The U.S. Department of State will begin accepting online registrations for the Fiscal Year 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at noon EDT (4:00 PM GMT).

Foreign nationals interested in applying have until Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at noon EST (4:00 PM Ghana Time) to submit their entries through the official DV lottery website.

The FY 2026 program will offer up to 55,000 green cards through a randomized selection process, with results expected in May 2025.

Selected applicants will be able to begin the green card application process starting October 1, 2025.

The DV lottery is open to individuals born in countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States.

However, citizens from nations with high U.S. immigration rates are ineligible. For the FY 2026 lottery, countries excluded from participation include Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam. However, individuals born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are still eligible.

Ineligible individuals may still qualify through their spouse's or, in some cases, their parent's country of birth. All applicants must have at least a high school education or two years of work experience in a qualifying occupation within the last five years.

Applicants must submit an online form along with a digital photo through the official DV lottery website. Only one entry is permitted per person; submitting multiple entries will lead to disqualification.

The registration process is free, and applicants can include their spouses and children in their submissions.

After submitting their application, entrants will receive a confirmation number, which they will need to check their status when results are released in May 2025.

Lottery winners are selected randomly via a computer draw.

Results will be available starting May 3, 2025, on the official DV lottery website and will remain accessible until at least September 30, 2026.

Applicants can check their status using their confirmation number. The State Department will not notify winners by mail, e-mail, fax, or phone.

The U.S. Department of State warns of common scams surrounding the DV lottery and emphasizes that the official website is the only legitimate platform for registration.

There are no government fees to enter the lottery, and foreign nationals should be cautious of fraudulent websites or services that claim to offer assistance for a fee.

The State Department does not send e-mail or fax notifications, and any such communication should be regarded with suspicion.

For further details and to register, applicants should visit the official U.S. Department of State DV lottery website