The Diversity Visa Lottery: Complete 2026 Guide (DV-2027)

Each year, the United States issues 55,000 immigrant visas through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly called the “DV Lottery” or “green card lottery.” It is the only path to a U.S. green card that requires neither a family sponsor nor a job offer — just luck and basic eligibility.

This guide walks through the entire process: who qualifies, how to enter for free, what to do if you’re selected, and the scams to avoid.

What is the Diversity Visa Lottery?

Created by the Immigration Act of 1990, the DV Program reserves green cards for natives of countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. The program is run by the U.S. Department of State, and entries are free.

Each fiscal year offers a fresh lottery. DV-2027 entries open in October 2025 for visas issued in fiscal year 2027 (October 2026 – September 2027).

Who is eligible

Two requirements:

1. You must be from an eligible country

The State Department publishes the eligible-country list each year. A country is excluded if it has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. through family-based and employment-based categories in the past five years.

Use our free DV Lottery Eligibility Checker to verify your country in seconds.

If you were born in an ineligible country, you may still qualify if:

• Your spouse was born in an eligible country (you both apply together)
• Neither of your parents was born in or legally resident in your country of birth at the time of your birth (you can claim their country)

2. You must meet the education or work requirement

You need either:

• A high school education or its equivalent (12 years of formal education completed), or
• Two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training

The work experience standard uses the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET database. Most office and skilled-trade jobs qualify; many service jobs do not.

How to enter (the right way)

Entries open each fall, usually for about a month, at the official site:

dvprogram.state.gov — this is the only legitimate entry site.

Filling out an entry takes about 10 minutes. You’ll provide:

• Your full name and date of birth
• Country of eligibility
• Recent photographs meeting strict specifications
• Information about your spouse and children

Save your confirmation number. You’ll need it months later to check whether you were selected.

When and how to check results

Results are released in May following the entry period (DV-2027 results: May 2026). The State Department posts results on dvprogram.state.gov. You enter your confirmation number to check status.

The U.S. government will never email you to say you won. Any email claiming you’ve been selected is a scam. Always check at the official website yourself.

If you’re selected: what happens next

Selection is the first step, not the finish line. About 100,000+ entries are typically selected for 55,000 available visas, because not all selectees qualify or follow through.

The process after selection:

1. File Form DS-260 (immigrant visa application) through the Consular Electronic Application Center
2. Pay the DV processing fee of $330
3. Submit civil documents (birth certificate, police certificates, marriage certificate)
4. Complete a medical examination
5. Attend a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate
6. Receive your immigrant visa
7. Enter the U.S. and become a permanent resident

You must complete the entire process by September 30 of the relevant fiscal year. Visas are issued in priority date order — selectees with low case numbers must move quickly, and selectees with very high numbers may not get a chance at all.

Common scams

Because the DV Lottery is so widely known, it’s a magnet for fraud. Watch for:

• “Authorized agents” charging fees to enter you. The entry is free, and no third party has special access.
• Emails saying “Congratulations, you won”. The State Department never notifies winners by email.
• Lookalike websites with .com or .org domains imitating the official .gov site.
• Requests for payment to “release” your visa or “guarantee” selection.

If anyone asks you to pay to enter the lottery, it is a scam. The only legitimate fees are paid directly to the U.S. embassy after you are selected.

Costs (selectees only)

• Lottery entry: $0
• DS-260 fee: $330 per applicant (paid at the embassy)
• Medical exam: $200–$500 depending on country
• USCIS Immigrant Fee (after arrival in U.S.): $235

Why people miss out

• Failing the photograph specifications
• Submitting more than one entry per person (immediate disqualification)
• Not checking results — many selectees never know they won
• Slow document gathering, missing the September 30 deadline
• Not actually meeting the education or work requirement on closer review at the interview

Not legal advice. Eligibility and country lists change every year. Always read the current year’s official DV Program Instructions on travel.state.gov before submitting an entry.