If you have been planning to enter the DV-2027 Diversity Visa lottery, get a valid passport fast! Without it, you are going nowhere in the new law passed recently.
On March 11, 2026, the US Department of State published a final rule in the Federal Register about “Visas: Enhancing Vetting and Combating Fraud in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program”. The rule took effect on April 10, 2026.
Starting with the DV-2027 cycle, every applicant must submit a valid, unexpired passport at the point of entry. No passport, no entry. No exceptions for most people.
That means for African applicants, particularly those in Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, a lot of changes must be made.
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DV-2027 Passport Requirements: What’s New for 2027 Applicants
Previously, you could enter the DV lottery with just your name, date of birth, and a photograph. They will only ask for your passport if you were actually selected and needed to apply for a visa. However, that buffer is now gone.
Under the amended regulations at 22 CFR § 42.33, every DV-2027 registrant must now provide:
- A valid passport number (serial or issuance number)
- The name, country of issuance, and expiration date on the passport
- A JPEG scan of the passport’s biographic page (the page with your photo, name, and machine-readable zone)
- A JPEG scan of the passport’s signature page
The scan must meet specific technical standards: JPEG format, minimum 600×600 pixels, full colour, under 240KB, no glare or shadows.
Your name on the entry form must match the passport exactly. Even small mismatches can trigger disqualification.
There is no workaround for most applicants.
Why the New DV-2027 Passport Rule Was Implemented
The scale of fraud in the DV program has been extraordinary. During the DV-2025 cycle alone, US authorities identified more than 2.5 million fraudulent duplicate entries. Many were generated by criminal networks and unregulated travel agents who submitted bulk applications using stolen or fabricated identities, often across countries like Bangladesh, Ukraine, and Cambodia.
A similar passport requirement was actually in force for DV-2021 through DV-2023, and during those years, fraudulent entries dropped dramatically from roughly 23 million entries in DV-2024 (when the requirement was lifted) down to between 6.7 million and 9.6 million.
The State Department received 399 public comments on the proposed rule. Most supported it.
By tying each application to a verified passport, the government closes the door on mass automated entries. For genuine applicants, it adds one extra step. For fraudsters, it removes the entire loophole.
DV-2027 Registration Fee: $1 Payment Requirement Explained
For the first time in the program’s history, entering the DV lottery is no longer free.
They now ask for $1 as registration fee at the point of submission. You will pay the money directly through Pay.gov, the official US government payment portal, as part of the electronic entry form (DS-5501) on dvprogram.state.gov.
There is no workaround and no fee waiver. The charge was finalised in a separate September 2025 rule and applies starting DV-2027.
One dollar is a small amount, but that is partly the point. Even a nominal fee creates a friction that mass automated entry systems cannot easily absorb at scale.
Impact of This New DV-2027 Rule on African Applicants
The Diversity Visa program has long been one of the most accessible routes to US permanent residency for us Africans. And the countries with the highest rates of landing this visa the most, like Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Tanzania will feel the impact.
The pressure is not the rule itself. The pressure is time.
Registration for DV-2027 has been officially delayed. As of April 2026, no opening date has been confirmed. The State Department has said it will announce the window “as soon as practicable” at travel.state.gov.
The visa application period for winners, however, remains fixed: October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. That window will not move for you.
Which means millions of us are already rushing to get our visas.
Nigeria Passport Requirements for DV-2027
In Nigeria, getting a new international passport currently takes three to six weeks after biometric capture. If you already have your own passport, renewals are typically faster. That one will be done in around three weeks.
As of September 2025, passport fees were revised upward. Now, a 32-page passport (five-year validity) costs ₦100,000, and a 64-page passport (ten-year validity) costs ₦200,000.
You will need a valid National Identification Number (NIN) to apply. And you must initiate the application online through the NIS portal at immigration.gov.ng, but biometric capture must be done in person at an authorised NIS office.
Ghana DV-2027 Passport Processing Times
In Ghana, the Passport Application System is managed by the Ghana Immigration Service.
Processing a passport typically takes two to three weeks for standard applications. But I heard that if you apply in Accra, you will have to wait longer because more people are applying there at the same time.
Ethiopia DV-2027: Passport Timeline & Application Steps
In Ethiopia, passport processing is handled through the Immigration, Citizenship and Vital Events Agency (ICVEA). Standard processing can take four to eight weeks, and delays are common in regional offices outside Addis Ababa.
Tanzania DV-2027: What Applicants Need to Know
In Tanzania, the Immigration Department issues passports with a standard processing time of around three weeks, though applicants outside Dar es Salaam frequently experience longer timelines.
In all four countries, the times I gave you here are official times published on their portals. The real-world processing times often exceed these estimates, from experience.
Now it will be worse because we are in a period of high demand.
If you are waiting until registration officially opens before applying for your passport, you may not have it in time.
DV-2027 Passport Exemptions: Who Qualifies?
Only three categories of applicants may qualify for an exemption to enter without providing a passport:
- Stateless individuals: people with no recognised nationality under the laws of any country.
- Nationals of Communist-controlled countries who are legally unable to obtain a government-issued passport from their government.
- Individuals granted a case-by-case waiver approved jointly by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State.
These exemptions are narrow, and claiming one is not simple. According to the Erickson Immigration Group and Ahluwalia Law, applicants seeking an exemption must submit supporting evidence at the time of entry because the system will not accept a bare claim.
If you believe you may qualify, consult an immigration attorney before registration opens.
Immigration law firms such as Fragomen, Herman Legal Group, and Ahluwalia Law have published detailed guidance on the DV-2027 changes and are equipped to advise on exemption eligibility.
Do not pay an agent to claim an exemption on your behalf. If you do not fall clearly within one of these categories, there is no legitimate path around the passport requirement.
DV-2027 Scam Alert: How to Avoid Fraudulent Registration Sites
The DV-2027 registration portal has not opened. As of April 2026, any website, agent, or individual claiming to register you for DV-2027 right now is running a scam. The only legitimate entry point is dvprogram.state.gov.
Registration is free except for the $1 official government fee paid through Pay.gov. The US government is not licensing any agent, charging and agent fee, processing charge, or “expediting” cost.
| Items | Details |
|---|---|
| Rule effective date | April 10, 2026 |
| Applies from | DV-2027 registration cycle |
| Registration status | Delayed. No confirmed open date as of April 2026 |
| Visa application window | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
| Passport required | Yes |
| Official entry portal | dvprogram.state.gov |
What to Do Before Registration Opens
This rule does not disqualify you from the DV lottery. It does not change who is eligible or how selections work. The 55,000 annual visas are still available.
The randomised draw still applies.
What it does is move the passport from the end of the process to the beginning. If you do not have one, you cannot enter. If you apply too late to get one before registration opens, you lose your chance for the entire cycle.
The window between now and when registration opens is for you to act. Get your passport. Do it now.
