The Trump administration’s planned changes to the US visa lottery

The Trump administration has implemented new measures in immigration processes aimed at curbing fraud. As part of this effort, it plans to change some requirements of the Diversity Visa Program, commonly known as the Visa Lottery.

According to the Federal Register, the Department of State has proposed a new rule requiring eligible applicants to submit valid and current passport information, along with a scanned copy of the biographical page and the signature included in their electronic entry form. The goal is to verify applicants’ identities more effectively and efficiently.

Previously, applicants did not need a passport to participate in the Visa Lottery—only after being selected as winners. According to the proposal published in the Federal Register, the Department “has detected a significant number of fraudulent applications,” including those submitted by third parties.

“Often, unauthorized third parties contact unsuspecting individuals, inform them of the opportunity to apply for a DV (Diversity Visa), and withhold application information in exchange for payment or to coerce them into participating in fraudulent acts,” the Department of State explained. Another form of fraud involves the creation or submission of false documents.

What is the Visa Lottery?

Each year, the US government opens a call to “give away” 55,000 diversity visas to citizens of dozens of countries. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the “Visa Lottery,” allows individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the United States to obtain permanent residency.

Typically, the application period opens two years in advance. Registration usually begins in early October and ends in early November. For example, in 2024, citizens of eligible countries had the opportunity to apply for the 2026 Visa Lottery. In this case, the drawing took place in the early months of 2025, and from May through September of this year, applicants can check whether they were selected.

It’s important to note that being selected does not automatically guarantee permanent residency. Applicants must still meet the requirements set by the US government and successfully pass an interview.

Which countries can participate in the Visa Lottery?

Each year, the Department of State publishes a list of eligible and ineligible countries. Ineligible countries are those with more than 50,000 natives who immigrated to the United States in the previous five years. For the 2026 Visa Lottery, the list of ineligible countries included: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including those born in mainland China and Hong Kong), Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

The Department of State clarified that natives of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Macau and Taiwan were eligible. Countries not included on this list were allowed to apply.

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