The United States Department of State has officially finalized a new rule that reinstates the passport requirement for applicants entering the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery.
The rule will take effect on April 10, 2026. It will first apply to the DV-2027 Diversity Visa Program cycle. As a result, thousands of applicants around the world seeking permanent residency in the United States will be impacted.
The new regulation requires that all applicants must possess a valid, unexpired passport at the time they submit their Diversity Visa lottery entry.
What the New Green Card Lottery Rule Means
Under the newly finalized rule, individuals entering the DV Lottery must include valid passport information as part of their online application.
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The U.S. State Department says the change is designed to reduce fraud, eliminate duplicate entries, and strengthen verification of applicants.
Applicants must now provide the following passport details:
- Passport number
- Country of issuance
- Passport expiration date
Failure to provide accurate passport information could result in automatic disqualification from the DV Lottery process.
The rule marks a return to an earlier system that required passport verification before submission of entries.
Why the Passport Requirement Is Being Reintroduced
According to U.S. immigration authorities, the passport rule helps ensure that applicants are legitimate individuals with verified identities, preventing misuse of the lottery system.
Officials say the rule aims to:
- Prevent fraudulent and duplicate applications
- Improve identity verification
- Ensure fair participation in the Diversity Visa Lottery
- Reduce entries submitted by third-party agents without applicants’ knowledge
In past lottery cycles, millions of entries were submitted without strong identity verification. This raised concerns about manipulation of the program.
When the Rule Takes Effect
The new regulation becomes effective on April 10, 2026, but it will first be implemented during the DV-2027 Diversity Visa Lottery registration period.
This means applicants planning to apply for the next lottery must ensure they have a valid passport before submitting their entry.
The DV Lottery registration period typically opens between October and November each year.
Impact on Applicants Worldwide
The Diversity Visa Lottery provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to individuals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States.
The reinstated passport requirement may affect millions of potential applicants, especially in regions where obtaining a passport can take months.
Immigration experts advise applicants to begin passport application processes early to avoid missing the DV-2027 entry window.
Important Advice for DV Lottery Applicants
Prospective applicants should take the following steps:
- Ensure your passport is valid and unexpired
- Confirm all passport details are accurate before submission
- Avoid third-party agents who may submit fraudulent entries
- Submit applications only through the official U.S. State Department website
Providing incorrect passport information or submitting multiple entries could lead to disqualification from the program.
What This Means for the Kenyan Diaspora
For many Kenyans hoping to immigrate to the United States through the Green Card Lottery, the passport requirement adds an additional preparation step.
Applicants from Kenya and other eligible countries must ensure they secure valid travel documents well before the DV-2027 application window opens.
The rule is expected to streamline the lottery process and improve fairness, though it may also reduce the number of entries from individuals who previously applied without passports.
Conclusion
The reinstatement of the passport requirement marks a significant change to the Diversity Visa Lottery system.
Beginning with DV-2027, applicants must provide valid passport details when entering the Green Card Lottery.
Those interested in applying should begin preparing early. This is to ensure they meet the updated eligibility requirements before the registration period opens later in 2026.
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