Visa Lottery Tightens Up: Scan Your Passport or Stay Home
Published Date: 3/11/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting April 10, 2026, people applying for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program must provide a valid, unexpired passport and upload a scan of its key pages to help stop fraud. This change affects all applicants and makes the process more secure and clear. The government is also updating some language to keep things simple and accurate.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Passport and Passport Scan Required
If you apply to the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, you must provide valid, unexpired passport information and upload a scan of the passport biographic and signature page (or indicate you are exempt). The rule is effective April 10, 2026 and will be implemented with the DV-2027 program.
Specified Passport Rule Exemptions
Some entrants may be exempt from the passport requirement: petitioners who are stateless; nationals of a Communist-controlled country unable to obtain a passport from that government; and petitioners granted an individual waiver approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State, determined case-by-case at interview.
Mandatory $1 DV Entry Fee
All entrants seeking to participate in the DV program must pay a $1 fee when submitting their entry, with no waivers for that fee, as of the Department's published fee rule.
Estimated Time and Passport Cost Burden
The Department estimates an average passport fee of $74.43 in DV-eligible countries, adds an additional 60 minutes of application time (revising total time burden to 90 minutes), and values the extra hour at $4.56. For an estimated 10,000,000 entrants, the Department projects an added time cost of $45,600,000 and a total annual estimated global cost of $68,400,000.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-04931 — Schedule of Fees for Consular Services-Fee for Administrative Processing of Request for Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States
Good news for U.S. citizens and nationals who want to give up their citizenship! Starting April 13, 2026, the fee for processing a Certificate of Loss of Nationality drops from $2,350 to just $450. This big price cut makes it way easier and cheaper to handle this important paperwork at U.S. embassies and consulates.
2025-17851 — Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates-Visa Services Fee Changes
The Department of State is adding a $1 fee to enter the Diversity Visa lottery to share costs more fairly among all applicants. This means everyone who wants to try their luck at the visa lottery will pay a small fee upfront, instead of only winners paying later. The new fee will start when you register online, so get ready to pay a buck when you apply!
2025-14826 — Visas: Visa Bond Pilot Program
The Department of State is launching a 12-month pilot program where some travelers applying for B-1/B-2 visas from certain countries might need to pay a bond up to $15,000. This applies to visitors from places with high visa overstays or special citizenship rules. The goal? To make sure folks follow visa rules and keep travel safe and fair.
2026-13348 — Specially Designated Global Terrorist Designation of Chone Killers
The U.S. government has officially labeled the Chone Killers gang as a global terrorist threat. This means their assets can be frozen, and Americans are banned from doing business with them starting immediately. This move helps protect U.S. security and stops the gang from moving money or resources freely.
2026-13242 — 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Disclosure of Violations of the Arms Export Control Act
The Department of State wants your thoughts on a form that companies and people must fill out if they break rules about exporting defense stuff. This helps keep track of violations under the Arms Export Control Act. You’ve got until July 31, 2026, to share your feedback—no money changes now, just making sure the process works well and isn’t too hard.
2026-12019 — International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR): Part 130 Changes To Reduce Reporting Burden
The Department of State is making ITAR Part 130 easier by cutting down on paperwork about political contributions and fees in foreign arms sales. This change helps companies and agents save time and hassle when reporting, with comments open until August 14, 2026. If you’re involved in defense trade, get ready for simpler rules that could save money and speed things up!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-04694 — Updates to the Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order
Starting April 9, 2026, popcorn processors will officially pay a slightly higher fee—6 cents per hundredweight instead of 5 cents—to support popcorn research and promotion. The update also adds rules for late payments, including interest charges, making sure everyone pays on time. This keeps popcorn programs running smoothly and fairly, with no surprise costs since the higher rate has been charged since 2001.
Next: 2026-04753 — Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; 2026 and 2027 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
The government set new fishing limits for groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska for 2026 and 2027 to keep fish populations healthy and fishing fair. These rules affect fishermen and seafood businesses by controlling how much fish they can catch starting March 17, 2026, through March 17, 2027. The goal is to protect the ocean’s resources while supporting the fishing industry’s future.