The US has restarted the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, widely known as the Green Card lottery, after a temporary pause. At the same time, it has introduced stricter application rules aimed at strengthening identity verification and reducing fraud in the program.
Under the updated regulations, applicants entering the Diversity Visa lottery will now be required to submit passport details and upload a scanned copy of their passport during the initial application stage. According to US-based immigration services firm Envoy Global, applicants must provide details of a valid and unexpired passport along with a digital scan of the passport’s biography and signature page.
Immigration services firm Boundless Immigration said the rule is part of a broader effort to reduce fraud and strengthen identity verification. The new requirement will take effect on April 10, 2026 and is expected to apply to the upcoming DV 2027 lottery cycle, which is expected to open later in 2026. A non-waivable $1 registration fee has been introduced.
