U.S. Department of State will open online applications for the Fiscal Year 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery starting Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. EDT (4:00 p.m. GMT).
Foreign nationals looking to participate in the DV lottery have until Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. EST (4:00 p.m. GMT) to submit their applications via the official DV lottery platform.
The FY 2026 lottery program will offer up to 55,000 green cards through a randomised selection process.
Results will be announced in May 2025, and successful applicants can begin the green card process on October 1, 2025.
Eligibility criteria
The DV lottery is open to individuals born in countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S.
People from nations with high immigration levels to the U.S. are excluded from applying. For the FY 2026 program, this includes individuals born in countries such as Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam. However, those born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are still eligible.
Applicants who don’t qualify based on their country of birth may still be eligible through their spouse or, in some cases, through a parent’s country of birth. All applicants must also have at least a high school diploma or two years of qualifying work experience within the last five years.
How to register
To participate, applicants must submit an online form and a digital photo through the official DV lottery website. Each applicant is allowed only one entry, and submitting multiple registrations will result in disqualification.
The process is free, and applicants can include their spouses and children in their entry.
Once the application is submitted, entrants will receive a confirmation number, which can be used to check their status when results are published in May 2025.
Selection process and notifications
Lottery winners are selected through a random computer draw. Results will be available on the official DV lottery website starting May 3, 2025, and will be accessible until at least September 30, 2026.
Applicants can check their status using their confirmation number on the DV website. The State Department does not notify winners via mail, e-mail, fax, or phone.
Avoiding fraud
State Department warns of common scams related to the DV lottery and urges applicants to be cautious. The official DV lottery website is the only authorised platform for registration, and there is no government fee for entering the lottery.
Foreign nationals should avoid deceptive websites, individuals, or companies claiming to charge fees or provide official registration services.
Additionally, the State Department does not send notifications via e-mail or fax and advises applicants to be sceptical of any communication claiming a lottery win without proper registration.
For more information and to register, applicants should visit the official U.S. Department of State DV lottery website.