The U.S. Department of State has reinstated a rule requiring applicants to have a valid, unexpired passport before they can enter the lottery. This policy, finalized in March 2026, marks a significant shift in how prospective entrants prepare for the green card lottery.
The Department of State says the rule aims to curb fraud and duplicate entries that have previously plagued the Diversity Visa (DV) program. In effect, passport information and, in many cases, digital scans of the passport must now be part of the initial online entry.
Quick Facts: DV Passport Requirement
- Effective for DV‑2027 registrations opening in fall 2026.
- The rule published March 10, 2026, in the Federal Register will be effective from April 10, 2026.
- Passport number + scans required at entry.
- Limited exemptions may apply.
- Applies to all eligible DV‑2027 applicants.
What Is the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The Diversity Visa program, often called the green card lottery, offers up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually allocated diversity visas that will be made available for use under the NACARA program.
Winners are selected through a random lottery system to apply for permanent residence. Before this rule changes, applicants could enter the lottery without holding a passport and only needed one later in the process if selected. That flexibility is now ending for upcoming cycles.
What Changed? The Passport Requirement Explained
Under the newly published final rule in the Federal Register (March 2026), all entrants in the DV‑2027 cycle must:
- Provide a valid, unexpired passport number when submitting their online lottery entry.
- Upload scans of the passport’s biographic and signature pages as part of the registration process.
The rule goes into effect 30 days after its Federal Register publication around mid‑April 2026. That timing aligns with preparation for the fall 2026 registration period, when entries will open.
This reinstated passport rule makes document readiness a prerequisite for entry rather than something only needed after selection.
Why Was the Rule Reintroduced?
The Department of State has said the passport requirement is meant to enhance program integrity and prevent misuse of the DV system. Officials have linked the change to:
- Reducing duplicate or fraudulent entries submitted under different names or identities
- Preventing unauthorized third‑party submissions
- Improving identity verification right at the entry stage
The passport requirement for entry isn’t entirely new. It was first introduced in 2019 but struck down by a federal court in 2022 for procedural reasons, as agencies had not followed proper notice‑and‑comment rules at the time.
Who Is Affected by the New DV Lottery Passport Requirement?
This rule primarily affects:
- DV‑2026 applicants, whose registration window is expected to open in fall 2027.
- People from eligible countries are planning to apply for a green card through the lottery.
Anyone who lacks a passport by the time entries open will not be able to submit a valid entry, something that did not happen in recent cycles before this rule.
The final rule also keeps limited exemptions for certain applicants who genuinely cannot obtain a passport from their country of nationality.
Those exemptions are narrow and typically require documentation or government‑approved justification during later stages of processing.
DV Lottery Rank Cut-Offs for April 2026
For DV‑2026 applicants, visas are only available to those whose regional lottery rank numbers fall below the specified cut-off. Here’s a breakdown by region:
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Region Listed Separately |
|---|---|
| Africa | 55,000 Except: Algeria : 37,000 Egypt : 30,000 |
| Asia | 35,000 Except: Nepal : 10,000 |
| Europe | 20,000 |
| North America (Bahamas) | 50 |
| Oceania | 1,500 |
| South America, and the Caribbean | 3,000 |
DV Lottery Visa Allocation by Region for DV‑2026 Applicants
Each year, the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery assigns a specific number of visas to different regions. For DV‑2026 applicants, these allocations determine how many people from each region can receive a green card.
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Region Listed Separately |
|---|---|
| Africa | 45,000 Except: Algeria : 37,000 Egypt :22,250 |
| Asia | 30,000 Except: Nepal : 6,500 |
| Europe | 11,000 |
| North America (Bahamas) | 30 |
| Oceania | 1,200 |
| South America, and the Caribbean | 2,100 |
These figures show the total visas available per region and highlight any exceptions for specific countries. Applicants whose regional lottery rank exceeds the cut-off may not receive a visa, even if they meet all other eligibility requirements. Keeping track of your regional allocation and rank number is crucial for DV‑2026 planning.
How the DV Online Entry Process Works (Including the Passport Step)
Here’s how the updated entry process is expected to work:
- Prepare your passport well before the registration period.
- Visit the official DV entry site when the registration window opens typically for about a month in the fall.
- Complete the online entry form, including personal information and passport number.
- Upload a clear scan of the passport’s biographic and signature pages.
- Review and submit before the deadline.
Entries without valid passport details or required scans may be treated as invalid under the new rule.
What If You Don’t Have a Passport Yet?
For people without a passport, this rule underscores the importance of securing one before the lottery opens:
- Passport processing times vary widely by country and can take months in some places.
- Waiting until the entry period starts may make it impossible to file a valid entry.
- Start the passport application or renewal process well in advance.
Limited exemptions exist, but they are not broadly applicable and claiming one may require later documentation to prove eligibility.
Impact of the DV Lottery Passport Rule on Applicants and Accessibility
This rule of change shifts a key requirement earlier in the DV process. In practical terms:
- Prospective applicants must be more prepared.
- Entry season timing matters; delays in passport issuance can affect eligibility.
- The rule may disadvantage low‑income or underserved communities in some countries, where obtaining a passport can be costly or slow.
While the policy aims to deter fraud, it also raises concerns about accessibility for people in regions with limited passport infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Under the new rule, a valid, unexpired passport is required when submitting your entry for DV‑2027.
An internationally valid passport with a number and biographic information. Internal travel documents or national IDs alone will not meet the requirements.
The rule becomes effective about 30 days after it was published in the Federal Register, around mid‑April 2026, and applies to the next DV cycle.
There are narrow exemptions for stateless persons or those unable to obtain a passport due to specific legal or political constraints. Claiming these requires proof later in the process.
No. This rule specifically changes DV lottery entry requirements and does not apply to family‑ or employment‑based visas.
