State Department Requires Passport Scans for Diversity Visa Lottery Starting April 2026
The U.S. Department of State has finalized a new rule that tightens the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, also known as the green card lottery. Under the rule, many applicants will need to provide valid, unexpired passport information and upload a JPEG scan of their passport when they submit their entry. The rule takes effect on April 10, 2026, and was published in the Federal Register on March 11, 2026.
The government states the change is aimed at reducing fraud and improving vetting. In the final rule, the State Department noted it found more than 2.5 million duplicate entries in the fiscal year 2025 program. Requiring passport information earlier in the process is intended to make it harder for third parties to submit fraudulent or unauthorized entries on behalf of applicants.
The Diversity Visa entry form (Form DS-5501) will now require the principal entrant to provide passport information from a valid, unexpired passport and upload a JPEG scan of the passport's biographic and signature page (under 5 MB; no PDFs allowed). The rule also reflects a new $1 Diversity Visa registration fee finalized in 2025. Narrow exemptions apply to stateless individuals, nationals of Communist-controlled countries who cannot obtain a passport, and certain applicants granted individual waivers.
Although the rule becomes effective in April 2026, the State Department plans to implement the passport requirement with the DV-2027 program. Applicants should prepare early for the next registration cycle.