The registration period for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery 2026 begins on October 2, 2024. Applicants must submit their entries electronically at dvprogram.state.gov between 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on October 2 and 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Standard Time (EST) on November 5, 2024, without the passport requirement. However, changes are expected soon under the Biden administration.
The U.S. State Department plans to reinstate a rule requiring passport information for DV lottery applications; however, this rule will not apply to the upcoming DV Lottery 2026. Initially scheduled for February 2024, the passport requirement is now expected to be introduced as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in December 2024.
In 2019, the Trump administration implemented a passport rule for the Diversity Visa program, requiring applicants to have a valid passport just to enter the lottery, regardless of selection. This significantly impacted participation, with applications dropping from 14.7 million in 2018 to 6.7 million in 2019. African countries saw the most dramatic decline, with a 62% decrease.
A federal court in the District of Columbia vacated the Trump-era passport requirement in February 2022, finding it violated public notice and comment procedures. The court rejected the government’s argument that immigration regulations were exempt due to “foreign affairs.” As a result, the passport rule is no longer in effect, and DV lottery applicants have not been required to submit a passport until they are selected and applying for a visa (since 2022).
For the DV-2026 program as well, applicants will not need a passport to enter the lottery. If selected, they will then need to obtain a passport and complete other required steps to apply for a visa. This change has expanded opportunities for millions of people worldwide, allowing them to participate in the Diversity Visa program without the initial barrier of obtaining a passport.
The State Department plans to propose an amendment to Diversity Visa (DV) immigrant visa regulations requiring applicants to provide valid, unexpired passport information on their entry form. Delayed from February 2024, this proposal is now slated for publication in December 2024.
“The Department proposes to amend regulations at 22 CFR part 42 governing the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program to require petitioners to provide valid, unexpired passport information on their electronic entry form,” said the U.S. Department of State in its Regulatory Plan. “The Department will also propose technical updates to the regulations regarding submission of electronic photographs with DV entries, general technical updates based on current requirements, changes to listed districts of Northern Ireland, and changes in terminology to make the regulation more accessible and inclusive.”
These proposed changes, including updates to photo submission requirements, will be introduced through a proper legal process. The Trump administration’s passport requirement was invalidated due to failure to follow procedures, such as publishing the rule with a 30-day notice and comment period in the Federal Register. With the Biden administration adhering to the correct process, the rule is expected to be reintroduced as an NPRM later this year.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
