Last reviewed: October 21, 2026. The U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Program, often called the Green Card Lottery, gives eligible people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States a chance to apply for an immigrant visa. The DV Lottery in USA is a government-run selection process, not a private prize draw, job offer or promise of permanent residence. Every program year has its own instructions, dates and eligibility details.
This guide explains how the program generally works, who may qualify, what happens after selection and why current notices matter. DV-2027 has had an unusual timeline, so treat the cycle-specific information as changeable. For the latest opening status, court timeline, passport rule and registration fee, see our DV-2027 registration update. The official instructions for the relevant program year always take priority over older articles or social media posts.
What the Diversity Visa Program does
Congress established the Diversity Visa category to create an immigration route for people from countries that have sent relatively fewer immigrants to the United States. The Department of State administers the annual program. The law makes up to 55,000 diversity immigrant visas available in a program year, subject to statutory limits and deductions. The number is a program-wide maximum, not a promise that every selected person will receive a visa.
The process has separate stages. First, a person submits an entry during the announced registration period. The government then conducts a random selection from eligible entries. Someone selected may proceed to the immigrant-visa process, but must still meet the rules, submit the required application and evidence, pass the required checks, and receive a visa before the applicable deadline. Selection itself does not grant a Green Card or permission to travel or work in the United States.
The year in a DV program name refers to the fiscal year in which selected entrants may apply for visas; it is not necessarily the calendar year when registration takes place. A registration period can fall in a different year from the visa-application period. Dates, country lists, entry fees and document rules can change between cycles. Do not copy a prior year’s schedule or assume that a country eligible in one cycle will automatically remain eligible in the next.
As of October 21, 2026, the official entry portal displayed the closed DV-2026 period and said entries were not being accepted at that time. A federal court had separately ordered the government to carry out the delayed DV-2027 process. A court order, a government announcement and an operational entry form are not interchangeable: check the current official notice before trying to submit anything. The linked DV-2027 update covers the cycle-specific timeline.
Who may qualify and how to prepare an entry
Eligibility generally depends on two main requirements: the applicant’s country of chargeability must qualify for that program year, and the principal applicant must meet the education or qualifying work-experience standard. “Country of chargeability” usually refers to the applicant’s country of birth. It is not automatically the country of citizenship, current residence or passport. The eligible-country list can change from year to year, so use the list in the instructions for the exact cycle you intend to enter.
Some applicants may be able to claim chargeability through a spouse or, in limited circumstances, a parent. These rules have specific conditions. Holding a passport from an eligible country, living there, or having a relative born there does not by itself establish eligibility. If your country of birth is not eligible, read the current instructions carefully before relying on an exception; incorrect chargeability information can jeopardize an entry or later application.
The principal applicant generally must have a qualifying high-school education or its equivalent, meaning completion of the required course of formal elementary and secondary education. Alternatively, the applicant may qualify through work experience that meets the program’s occupational standard, including the required amount of qualifying experience within the stated period. Not every job counts. The current instructions explain how an occupation is evaluated, so a job title or an agent’s informal opinion is not enough to confirm eligibility.
During the registration window, use the official electronic system and enter information carefully. Make sure names, dates of birth, country details and other personal information match the applicant’s documents. Use a recent photograph that meets that year’s exact technical rules. Do not alter a photo in a way prohibited by the instructions or reuse an old image without checking whether it still qualifies. A technically invalid image or inconsistent personal detail can create avoidable problems.
Current rules require an entrant to provide valid, unexpired passport information and upload a scan of the passport’s biographic and signature page, unless a defined exemption applies. Check the cycle’s official instructions to confirm what is required and whether an exception fits your circumstances. Prepare the passport and a clear scan before starting; a passport application or an unclear image should not be assumed to satisfy the entry requirements.
The registration fee is separate from any later visa-application fee. A $1 electronic DV registration fee is in effect, but the amount, payment method and instructions should be confirmed on the official government system for the cycle. Do not send money to an unofficial site that claims to reserve a place or guarantee selection. If a person or service helps with the form, the applicant should review every answer and keep the official confirmation information.
Each person may submit only one entry for a program year. Submitting duplicate entries for the same person can lead to disqualification; paying multiple agents to submit forms does not increase the chance of selection. A spouse who independently meets the rules may generally submit a separate entry, but each entrant must include all required spouse and child information accurately. Follow the official instructions on which family members must be listed, even if they do not plan to immigrate with the principal applicant.
Keep the confirmation number and the details used to submit the entry in a secure place. This information is needed to check the result through the official system. Do not post the confirmation number publicly or give it to an unverified person. If a legitimate adviser assists with the form, the applicant should still retain access to the confirmation details and be able to verify the entry personally.
What selection means, next steps and common risks
Selection is not the same as visa approval. The Department selects more people than the number of visas available because some selected applicants may not continue, may not qualify or may not receive a visa. The selection notice does not guarantee an interview, an available visa number, a successful background check or a Green Card. Treat the result as permission to take the next steps, not as a final immigration decision.
Use the official Entrant Status Check to find out whether an entry was selected. Be wary of messages saying that you have “won” and must pay immediately to claim a prize. A selection result should be verified through the official system using the confirmation information from the original entry. An email, phone call, social-media message or letter from a private service cannot replace that check.
If selected and you want to continue, read the instructions displayed for your case and submit the required immigrant-visa application. Applicants may need to provide civil documents, evidence of education or qualifying work experience, police certificates where required, a medical examination and other records. They may also need to attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Requirements depend on the applicant’s circumstances and the instructions for the case; do not assume every selected entrant submits an identical document package.
A case number matters because visa availability is limited and cases are processed under the applicable regional and numerical rules. Selection alone does not mean that a case is ready for an interview. Applicants should monitor official visa-availability information, respond to requests promptly and avoid delaying required forms or documents. Even a selected applicant who otherwise appears eligible may not receive a visa if a number is unavailable or the applicable program-year deadline passes.
The visa-application period is tied to the program’s fiscal year. The State Department has stated that DV-2027 selectees’ visa application period remains October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. The September 30 deadline is significant: do not assume that a pending case, delayed interview or administrative processing automatically extends eligibility beyond the end of the fiscal year. Confirm current instructions and seek qualified legal advice if you have a time-sensitive case.
Visa issuance has also been affected by separate government guidance. On August 31, 2026, the Department of State said it had paused all diversity immigrant visa issuances; its guidance said applicants could continue submitting applications and attending interviews, but visas would not be issued under that pause and there were no exceptions. This is distinct from whether a lottery entry form is open. Because government guidance or court orders can change, check the current State Department notices before paying fees, making travel plans or relying on an older update.
Be cautious of anyone who promises guaranteed selection, special access to the lottery, an inside connection at the government or a visa in exchange for a large advance payment. Private help with forms cannot change the random selection process. Use official websites for entry and status checks, protect your passport and personal data, and do not share payment details with sites that imitate government portals. No consultant can promise a Green Card or make a case number current.
Does selection mean I have won a Green Card? No. It means the entrant may continue with the application process, subject to eligibility, visa availability, required checks and the program-year deadline.
Can I use an agent? You may seek help, but the entrant remains responsible for accurate information and should keep their own confirmation details. An agent cannot improve the odds by submitting duplicate entries or guarantee a result.
Can my family immigrate with me? A spouse and eligible children may be able to apply as derivative family members when properly included and documented, but they must meet the applicable requirements. Check the current program instructions for the precise family-listing rules.
For entry, results and official program-year instructions, use the official Electronic Diversity Visa portal and the Department of State’s Diversity Visa instructions. The DV Lottery in USA can create an opportunity to apply, but it is never a guaranteed route to a visa or permanent residence. Check the rules for your exact cycle before submitting information or making decisions based on selection.
