The United States has reinstated a mandatory passport requirement for individuals seeking to participate in its Diversity Visa (DV), popularly known as the Green Card Lottery, as part of new measures aimed at strengthening the integrity of the immigration program.
Under the new regulation issued by the U.S. Department of State, all Diversity Visa applicants must provide details of a valid, unexpired passport and upload a scanned copy of the passport's biographical page when submitting their online application. The rule takes effect beginning with the DV-2027 program.
According to U.S. authorities, the policy is intended to reduce fraudulent applications, prevent multiple entries, and improve identity verification during the selection process.
However, certain applicants who qualify under specific exemption categories—such as stateless persons or individuals unable to obtain passports due to restrictions imposed by their governments—may still apply by claiming an exemption in accordance with U.S. immigration regulations.
The passport requirement had previously been introduced in 2019 before being struck down by a federal court in 2022. Its reinstatement marks a significant change for millions of prospective applicants worldwide.
Prospective Diversity Visa applicants are advised to ensure they possess a valid passport before the application period opens to avoid disqualification.
The new rule applies specifically to the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery and does not introduce new passport requirements for individuals applying for or renewing regular U.S. passports.
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