Diversity Visa Lottery (DV-2027): How to Enter & Who Qualifies
Published 2026-08-11 · Sources: U.S. Department of State — Diversity Visa Program, Federal Register rules
Photo: Global Residence Index via UnsplashThe Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program — often called the green card lottery — is the one U.S. immigration path decided by chance rather than family ties, employer sponsorship, or refugee status. Each fiscal year it makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available to natives of countries with historically low immigration to the United States. For DV-2027 the program added two first-ever entry requirements: a $1 registration fee and a passport-at-entry rule. This guide explains who can enter, what changed, and how the process actually works — using the State Department’s own published rules.
What the DV lottery is
Congress created the program in 1990 to diversify the national-origin mix of immigrants. Unlike employment or family green cards, there is no petitioner and no quota by relationship — a computer selects winners at random from qualified entries. About 125,000–150,000 people are selected so that roughly 55,000 visas are ultimately issued. The visas for a fiscal year must be used by September 30 of that year; they cannot carry over.
DV-2027: what changed
Two rules are new for DV-2027, both aimed at cutting fraud and duplicate automated entries:
- $1 registration fee. For the first time, entering costs money — a $1 electronic fee paid at dvprogram.state.gov when you submit. It is non-refundable and there are no waivers. (Final rule effective September 16, 2025.)
- Passport requirement. Every principal applicant must provide valid, unexpired passport details and upload a scan of the biographic and signature page at the time of entry (effective April 10, 2026). The name must match the passport exactly. Limited exemptions exist for stateless persons and nationals of Communist-controlled countries who cannot obtain a passport.
Because of the rollout, the DV-2027 registration window opened later than the usual early-October timing. The State Department publishes the exact dates on travel.state.gov — watch that page rather than third-party “alerts.”
Who is eligible: country of birth
Eligibility turns on where you were born, not your citizenship or where you live. Each year the State Department excludes countries that sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the previous five fiscal years. For DV-2027 the excluded countries are:
| Eligible? | Examples (DV-2027 list) |
|---|---|
| Not eligible | Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland), Vietnam |
| Eligible | Most of Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia; Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are treated separately and remain eligible |
The excluded list changes from cycle to cycle, so always check the current year’s instructions before entering.
Cross-chargeability: claim a relative’s country
If you were born in an excluded country, you may still qualify by claiming another country’s chargeability:
- Spouse’s country: if your spouse was born in an eligible country and will immigrate with you, you may use that country of chargeability. Both spouses must be listed on the entry.
- Parent’s country: if neither of your parents was born in, or a resident of, your country of birth, you may claim a parent’s country of birth.
Education or work经验 requirement
Beyond country of birth, you (or your spouse, if qualifying through them) must meet one of two standards:
- A high school education or equivalent (completion of 12 years of formal elementary and secondary schooling); or
- At least two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires two or more years of training or experience (per the Department of Labor’s O*NET Job Zone 4 or 5 classifications).
How to enter
Entries are submitted only through the official Electronic Diversity Visa site at dvprogram.state.gov. The form must be completed in one sitting. You list your full legal name as on your passport, date and place of birth, and your spouse and all unmarried children under 21 — leaving a family member off can disqualify you. You receive a confirmation number; save it. Submitting more than one entry per person per year is a federal violation that causes disqualification.
After you are selected
Selection results are typically posted the following May on Entrant Status Check (the government does not email or mail notices). If you are selected:
- Submit the online DS-260 immigrant visa application through the National Visa Center.
- Complete a medical exam and gather civil documents.
- Attend the consular interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Use the visa before September 30 of the fiscal year — diversity visas cannot be extended past that date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery?
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program awards up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to people born in countries with historically low immigration to the United States. Entry is free at the official site (dvprogram.state.gov) apart from a new $1 registration fee introduced for DV-2027; selection is random.
What changed for DV-2027?
Two rules are new: (1) a $1 electronic registration fee, collected at entry; and (2) a passport requirement — every principal applicant must provide valid passport details and upload a scan at the time of entry (effective April 10, 2026). Both are anti-fraud measures.
Which countries are NOT eligible for DV-2027?
Natives of high-admission countries are excluded because they sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the prior five fiscal years. The DV-2027 excluded list includes Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland), Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland), and Vietnam. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan remain eligible. The list can shift each year.
Can I enter if I was born in an excluded country?
Often yes, through cross-chargeability: you may claim your spouse's country of birth (if your spouse will immigrate with you) or a parent's country of birth (if neither parent was born in, or resident in, your country of birth). Both spouses must be listed on the entry.
When is the DV-2027 entry period?
The registration window is typically about 35 days, opening in early October and closing in early November. For DV-2027 the State Department delayed the opening to roll out the new fee and passport rules; the exact dates are announced on travel.state.gov. Entries submitted after the window closes are not accepted, with no extensions.
How do I check if I was selected?
Use your confirmation number on the official Entrant Status Check at dvprogram.state.gov — usually available the following May. The U.S. government does not email or mail selection notices, so anyone who contacts you claiming otherwise is running a scam.