The United States has introduced stricter rules for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, also known as the Green Card lottery.
Applicants will now need to submit detailed passport information when applying.
The change aims to improve identity verification and reduce fraud in the immigration system.
The Diversity Visa programme offers up to 55,000 visas each year to people from countries with low immigration levels to the US.
Passport Upload Now Mandatory
Under the new rule from the US State Department, applicants must provide a valid, unexpired passport when entering the lottery.
They must also upload a digital scan of the passport’s biographic and signature pages.
Officials have warned that applications without a passport scan or valid passport details will be disqualified automatically.
This requirement will apply starting April 10, 2026, for the DV-2027 lottery cycle.
Why the US Made This Change
The US government says the update is needed to prevent fraud and duplicate entries.
During the DV-2025 lottery, authorities found over 2.5 million duplicate applications, many submitted by third-party agents without applicants’ consent.
By requiring passport information upfront, the authorities can confirm identities early and reduce misuse of the system
What This Means for Indian Applicants
This new rule does not affect Indian citizens, as India is not eligible for the DV lottery.
The programme is open only to countries that have sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the past five years.
India exceeds this limit, so Indian nationals cannot apply.
Indians seeking US permanent residency must rely on employment-based visas, family sponsorship, or investment routes instead.
Key Takeaway
The new passport requirement makes the Green Card lottery more secure and transparent, protecting applicants from fraud.
While it impacts millions worldwide, Indians are unaffected and must use other immigration pathways to move to the United States.
