Have you ever dreamed of living and working in the United States? The American Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery could be your ticket to making that dream a reality.
Every year, the U.S. government makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available through this program. It targets people from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States.
For the DV-2026 program, over 20.8 million qualified entries were submitted. From those, approximately 129,516 applicants were selected. However, selection does not guarantee a visa. It simply means you can move forward with the application process.
So how does the DV Lottery work, and how can you check your approval status? Let’s walk through everything you need to know.
What Is the American Diversity Visa Lottery?
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly called the Green Card Lottery, is a U.S. government initiative run by the Department of State. Congress created it in 1990 to promote immigration from underrepresented countries.
Each year, the program randomly selects applicants from eligible nations and gives them a chance to apply for permanent residency. Winners receive a green card, allowing them to live, work, and study in the United States indefinitely. Their eligible spouse and unmarried children under 21 can also apply. Because it requires no employer sponsorship or family ties, the DV Lottery offers a direct path to a green card.
Who Can Apply for the DV Lottery?
Before you apply, you must confirm that you meet two key eligibility requirements.
Country Eligibility
Your country of birth must have sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the United States over the past five years. The Department of State publishes an updated eligibility list each year.
For DV-2026, ineligible countries included Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
If your birth country is ineligible, you may still qualify. You can claim eligibility through your spouse’s country of birth. Alternatively, if neither parent was born in or a legal resident of your birth country, you can use a parent’s birth country.
Education or Work Experience
You must meet at least one of these conditions. Either you have completed a high school education equivalent to 12 years of formal schooling. Or you have at least two years of qualifying work experience in the past five years in a Job Zone 4 or 5 occupation as classified by the U.S. Department of Labor.
How to Apply for the DV Lottery Step by Step
The application process is straightforward, but small mistakes can disqualify your entry. Follow these steps carefully.
Visit the official website. Go to dvprogram.state.gov during the registration period. For DV-2026, registration ran from October 2 to November 7, 2024. DV-2027 registration dates have not yet been announced.
Complete the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) entry form. Provide your full name, gender, date of birth, city and country of birth, passport details, mailing address, phone number, email, and education or work experience information.
Add your family members. List your spouse and all unmarried children under 21, even if they do not plan to immigrate. Failing to include family members can disqualify your entry later.
Upload a qualifying photo. Your photo must be a recent, passport-style image taken within the last six months. It must meet the Department of State’s specific size and quality requirements with a plain white or off-white background.
Submit your entry and save your confirmation number. After submission, you will receive a unique confirmation number on screen. This number is essential for checking your results later. Store it in a safe place immediately.
| DV-2026 Timeline | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Period | October 2 – November 7, 2024 |
| Results Available | May 3, 2025 |
| Visa Application Window | October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026 |
| All Visas Must Be Issued By | September 30, 2026 |
Important rules: Each person may submit only one entry per registration period. Multiple entries will disqualify all of them. Starting with DV-2027, a $1 electronic registration fee will apply.
How to Check Your DV Lottery Approval Status
The U.S. government will never contact you by email, letter, or phone about your selection. Any such communication is a scam. You must check your status yourself through the official online portal.
Here is how to check your results.
Go to the Entrant Status Check page. Visit dvprogram.state.gov/ESC during the results window. For DV-2026, results became available on May 3, 2025, and remain accessible until September 30, 2026.
Enter your confirmation number. Type the 16-character code you received when you submitted your entry exactly as it appears on your confirmation page.
Provide your last name and year of birth. Use the same details from your original application form. Then complete the CAPTCHA verification to confirm you are a real person.
Review your results. The system will display whether your entry was selected or not. If selected, the page will provide instructions on next steps.
If you lost your confirmation number, recover it using the “Forgot Confirmation Number” tool on the DV Lottery website.
What Happens After You Are Selected?
Selection in the DV Lottery is exciting, but it is only the beginning. Several additional steps remain before you receive your green card.
Submit Form DS-260. This is the Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application. Complete it through the Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center. Every family member in your entry must also submit their own DS-260.
Gather your supporting documents. Required documents include your birth certificate, passport, police clearance certificates, and proof of education or work experience. All documents must be original or certified copies, with translations for anything not in English.
Complete a medical examination. A U.S. embassy-designated physician must conduct the exam, covering general health, vaccinations, and communicable disease screening.
Attend your visa interview. The Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) schedules your interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Before attending, pay the $330 Diversity Visa application fee per person and bring all original documents, medical results, and photos.
Receive your visa. If the consular officer approves your application, you will receive your immigrant visa. Enter the United States before the expiration date printed on it.
| Post-Selection Step | Key Detail |
|---|---|
| DS-260 Submission | Online through CEAC portal |
| Medical Exam | Conducted by embassy-designated physician |
| Interview Fee | $330 per person (non-refundable) |
| Visa Deadline | All visas must be issued by September 30 of the fiscal year |
Current Status of the DV Program: Important 2026 Updates
Applicants should be aware of recent developments. In December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security directed USCIS to pause the DV Lottery program following a security review. The Department of State also temporarily suspended the issuance of DV immigrant visas at embassies and consulates.
Previously issued DV visas remain valid, but no new DV visas are currently being issued. The DV-2027 registration period has also been delayed. Because the program is established by an act of Congress, applicants should continue monitoring the official Department of State website for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DV Lottery free to enter?
The DV-2026 program had no registration fee. Starting with DV-2027, a $1 electronic fee will apply. Selected applicants must also pay a $330 visa application fee before their interview.
Can I apply if my country is not on the eligible list?
You may qualify if your spouse was born in an eligible country. You can also use a parent’s birth country if neither parent was born in or a resident of your ineligible country.
How do I know if I’ve been selected?
Check your status at dvprogram.state.gov/ESC using your confirmation number. The government does not send notifications by email, letter, or phone.
Does winning the lottery guarantee a green card?
No. Selection means you can apply for a Diversity Visa. You must still complete the application and pass a consular interview.
What if I lose my confirmation number?
Use the “Forgot Confirmation Number” tool on the DV Lottery website. You will need personal details to retrieve it.
Final Thoughts
The American Diversity Visa Lottery remains one of the most accessible pathways to U.S. permanent residency. While the program is currently paused for security review, it is established by federal law and has resumed after previous suspensions.
If you have been selected for DV-2026, continue gathering documents and monitoring the Entrant Status Check portal. For future applicants, stay informed about DV-2027 registration dates through the official Department of State website.
Ready to check your DV-2026 status? Visit dvprogram.state.gov/ESC and enter your confirmation number today.
Disclaimer: Visa policies and program details may change. Always verify requirements on the U.S. Department of State website.