Diversity Visa Lottery 2026-2027: How to Enter, Eligible Countries, and What Happens If You Win

Diversity Visa Lottery 2026/2027: How to Enter, Eligible Countries, and What Happens If You Win

Основные выводы

• The DV lottery distributes 55,000 green cards per fiscal year to underrepresented countries
• Registration is free — only at dvprogram.state.gov, never through any third-party site
• Eligibility based on country of birth, not citizenship or residence
• Ineligible countries for DV-2027 include: Mexico, China, India, Philippines, Brazil, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and others
• UK-born applicants became eligible for DV-2027
• All DV visas for a fiscal year must be used by September 30 of that year — no extensions

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program — commonly called the Green Card Lottery — is unique in the US immigration system: it awards permanent residence to people from countries that are historically underrepresented in US immigration, through a random selection process rather than family ties, employer sponsorship, or refugee status. Congress established the program in 1990 to diversify the immigrant population. Each fiscal year, the State Department registers millions of entries and randomly selects approximately 125,000-150,000 to ensure all 55,000 diversity visa slots are filled. Registration for DV-2027 ran from early October through November 7, 2025. For DV-2028, registration will open in fall 2026 — this guide covers eligibility, the application process, and what to do if you are selected.

Eligible Countries for the DV Lottery

Eligibility for the DV lottery is determined by country of birth, not by current citizenship or country of residence. The State Department calculates eligibility each year by identifying countries that sent 50,000 or more immigrants to the United States in the prior 5 fiscal years — those countries are excluded because they are already “well-represented” in US immigration. For DV-2027, the ineligible countries were:

• Bangladesh
• Brazil
• Canada
• China (mainland-born, including Hong Kong SAR)
• Colombia
• Cuba
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Haiti
• Honduras
• India
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• South Korea
• Venezuela
• Vietnam

All other countries — including most of Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia — are eligible. Notably, UK-born applicants (mainland) were not eligible for DV-2026 but became eligible for DV-2027 because UK immigration numbers dropped below the threshold. Macau SAR and Taiwan were also added to the eligible list for DV-2027.

The ineligible country list changes each year. Check the State Department’s DV Instructions page each year for the current list before registering.

Using a Parent’s or Spouse’s Country of Birth

Applicants born in an ineligible country may still enter the DV lottery if they can claim chargeability to an eligible country based on the country of birth of their parents or spouse:

• Parent’s country: If either of your parents was born in a country where neither parent was a resident at the time of your birth, you may claim your parent’s country of birth as your own for DV chargeability purposes. For example, a person born in India but whose father was born in France may claim France as their country of birth — and France is an eligible country.
• Spouse’s country: If you are married to a national of an eligible country, you may be able to claim chargeability based on your spouse’s country of birth. But both you and your spouse must enter the DV and use the visas together — your spouse’s country of birth controls both entries.

These chargeability rules allow nationals of large ineligible countries to sometimes participate if they have the right family connections.

Entry Requirements

To enter the DV lottery, you must meet basic eligibility requirements at the time of registration:

• Country of birth eligibility: As described above — based on place of birth, not citizenship or residence
• Educational/work experience requirement: Either (1) a high school diploma or equivalent (completion of a 12-year formal education course), or (2) at least 2 years of work experience within the past 5 years in an occupation that requires at least 2 years of training or experience (as listed in the Department of Labor’s O*NET database)
• One entry per person per year: Submitting more than one entry disqualifies all your entries
• Accurate current passport photo: Must meet US visa photo specifications — no glasses, proper background, recent photo

The entry is completely free at dvprogram.state.gov. Be very wary of websites or agencies that charge fees to “help” you enter the DV lottery — the State Department warns that many are scams. The official free registration website is the only legitimate entry point.

The Selection Process and Notification

The State Department’s computer randomly selects approximately 125,000-150,000 entrants from all eligible entries during the registration period. This is substantially more than 55,000 because many selectees do not follow through with the visa application process — the overselection ensures all 55,000 slots are filled.

Selectees are notified exclusively through the Entry Status Check at dvlottery.state.gov. You check your status using the confirmation number assigned when you submitted your entry. The State Department does NOT notify selectees by email, letter, or phone. Any email or letter claiming you won the DV lottery and asking for money or personal information is a scam — report it to the FTC.

Results for DV-2027 were released in May 2026. Check results annually in early May if you entered.

What Happens After You Are Selected

Selection in the DV lottery is the first step, not the last. Being selected does not guarantee a visa — it gives you the opportunity to apply for one. The process after selection:

1. Check your case number: Each selectee is assigned a case number indicating their rank among all selectees in their geographic region. Lower numbers are processed first, and some numbers may never be reached if earlier numbers use up the available visa slots for the year.
2. National Visa Center (NVC) processing: The NVC will contact you to complete your immigrant visa application, submit civil documents, and pay fees. The immigrant visa application fee is $325 per adult applicant.
3. Complete Form DS-260: The online immigrant visa application, submitted through the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC).
4. Medical examination: Required by a State Department-designated physician in your home country.
5. Visa interview: At the nearest US embassy or consulate. The consular officer reviews your application, documents, and eligibility.
6. Enter the US: Approved DV immigrants must enter the US before September 30 of the DV fiscal year — even a single day’s delay past September 30 invalidates the visa. Once you enter, you are a lawful permanent resident.

DV Lottery for People Already in the US

DV selectees who are already in the United States on a valid nonimmigrant visa may be able to adjust status (file Form I-485) rather than traveling to a US consulate for the immigrant visa interview. The I-485 adjustment of status process is available to DV selectees who are otherwise admissible — but the same September 30 deadline applies. DV-based I-485 cases are typically processed on an expedited basis to meet the fiscal year deadline. See our Adjustment of Status guide for the I-485 process.

If your DV case number is very high and may not be reached before September 30, consult an immigration attorney immediately — there may be limited options if the fiscal year ends before your number is current.

DV Lottery Scams: How to Stay Safe

The DV lottery is one of the most heavily targeted programs for immigration scams. Common scam formats include:

• Websites that look like the official DV lottery site but charge fees for “entry”
• Emails claiming you have been selected, asking for personal information or money to “process” your winnings
• Letters or calls from “attorneys” claiming they can improve your odds or accelerate your case for a fee
• Fake NVC “payment” portals designed to steal credit card information

The real DV registration site is dvprogram.state.gov (not .com, not .org, not any variation). The real NVC and consular systems will direct you to official .gov and .state.gov URLs. Never pay money to any third party claiming to improve your chances in the random draw — the draw is entirely random and no one can influence it.

Diversity Visa Lottery FAQ

What countries are not eligible for the DV lottery?

Countries that sent 50,000+ immigrants to the US in the prior 5 years are ineligible. For DV-2027: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland and Hong Kong), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Eligibility is based on country of birth, not citizenship. UK-born applicants became eligible for DV-2027.

How does the DV lottery selection work?

The State Department uses a computer-generated random selection from all eligible entries. Approximately 125,000-150,000 are selected to ensure all 55,000 visa slots are used. Notification is only through dvlottery.state.gov — not by email or letter. Emails claiming you won are scams.

What are the requirements to enter the DV lottery?

Native of an eligible country (by birth), plus either a high school diploma or equivalent, or 2 years of qualifying work experience within the past 5 years. Entry is free and only at dvprogram.state.gov. One entry per person per registration period — duplicates disqualify all entries.

What happens after being selected in the DV lottery?

Selection gives you the opportunity to apply for an immigrant visa — it does not guarantee one. You complete DS-260, submit civil documents, pay fees to NVC, undergo a medical exam, and attend a consular interview. All processing must complete and you must enter the US by September 30 of the applicable fiscal year.

Can I enter the DV lottery multiple times?

No. Submitting more than one entry per person per registration period disqualifies all entries. Your spouse may submit a separate individual entry. The entry is free; any service charging fees to submit your DV entry is a scam.