resort and of making a large gift, which should be reviewed with a cross-border accountant.
The gift is not an investment and is not returned; it is not comparable to EB-5 capital that may be repaid. The couple should also consider that a U.S.-citizen child's petition for a parent involves ordinary filing fees under Form G-1055 and no gift, and should obtain that comparison in writing before deciding. Hypothetical example: A Frontenac Islands small printing-company owner plans to sell equipment and real estate to cover the Gold Card amounts.
The first review should calculate the net proceeds after debt discharge, sale costs, tax, currency conversion, and professional fees, then compare that amount with every payment required for each applicant. Closing statements and tax advice settle the net figure. The gift payment is made by the applicant and is not an asset that can later be sold, pledged, or recovered like a conventional investment.