The Diversity Visa Lottery: Complete Guide (2026)

What Is the Diversity Visa Lottery?

The Diversity Visa Lottery (also called the DV Lottery, DV Program, Green Card Lottery, or America Lottery Visa) is a U.S. government program that awards up to 55,000 immigrant visas (Green Cards) each year through a random computer-generated drawing. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of State and was established by the Immigration Act of 1990 to diversify the immigrant population by providing opportunities to nationals of countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.

The DV Lottery is unique in the U.S. immigration system: it requires no employer sponsor, no family connection, no investment, and no extraordinary talent. The entry fee is $1 (as of DV-2026). If selected and approved, you receive a Green Card that grants permanent residence, full work authorization, and a path to U.S. citizenship.

How the DV Program Works

Each year between October and November, millions of people worldwide submit entries through dvprogram.state.gov. The Department of State conducts a random computer selection and distributes the 55,000 visa numbers across six geographic regions, weighted to favor regions with lower immigration rates. More entries are selected than visas available, because not all selectees complete the process. Selection does not guarantee a Green Card. After selection, you must complete DS-260, gather documents, pass a medical exam, and attend a consular interview, all before the September 30 fiscal year deadline.

In short

This guide covers the DV Lottery from entry to Green Card: eligibility, the application process, the $1 fee and 2025-2026 changes, photo requirements, what happens after selection, the consular interview, processing timeline, common disqualification reasons, and faster Green Card alternatives for those who prefer not to depend on luck.

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Who Can Apply for the DV Lottery?

Country Eligibility

You must be a native of a country that qualifies for the DV Program. The Department of State publishes an updated eligible country list each year. Countries with high rates of immigration to the U.S. (India, China, Mexico, Philippines, South Korea, Canada, United Kingdom, and others) are excluded. Turkey has been on the eligible list every year since the program’s inception.

If you were born in an ineligible country, you may still qualify if your spouse was born in an eligible country (you can “charge” to your spouse’s country of birth) or if neither of your parents was a citizen or resident of your birth country at the time of your birth.

Education or Work Experience

• High school diploma: completion of a 12-year course of formal education (or its equivalent). Foreign diplomas must be equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma.
• Alternative: qualifying work experience: 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 defined by the Department of Labor’s O*NET database at SVP 7.0 or above.

Important

Applicants who do not meet either the education or work experience requirement are automatically disqualified. Using fraudulent diplomas or work experience documentation can result in a permanent visa ban.

For an overview of all Green Card pathways beyond the DV Lottery, see our guide on What Is a Green Card and How to Apply for It.

Photo Requirements

• 600 x 600 pixels, JPEG format, under 240 KB
• Taken within the last 6 months, with a white or off-white background
• Face must cover 50% to 69% of the frame
• No glasses (including prescription glasses)
• Head coverings permitted only for religious reasons (full face must be visible)

As of DV-2025, the application system validates photos automatically upon upload. Non-compliant photos are rejected instantly.

How to Apply: Step by Step

1. Submit your entry (October-November): go to dvprogram.state.gov during the official registration window. Enter your personal information, education/work details, family information, and upload your photo. Pay the $1 fee. You may apply from anywhere in the world, including from inside the United States.
2. Save your confirmation number: this number is your only way to check results. The Department of State does not send email notifications. If you lose the number, you cannot access your results.
3. Check results (May): results are published in May of the following year at dvprogram.state.gov. Enter your confirmation number to see whether you were selected.
4. If selected, file DS-260 or I-485: selectees outside the U.S. file Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application) through the NVC. Selectees inside the U.S. in valid legal status may file I-485 (Adjustment of Status) with USCIS.
5. Prepare documents: passport, birth certificate, police clearance from every country where you lived 12+ months since age 16, medical exam by an authorized physician, financial support evidence (Form I-134 or I-864), photos, and marriage/family documents if applicable.
6. Attend the interview: the consular officer reviews your documents, verifies your identity, evaluates your eligibility, and makes a decision. If approved, your immigrant visa is stamped in your passport.
7. Enter the U.S. and receive your Green Card: upon first entry, your Green Card is mailed to your U.S. address.

Critical

All 55,000 visas must be issued before September 30 (the fiscal year deadline). If your case number is not reached by that date, your selection expires. Late document preparation is the most common reason selectees lose their visa.

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Were you selected in the DV Lottery?
A Grape Law attorney will review your case number, prepare your DS-260, and build a document timeline that ensures you do not miss the September 30 deadline. The initial assessment is free.
Book your free preliminary assessment →

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DV-2026 Updates

The $1 Application Fee

Starting with DV-2026, entries require a $1 fee. Previous years were free. The fee was introduced to reduce fraudulent, duplicate, and speculative entries. The practical impact: fewer total entries, which slightly improves selection odds for legitimate applicants.

Automated Photo Verification

The application system now validates photos in real-time. Previously, non-compliant photos could be uploaded and the entry would be silently disqualified later. Now, the system rejects the photo immediately and prompts a corrected upload.

Enhanced Duplicate Detection

The Department of State uses facial recognition technology and IP address tracking to identify multiple entries from the same person. Submitting more than one entry disqualifies all entries. Detection has become far more sophisticated in recent cycles.

After You Are Selected

First 30 Days

• Verify your selection at dvprogram.state.gov using your confirmation number
• Note your case number (this determines your interview scheduling order)
• Begin DS-260 (or plan your I-485 strategy with an attorney if you are in the U.S.)
• Start gathering required documents (police clearances and apostilles take weeks)

If you are in the U.S. and considering Adjustment of Status instead of consular processing, see our I-485 Guide.

The Consular Interview

For selectees processing through a U.S. Embassy, the interview is the final step. The consular officer will evaluate:

• Your identity and the accuracy of your application
• Whether you meet the education or work experience requirement
• Police clearance and security check results
• Your financial ability to support yourself and your family in the U.S.
• Your medical exam results

If approved, you receive an immigrant visa stamp. You must enter the U.S. before the visa expiration date (typically 6 months from issuance). Your Green Card is mailed after your first entry.

DV Lottery Timeline

Date	Stage
October – November	Application window (dvprogram.state.gov)
May (following year)	Results announced
May – September	DS-260 filing and document preparation
October – September (fiscal year)	Consular interviews and visa issuance
September 30	Fiscal year deadline. Unissued visas expire.

Common Reasons for Disqualification

• Multiple entries: submitting more than one entry per person. Both spouses may enter separately, but the same person cannot submit twice. All entries are voided upon detection.
• Non-compliant photo: wrong dimensions, old photo, glasses, or non-standard background.
• Lost confirmation number: without it, you cannot check results. The Department of State does not reissue lost numbers.
• Failing the education/experience requirement: no high school diploma and no qualifying 2-year work experience.
• Criminal history: certain criminal convictions or security concerns discovered during the background check.
• Missing the fiscal year deadline: documents not ready, interview not scheduled, or case number not reached before September 30.
• Fraud or misrepresentation: false information on the application or at the interview. Results in permanent visa ineligibility.

Faster Green Card Alternatives

The DV Lottery selection rate is below 1%. Relying on it as your sole immigration strategy means accepting that you may never be selected. Running a parallel strategy through one of the following paths is the safest approach:

• EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability): self-petition, no employer sponsor, no PERM. The fastest employment-based Green Card for professionals at the top of their field.
• EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver): self-petition, no employer sponsor, no PERM. For advanced-degree professionals or those with exceptional ability whose work benefits the U.S.

For the full EB-2 NIW eligibility criteria and Dhanasar test, see our guide on EB-2 National Interest Waiver Criteria Explained.

• EB-5 (Investor): $800,000 (TEA) or $1,050,000 investment. No employer, no job offer, no extraordinary talent required. Direct Green Card.
• Family-based: if a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder family member can sponsor you. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens have no quota and the fastest processing.

Important

Entering the DV Lottery and pursuing an employment-based or family-based Green Card simultaneously are not mutually exclusive. You can enter the lottery every year while your EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, or EB-5 case is pending. The first path to reach a visa number wins.

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Prefer not to depend on luck?
Emily from Grape Law breaks down the fastest Green Card paths available right now, covering options that do not require a lottery win.
Watch: The Fastest Green Card Paths for 2027 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are my chances of being selected?

Approximately 10 to 15 million entries are submitted each year for 55,000 visa numbers. The overall selection rate is below 1%. Odds vary by region and country. Having both spouses enter separately doubles the family’s chances.

How much does the DV Lottery cost?

The entry fee is $1 (as of DV-2026). There are no additional costs at the application stage. If selected, you will pay immigrant visa processing fees, medical exam costs, and document preparation expenses.

Can I apply from inside the United States?

Yes. Your physical location does not affect your eligibility. If selected while in the U.S. on valid legal status, you may file I-485 (Adjustment of Status) instead of consular processing.

Can both spouses apply?

Yes. Each spouse submits an independent entry. If either spouse is selected, the other spouse and unmarried children under 21 are included as derivative applicants.

Does selection guarantee a Green Card?

No. Selection means you are eligible to proceed. You must still complete DS-260, gather documents, pass a medical exam, clear security checks, attend the interview, and have your case number reached before September 30. Failure at any stage ends the process.

To understand how case numbers and the Visa Bulletin determine your interview timing, see our Visa Bulletin Guide.

What happens if my case number is not reached by September 30?

Your selection expires. Unissued visas are not carried over to the next fiscal year. You must re-enter the lottery in the next cycle and start over.

Can I apply if I was born in an ineligible country?

Possibly. If your spouse was born in an eligible country, you can charge your entry to your spouse’s country. Also, if neither of your parents was a citizen or resident of your birth country at the time of your birth, you may be eligible to charge to a different country.

Is there a maximum number of times I can enter the lottery?

No. You may enter every year for as long as your country remains eligible. There is no penalty for repeated entries across different years (only one entry per year per person).

The Diversity Visa Lottery is the most accessible path to U.S. permanent residence: one entry, one dollar, no sponsor required. But the selection rate is below 1%, and even after selection, the process demands speed, accuracy, and complete documentation before the September 30 deadline. Treating the DV Lottery as your only immigration strategy means accepting that chance controls your outcome. Running a parallel track through EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, or EB-5 while entering the lottery every year gives you both a shot at luck and a path you control. To evaluate your DV Lottery case or explore faster alternatives, reach out to the Grape Law team at info@grapelaw.com.