On October 2, 2024, at noon Eastern Daylight Time (4 PM GMT), the U.S. Department of State will start taking online registrations for the Fiscal Year 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery.
The deadline for foreign nationals who wish to apply for the DV lottery is Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at noon EST (5:00 PM Ghana Time). Applications must be submitted online at the official DV lottery website.
Up to 55,000 green cards will be distributed under the FY 2026 program using a random selection procedure.
The results will be made public in May 2025, and those who make the cut can begin the green card application process on October 1st, 2025.
Eligibility
Those born in nations with historically low rates of immigration to the United States are eligible to enter the DV lottery.
Citizens of nations where immigration to the United States is high are ineligible. 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 are among the countries where citizens are not eligible for FY 2026. People born in Taiwan and Macau Special Administrative Region are still able to take part, nevertheless.
If a person’s country of birth prevents them from registering, they may still be eligible through their spouse or, in some circumstances, their parent’s country of birth. All applicants must also have completed two years of qualifying work experience or at least a high school degree within the last 5 years.
How To Register
Participants must use the official DV lottery website to submit an online form and a digital photo in order to be eligible to play. There can only be one entry per application; additional registrations will lead to disqualification.
Applicants may enter with their spouses and children, and the process is free.
Participants will receive a confirmation number after submitting their application, which they can use to track their progress when the results are released in May 2025.
More
The winners of lotteries are chosen by a computer drawing at random. Starting on May 3, 2025, and continuing through at least September 30, 2026, the results will be accessible on the official DV lottery website.
On the DV website, applicants can use their confirmation number to verify their status. Winners are not notified by phone, fax, email, or mail by the State Department.
The State Department advises applicants to exercise caution and alerts them to common frauds involving the DV lottery. There is no government cost to enter the lottery; registration can only be done on the official DV lottery website. Foreign nationals should stay away from dishonest people, websites, or businesses that purport to charge for official registration services or offer other services.
Furthermore, the State Department cautions applicants to be wary of any correspondence claiming a lottery victory without proper registration, as it does not issue notices via fax or email.
Applicants should go to the official U.S. Department of State DV lottery website for registration and additional information.
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