By Danielle Perez, Immigration Attorney
Key Takeaways
Diversity Visa Lottery is a pathway to permanent U.S. residency. This program makes immigrant visas available to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.
Eligibility depends partly on your country of birth. Not everyone is eligible every year. The eligible countries can change based on immigration levels, so applicants need to check the requirements for the specific diversity visa lottery program year.
You generally need education or qualifying work experience. The principal applicant must usually have either qualifying high-school education (or equivalent) or qualifying work experience in an eligible occupation.
Being selected does not guarantee a green card. Selection only gives you the opportunity to apply. You still have to complete the immigration process, meet eligibility requirements, pass required checks, and have a visa number available.
What Is the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The diversity visa lottery is one of the most well-known pathways to U.S. permanent residence for immigrants from countries with historically lower rates of immigration to the United States. Officially called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, it is administered by the U.S. Department of State and makes a limited number of immigrant visas available each year through a random selection process.
The Diversity Visa Program was created to promote immigration from countries that have had comparatively low levels of immigration to the United States. Each year, the Department of State conducts a computer-generated, random selection from qualifying entries.
The law authorizes up to 55,000 Diversity Visas annually, although the actual number available can be lower because of statutory deductions. For example, the State Department reported that approximately 51,850 visas were effectively available for DV-2006 after applicable deductions.
Who Is Eligible for the Diversity Visa Lottery?
Eligibility generally involves two major questions: country of chargeability and education or qualifying work experience.
Country of Origin and Chargeability
For diversity visa purposes, eligibility is generally based on the applicant’s country of birth, rather than citizenship or current residence. The countries eligible for the diversity visa lottery can change from year to year depending on immigration levels.
For DV-2026, natives of countries including India, Mexico, Nigeria, China, Brazil, Canada, the Philippines, Pakistan, South Korea, Vietnam and several others were excluded because more than 50,000 natives of those countries had immigrated to the United States during the preceding five-year period.
It is important to note that being born in an ineligible country does not always end the inquiry. Under certain circumstances, an applicant may be able to claim chargeability to the country of birth of a spouse or parent. These rules are technical, and an incorrect country-of-chargeability claim can result in disqualification.
Education Requirement
The principal applicant must generally have either:
A qualifying high school education or its equivalent, or
Two years of qualifying work experience during the preceding five years.
For education purposes, the State Department generally requires completion of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to a U.S. high school education. A GED or similar equivalency certificate does not satisfy the requirement under the published DV rules.
Work Experience Requirement
Applicants who do not qualify through education may qualify through work experience. The applicant generally must have at least two years of qualifying work experience within the preceding five years.
The occupation must meet specific requirements established using the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET database. Generally, the occupation must fall within a Job Zone 4 or 5 and have a Specific Vocational Preparation rating of at least 7.0. Simply having worked for two years is therefore not enough.
How Do You Apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The initial diversity visa lottery entry is submitted electronically during a limited registration period designated by the State Department. Paper entries and late entries are not accepted. Generally, only one entry may be submitted for each person during the registration period. Submitting multiple entries can result in disqualification.
Applicants should use the official Electronic Diversity Visa website and carefully follow that year’s instructions.
The entry typically requires information such as the applicant's name, date, and place of birth, country of eligibility, marital status, spouse information, and information about qualifying children. A compliant photograph is also required.
Applicants should be particularly careful when listing family members. Failing to include a qualifying spouse or child who should have been listed can create serious problems later in the process.
After submitting the entry, applicants receive a confirmation number. This number should be stored securely because it is needed to check the selection status and proceed with the case if selected. The State Department does not recommend relying on an immigration agent or consultant to retain the confirmation information.
How Much Does the Diversity Visa Lottery Cost?
The initial registration has historically been free. However, the State Department currently lists a $1 Diversity Visa registration fee and a $330 Diversity Visa application fee per person who applies as a selected DV applicant. Additional expenses can include medical examinations, document preparation, translations, travel, and, where applicable, attorney fees.
Because fees and registration procedures can change, applicants should verify the current fee schedule before submitting payment.
Be cautious of websites or individuals demanding large sums simply to “enter” the diversity visa lottery. The State Department warns applicants about fraud and encourages people to complete the entry themselves or with the help of an attorney whenever possible.
When Is the Diversity Visa Lottery Registration?
The registration is announced by the Department of State and is generally open for only a few weeks. For example, DV-2026 registration ran from October 2, 2024 through November 7, 2024.
There is an important current development involving DV-2027. In November 2025, the State Department announced that it was implementing changes to the Diversity Visa entry process and would announce the DV-2027 registration start date and the date selection results would become available “as soon as practicable”.
As a consequence, prospective applicants should not assume that the traditional fall registration schedule will apply. Checking the official State Department Diversity Visa webpage is essential.
How Are Diversity Visa Lottery Winners Chosen?
The selection process is random. For DV-2026, the State Department reported that 20,882,624 qualified entries were received and that approximately 129,516 prospective applicants, including selectees, spouses, and children, were registered for possible processing.
The number of people selected is greater than the number of visas ultimately available. This is intentional because some selected applicants will not complete the process, some will be found ineligible, and others may not obtain visas before the program year ends.
The diversity visa lottery also uses regional allocations, and no more than seven percent of the available visas may generally be issued to natives of any one country.
Being selected therefore means being selected for further processing, not guaranteed admission to the United States.
How Do You Check Diversity Visa Lottery Results?
Applicants should check their results through the official Entrant Status Check system using the confirmation number received after registration.
The Department of State does not mail selection letters and does not notify selected applicants by email. Entrant Status Check is the official method used to notify applicants of selection.
This is another reason to keep the confirmation number safe. Applicants should be suspicious of emails or messages claiming that they have won and requesting money in exchange for releasing their “prize”.
What Happens If You Are Selected?
Selection starts the next stage of the process. A selected applicant should carefully review the notification and promptly complete the required immigration forms. The principal applicant and qualifying family members applying for Diversity Visas generally must complete Form DS-260, the immigrant visa application.
The applicant must also gather supporting documentation and prepare for an interview. Depending on the circumstances, this can include birth certificates, marriage records, divorce records, police certificates, passport documentation, education records, qualifying employment evidence, and other required materials.
Applicants in the United States who otherwise qualify may potentially pursue adjustment of status through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services rather than consular processing.
How Long Does the Diversity Visa Process Take?
There is no single processing time for every diversity visa case. The process begins with registration, followed by selection, submission of immigration forms, document processing, visa-number availability, an interview, and final adjudication. A selected applicant’s case number can be particularly important because visas are allocated according to regional availability and rank numbers.
Most importantly, a diversity case is tied to a specific fiscal year. For DV-2026, applicants had to obtain their visa or adjustment of status by September 30, 2026. There is no carryover of DV benefits into the following fiscal year.
What If You Are Not Selected?
If an applicant is not selected, there generally is no appeal of the random selection itself. The applicant can consider entering the diversity visa lottery again during a future registration period if eligible.
Not being selected does not mean that the person has no possible route to U.S. immigration. Depending on the individual’s circumstances, alternatives may include family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, fiancé or marriage-based immigration, certain humanitarian programs, investment-based categories, or other immigrant and nonimmigrant visa options.
The best alternative depends heavily on the applicant’s family relationships, employment, qualifications, nationality, and immigration history.
Is the Diversity Visa Lottery Cancelled?
This is one of the most important questions for prospective applicants. The Diversity Visa Program itself has not been abolished by Congress. However, the program has experienced significant changes and restrictions. In December 2025, the State Department announced that it has paused all visa issuances to Diversity Visa applicants, while allowing applicants to submit applications and attend interviews. The State Department stated that the pause was intended to permit a review of screening and vetting procedures.
Separately, the State Department announced changes to the DV-2027 registration process and had not yet announced the new registration dates in its latest published guidance.
Therefore, anyone considering the diversity visa lottery should check for updated government announcements rather than relying on older registration dates found online.
Diversity Visa Lottery Conclusion
The diversity visa lottery may appear straightforward, but country-of-chargeability rules, education and work requirements, family-member rules, visa-number availability, and changing government procedures can make individual cases complicated.
If you have questions about eligibility, registration, selection, visa processing, or alternatives to the diversity visa lottery, contact us at Ginsburg and Perez for guidance regarding your particular immigration circumstances. One of our experienced immigration attorneys can help evaluate your options and identify potential issues before they affect your case. If you need help getting an immigration visa, we can help you! We’re experienced in immigration law and know how to help you get the right visa for you, including U visas, engagement visas, naturalization, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the diversity visa lottery been cancelled?
No, the Diversity Visa Program has not been permanently eliminated. However, the State Department announced a pause on Diversity Visa issuances in December 2025, and DV-2027 registration procedures have been announced. Applicants should check current State Department guidance before taking action.
Is India eligible for the diversity visa lottery?
For DV-2026, India was not eligible because it exceeded the applicable immigration threshold. Eligibility is determined separately for each program year, so applicants should check the instructions for the specific DV year.
Is Mexico eligible for the diversity visa lottery?
Mexico was not eligible for DV-2026 for the same general reason: more than 50,000 Mexican natives had immigrated to the United States during the relevant five-year period.
Is Nigeria eligible for the diversity visa lottery?
No, Nigeria was not eligible for DV-2026. Country eligibility can change in future program years, so Nigerian applicants should check the applicable year’s official instructions.
Are there alternatives if my country is not eligible?
Potentially. Under specific circumstances, an applicant may claim chargeability to a spouse’s country of birth or a parent’s country of birth. These exceptions have strict requirements and should not be assumed to apply.
How many people apply for the diversity visa lottery?
The numbers vary by year. For DV-2026, the State Department reported 20,822,624 qualified entries.
How many people win the diversity visa lottery?
The law provides for up to 55,000 Diversity visas annually, although statutory deductions can reduce the number actually available. The State Department deliberately selects more prospective applicants than the number of visas available because not every selectee ultimately qualifies or completes the process.
Does being selected guarantee a green card?
No. Selection does not guarantee a visa. The applicant must establish eligibility, complete the required forms and processing, pass applicable screening, and obtain a visa or adjustment of status before the applicable deadline.
Can my spouse and children immigrate with me?
Generally, a qualifying spouse and unmarried children under 21 can receive derivative benefits if the principal applicant qualifies. Family information must be reported accurately at the time of entry, and changes in family circumstances must be handled properly during processing.
Can I apply for the diversity visa lottery if I live outside my country of birth?
Yes. Residence and country of birth are different concepts for DV eligibility. Eligibility is generally based on country of birth or a permitted alternative chargeability rule, not simply where the applicant currently lives.
Can I enter the diversity lottery more than once?
The law permits only one entry per person during each registration period. Multiple entries can result in disqualification. However, you can enter the next fiscal year again.
*Nothing herein constitutes legal advice. You should obtain independent legal counsel regarding your specific factual situation.
