Finally, the United States has introduced significant regulatory changes to the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program, widely known as the Green Card Lottery. These amendments aim to strengthen the integrity of the program, reduce fraudulent applications, and ensure that the selection process remains transparent and secure.
Published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2026, the updated regulations require applicants to provide verified passport details during the initial entry stage. The changes will take effect on April 3, 2026, thirty days after the rule’s publication. Compared with previous procedures, the new system places greater emphasis on identity verification and fraud prevention early in the application process.
Why the U.S. Is Tightening DV Program Rules
The Diversity Visa program has long been vulnerable to misuse. Millions of applications are submitted every year, and authorities have identified widespread fraud, including cases where unauthorized third parties submitted entries without applicants’ consent.
In fact, U.S. officials reported about 2.5 million fraudulent submissions in the DV-2025 cycle alone. Many of these cases involved intermediaries or criminal networks that filed applications on behalf of individuals and later demanded payment or participation in fraudulent schemes.
The new rules are designed to address these vulnerabilities by introducing stronger identity verification requirements and clearer administrative guidance.
Mandatory Passport Requirement
The most notable modification to the DV Program is the introduction of a mandatory passport requirement at the entry stage.
Under the new regulations, applicants must provide valid, unexpired passport information and upload a scan of the passport’s biographic and signature page when submitting their electronic entry form.
Unlike the previous system—where applicants could enter the lottery without passport verification—the revised process requires documentation from the beginning. As a result, entries submitted without a passport scan will automatically be disqualified. This requirement will apply starting with the DV-2028 program cycle.
Passport Requirement Comparison
| Previous DV Process | New DV Process |
| Applicants could enter the lottery without submitting passport details. | Applicants must provide a valid, unexpired passport and upload a scan during entry. |
| Identity verification occurred later in the visa process. | Identity verification begins at the initial application stage. |
| Higher risk of duplicate or manipulated entries. | Early verification reduces fraudulent or duplicate applications. |
By requiring passport verification early in the process, the U.S. Department of State expects to improve screening, confirm applicants’ identities more efficiently, and strengthen national security protections.
Additional Fraud-Prevention Measures
Beyond the passport requirement, the new regulations introduce enhanced safeguards designed to protect the integrity of the DV Program.
Authorities now have clearer procedures to identify and reject duplicate, manipulated, or incomplete applications. The updated rule also formally establishes the State Department’s authority to deny entries that fail to meet program integrity standards.
These measures are intended to reduce large-scale abuse of the system and ensure that legitimate applicants have a fair opportunity to participate in the lottery.
Administrative Changes to DV Regulations
The Department of State has also updated certain regulatory language to standardize guidance for consular officers.
For example, the revised rules replace ambiguous wording with more precise terms. The regulations now consistently use the word “shall” to clarify mandatory actions in the visa process. In addition, the terminology “sex” replaces “gender”, and “date of birth” is used instead of the broader term “age” to better reflect the information collected during visa processing.
Although these adjustments are primarily administrative, they aim to improve clarity and consistency within immigration procedures.
How the DV Application Process Works
The Diversity Visa Program is administered by the U.S. Department of State and provides immigration visas to individuals from countries with historically low levels of immigration to the United States.
These countries are referred to as “low-admission states.” In practical terms, this means nations that have sent 50,000 or fewer immigrants to the United States over the previous five years.
Each year, millions of applicants submit their entries electronically during the program’s registration period. After registration closes, a randomized computer drawing selects individuals who may continue with the visa application process.
Selected applicants can then apply for an immigrant visa. Those already in the United States and otherwise eligible may apply to adjust their immigration status as diversity immigrants.
Diversity Visa Numbers and Regional Limits
The Immigration and Nationality Act sets the annual limit for diversity visas at 55,000 visas per year. However, adjustments sometimes reduce the number available.
For example, visa allocations under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) lowered the DV-2025 limit to 54,894 visas, and further amendments reduced the final total to 52,056 visas.
To maintain global diversity, visas are distributed across six geographic regions, and no single country may receive more than 7% of the total available visas in any given year.
Recent Policy Development
The Diversity Visa Program has also been the subject of broader policy discussions within the U.S. government. In December, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced in a statement on X that, under the direction of President Donald Trump and Secretary Noem, the agency would suspend its role in the program.
The announcement indicated that the decision was intended to strengthen security measures and protect the immigration system from potential abuse.
What the Changes Mean for Applicants
For prospective applicants, the revised rules significantly alter the preparation required before entering the lottery.
Previously, individuals could submit an entry with minimal documentation. Under the new system, applicants must ensure they possess a valid passport and provide accurate identity information from the outset.
This shift places greater responsibility on applicants but also aims to create a more transparent and secure selection process, ensuring that legitimate participants have a fair opportunity to obtain a diversity visa.