The U.S. Department of State has revived a rule—first floated in 2019 but struck down by a federal court in 2022—that obliges every Diversity Visa (DV-2028) applicant to upload a valid, unexpired passport number at the time of lottery registration. The final rule, published March 10 2026, will take effect 30 days after appearing in the Federal Register and therefore applies to the DV-2028 lottery opening this fall. Officials say the measure will curb the flood of duplicate and fraudulent entries that have plagued the lottery for years. (news.bloomberglaw.com)
While the State Department estimates the average passport fee in eligible countries at roughly US $75, immigration advocates counter that the added cost and administrative burden will disproportionately exclude low-income Africans and Asians—precisely the populations the program was designed to diversify. They also note that some applicants live in countries where obtaining a passport can take months, well beyond the 30-day lottery window.
![State Department Reinstates Passport Requirement for Diversity Visa Lottery]()
For applicants who need help securing or renewing a passport ahead of the DV-2028 lottery, VisaHQ offers fast, reliable passport and visa services with step-by-step online guidance and real-time status tracking. The platform’s country-specific checklists can minimize paperwork errors and delays; more details for travelers headed to the United States are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/
For U.S. companies, the change narrows an already limited pipeline of future green-card holders who do not require employment sponsorship. Recruiters who have used the DV program as a long-term talent strategy should recalibrate projections and explore alternative avenues such as the EB-5 queue or Canada’s tech-talent streams.
Practical tip: global mobility teams should update intranet guides and pre-departure checklists for foreign hires who hope to bring family members through the DV route. Where feasible, employers may consider reimbursing passport fees for critical candidates as part of their relocation packages.
While the State Department estimates the average passport fee in eligible countries at roughly US $75, immigration advocates counter that the added cost and administrative burden will disproportionately exclude low-income Africans and Asians—precisely the populations the program was designed to diversify. They also note that some applicants live in countries where obtaining a passport can take months, well beyond the 30-day lottery window.
For applicants who need help securing or renewing a passport ahead of the DV-2028 lottery, VisaHQ offers fast, reliable passport and visa services with step-by-step online guidance and real-time status tracking. The platform’s country-specific checklists can minimize paperwork errors and delays; more details for travelers headed to the United States are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/
For U.S. companies, the change narrows an already limited pipeline of future green-card holders who do not require employment sponsorship. Recruiters who have used the DV program as a long-term talent strategy should recalibrate projections and explore alternative avenues such as the EB-5 queue or Canada’s tech-talent streams.
Practical tip: global mobility teams should update intranet guides and pre-departure checklists for foreign hires who hope to bring family members through the DV route. Where feasible, employers may consider reimbursing passport fees for critical candidates as part of their relocation packages.
