U.S. Green Card Lottery tightens rules for DV-2027 applicants next year
The U.S. State Department has announced major updates to the Diversity Visa Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery. These changes will take effect for the upcoming DV-2027 programme and aim to tighten security while improving transparency for applicants.
Starting as early as April 10, 2026, applicants will face stricter verification processes. Consular officers will now be required to thoroughly check all submitted data to reduce fraud. The entry form itself will also undergo changes, with the terms gender and age being replaced by biological sex and date of birth.
Applicants will have more time to complete their submissions, as the time limit for filling out the form increases from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. Additionally, a valid passport will now be mandatory, and each applicant must upload a scan of their passport's biographical page. A new $1 application fee will also be introduced.
Despite these adjustments, the core eligibility rules remain unchanged. The lottery will continue to be open annually to citizens of countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S.
The updated rules focus on reducing fraud and streamlining the application process. With extended form completion time and stricter document checks, the State Department expects a more secure and transparent DV-2027 programme. The changes will apply to all participants once they come into force next year.
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