DV lottery passport scan

Since 10 April 2026 the DV entry asks for a scan of your passport's biographic and signature page: a JPEG of up to 5 MB, no PDF. Photograph the page with your phone — the free scanner straightens it and saves a JPEG.

Scan my passport page Take with camera or drop a photo on the card

Free scannerJPEG for the DV formEntry photo from €2.99

Passport scan
biographic and signature page
P · UTO
Benjamin Franklin's selfie at home: glasses, yellow light, tilted head, room behind The same shot after the AI: white background, no glasses, head straight and filling 59 % of the frame
01File
JPEG (JFIF)
02Size
up to 5 MB
03Page
biographic and signature
04PDF
not accepted
05Passport
valid, unexpired
Specimen card · example: Benjamin Franklin, the one on the hundred-dollar bill

Rules

DV passport scan rules

Two lines about the file and a few facts about the passport — that is everything the scan has to meet.

Passport scan requirements for the DV entry
RequirementPassport scan
FormatJPEG (JFIF)
PDFNot accepted
File sizeUp to 5 MB
PageBiographic and signature page
PassportValid, unexpired
Whose passportThe principal entrant's

22 CFR 42.33(b)(3), added by the Federal Register rule 2026-04737, in force from 10 Apr 2026.

The page

Which page to scan

The page with your photo, your details and your signature.

  1. Photo and details

    Name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and expiry — the same data the entry form asks you to type in.

  2. Signature

    The rule names the biographic and signature page — keep the signature inside the frame.

  3. The two lines at the bottom

    Keep the machine-readable zone whole and sharp: it carries the same data in a form machines read.

How

Scan it with your phone

  1. Open the passport flat

    Press the spread on a dark table so the page lies flat.

  2. No glare

    Turn the flash off and tilt the passport away from lamps — the laminate reflects.

  3. All four corners

    Keep the whole page in the frame with a small margin.

  4. Sharp text

    Hold still, tap to focus on the text and take two shots.

  5. Let the scanner straighten it

    It finds the edges, removes the perspective and saves a JPEG.

  6. Check the file

    JPEG, not PDF, and 5 MB or less — the scanner aims for 2 MB.

Exemptions

Who does not need a passport

Three narrow exemptions — each needs evidence.

Exemptions from the DV passport requirement
WhoWhat the rule says
Stateless petitionersExempt from the passport requirement
Nationals of a Communist-controlled countryExempt if unable to obtain a passport from that government
Beneficiaries of an individual waiverExempt, decided case by case at the interview

As listed by the State Department in rule 2026-04737, with reference to 22 CFR 42.2(d), (e) and (g)(2).

In short

DV passport scan FAQ

Do I need a passport for the DV-2027 entry?
Yes, unless you are exempt. The entry asks for the number, issuing country and expiry date of a valid, unexpired passport, and for a scan of its biographic and signature page.
What format should the passport scan be?
A JPEG (JFIF) image of up to 5 MB. PDF is not accepted.
Which passport page do I scan?
The biographic and signature page — the page with your photo and personal details, together with your signature.
Can I scan my passport with a phone?
Yes. Photograph the page and the free scanner straightens it, removes the background and saves a JPEG, aiming for 2 MB.
Do my spouse and children need passport scans?
The rule asks for a scan of the petitioner's passport — the principal entrant's. Family members go into the entry with their photos.
My passport has expired. Can I use it?
No — the rule asks for a valid, unexpired passport.
Who does not need a passport for the DV lottery?
Stateless people, nationals of a Communist-controlled country who cannot get a passport from its government, and people covered by an individual waiver.
Is the scanner free?
Yes. The scanner is free and works in your browser. If you also need the entry photo, the AI makes it with a free preview; the photo costs €2.99.

More about green card photos

Primary sources

Where the rules come from

  1. federalregister.govFederal Register: DV passport rule 2026-04737in force from 10 Apr 2026
  2. ecfr.gov22 CFR 42.33(b)(3): passport scan requirementschecked 30 Oct 2026

Your passport scan in a minute

Free scanner, a JPEG for the DV form. The entry photo comes with a free preview.

Scan my passport page

Free scannerJPEG for the DV formEntry photo from €2.99

Requirements from 22 CFR 42.33(b)(3), checked 30 Oct 202622 CFR 42.33(b)(3)Sources Scan my passport page
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