Can you imagine obtaining permanent residency in the United States through a lottery? That is exactly what the Green Card Lottery offers — one of the most widely recognized programs for legally immigrating to the United States.

However, in 2026, the rules have changed, and not everyone will be able to participate as before.

For years, the program opened its registration period between October and November, allowing millions of people around the world to apply free of charge. Through a random selection process, applicants were chosen for one of the approximately 50,000 visas available each year.

But the current landscape is different. Following a new regulation published on March 11, 2026, the program entered a new phase focused on reducing fraud and strengthening screening measures.

The most significant change is the requirement to hold a valid passport at the time of application, including submission of passport information and a copy of the document. In addition, the process is no longer entirely free, as a symbolic $1 registration fee has now been introduced.

There will also be greater scrutiny from the beginning of the process, meaning that simple mistakes could result in automatic disqualification.

At this time, there is no official confirmation regarding the opening date for the next registration period (DV-2027), creating uncertainty among interested applicants.

If you would like to stay informed about new dates and requirements, we invite you to follow us so you don’t miss any updates.

Source: Federal Register :: Visas: Enhancing Vetting and Combatting Fraud in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

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