US Diversity Visa Lottery 2026: DV-2027 Status, Eligibility, Entry Rules and Scams
Green card lottery guide: DV-2027 status after the court order, who can enter, the new $1 fee and passport rule, scams to avoid and what happens if you win.
US law makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available each year through the Diversity Visa (DV) program, better known as the green card lottery. For millions of people in Africa, Europe and parts of Asia, it is the only US green card route that needs no employer, no family sponsor and no big investment.
It has also had its most turbulent year ever. The State Department paused the program in December 2025, DV-2027 registration did not open in October 2026 as it normally would, and a federal judge ordered the government to restart it. As of late October 2026, entrants are waiting for an official announcement.
This guide explains where things stand, the new entry rules (a $1 fee and a passport requirement), how to enter without getting disqualified, what happens if you are selected, and how to avoid the scams that thrive on the confusion.
In this guide
Diversity Visa Lottery at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who it's for | Natives of countries with low US immigration rates who meet the education or work rule |
| Visas per year | Up to 55,000 (some are set aside for other programs) |
| Entry cost | $1 registration fee from DV-2027, paid online during entry |
| Fee if selected | $330 DV application fee per person, plus medical exam and other costs |
| Entry window | Normally about one month each October to November; DV-2027 delayed |
| Results | Online through Entrant Status Check only, never by email |
| Outcome | Permanent residence (green card) for you, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 |
| Official source | dvprogram.state.gov and travel.state.gov |
DV Program Status in 2026: What Happened
Here is the timeline, as of late October 2026.
- November 2025: The State Department said it was changing the DV-2027 entry process and would announce dates later.
- December 2025: After reports that a suspect in a US shooting had obtained a green card through the program years earlier, the administration paused it. On December 23, 2025, the State Department stopped issuing diversity visas.
- August 28, 2026: A federal court in California ordered the State Department to resume issuing diversity visas. With only weeks left in the DV-2026 year, which ended September 30, 2026, many selectees ran out of time.
- October 14, 2026: A federal judge in the Southern District of California issued a preliminary injunction ordering the State Department to run DV-2027 registration. Reported deadlines under the order: an announcement by October 29, registration opening November 1 for 30 days, and selectee notification by early December.
- Appeal: The government has appealed. Reports say the district court refused to pause its order, and the government may ask the appeals court to do so.
New Rules for DV-2027: $1 Fee and a Passport
Two rule changes apply from DV-2027 onward.
The $1 registration fee. A final rule published in September 2025 added a $1 electronic fee to submit an entry. Entering used to be free. One dollar is not much, but it means you now need a way to pay online, and it gives scammers a new excuse to ask for "payment details".
The passport requirement. A final rule published March 11, 2026, effective April 10, 2026, requires the main entrant to provide details from a valid, unexpired passport and upload a scan of the biographic page. The State Department cited more than 2.5 million duplicate entries in the 2025 program as a reason. Limited exemptions cover stateless people, some nationals of communist-controlled countries who cannot get a passport, and individual waivers. Not being able to afford a passport is not an exemption.
Who Can Enter
You must meet two requirements.
1. Country of eligibility
You qualify based on where you were born, not where you live or your citizenship. Countries that sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the previous five years are excluded.
For DV-2026, natives of these 19 countries could not enter: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela and Vietnam. The DV-2027 list will be in the official instructions and can change.
There are two ways around a birth-country bar:
- Spouse's country. You can claim your spouse's birth country if it is eligible, as long as you are both named on the entry and enter the US together.
- Parents' country. If neither parent was born in or lived in your birth country when you were born, you may claim a parent's birth country.
2. Education or work experience
You need either:
- A high school education or its equivalent: a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education, completed. Vocational or equivalency certificates generally don't count.
- Or two years of work experience in the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience, as classified by the US Department of Labor's O*NET database (Job Zone 4 or 5).
Most entrants qualify through school. If you are relying on work experience, check your occupation in O*NET before you enter, because many common jobs do not meet the standard.
Travel Restrictions: The Hidden Barrier
Winning the lottery does not guarantee a visa. A presidential proclamation in force since January 1, 2026 suspends immigrant visas, including diversity visas, for nationals of 39 countries, with narrow exceptions.
Fully restricted countries include Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, among others. Partially restricted countries, where immigrant visas are also suspended, include Angola, Benin, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe, along with Cuba, Venezuela and several Caribbean states.
These lists can change at any time. If your country is on one, entering may still be possible, but issuance is a separate question.
How to Enter, Step by Step
- Wait for the official announcement with dates and instructions on the State Department site.
- Prepare your passport and photos. Each person on the entry needs a recent digital photo meeting strict rules: plain white or off-white background, facing the camera, no glasses, taken within the last six months.
- Go only to dvprogram.state.gov during the entry window.
- Fill in the form yourself, or sit with whoever helps you. List your spouse and every unmarried child under 21, even those who will never immigrate.
- Pay the $1 fee and submit once. More than one entry per person means disqualification.
- Save your confirmation number. You need it to check results. Write it down and keep a screenshot.
- Check Entrant Status Check on the official site after results are released.
Mistakes that get entries disqualified
| Mistake | Result |
|---|---|
| Submitting more than one entry for the same person | All your entries are disqualified |
| Leaving out a spouse or child | Disqualification, even after selection |
| Listing a spouse you are separated from as "single" | Disqualification |
| Reusing an old photo or one edited with filters | Entry rejected or later disqualification |
| Letting an agent enter for you and keep the confirmation number | You may never learn you were selected, or face extortion |
| Wrong birth country | Visa refused at interview |
Married couples can each submit an entry, listing each other. That doubles the family's chances legally.
If You Are Selected
Selection is not a visa. The State Department selects more people than there are visas, because many won't qualify or won't follow through. Your rank number decides when you can proceed.
- Confirm selection on Entrant Status Check. You will not get an email or letter saying you won.
- Submit Form DS-260 online, with the details of each family member immigrating with you.
- Gather documents: birth certificates, passports, education certificates, police certificates, marriage and divorce records, and court records if relevant.
- Watch the visa bulletin for your rank number to become current.
- Attend the medical exam with an embassy-approved panel physician.
- Pay the $330 DV fee per person and attend your interview.
- Get the visa by September 30 of the program year. This deadline is absolute. Unused selections expire.
If you are already in the US in lawful status, you may be able to file Form I-485 to adjust status instead. The USCIS fee is $1,440 for an adult. That route also must finish by September 30.
Costs if you win
| Cost | Amount (USD, as of 2026) |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | $1 |
| DV application fee | $330 per person |
| Medical exam and vaccines | Varies by country, often $150 to $500+ per person |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee (before travel) | $235 per person |
| Passports, police certificates, translations | Varies |
| Flights and first months in the US | Plan for several thousand dollars |
You must also show you won't become a "public charge". Officers look at your education, job prospects, savings and any US sponsor's Form I-134 or other support.
DV Lottery Scams to Avoid
Lottery confusion is a gift to fraudsters. Common scams:
- "Congratulations" emails saying you won and must pay to claim the visa. The State Department never emails winners.
- Fake entry websites that look official and charge $50 to $200 to "submit" your entry.
- Agents who enter for you and keep your confirmation number, then demand money if you are selected.
- "Guaranteed selection" or "increase your chances" offers. The draw is random. Nobody can improve your odds.
- Requests for your passport or bank details by WhatsApp for "processing".
Our full guide to spotting visa and job scams covers how to verify sites and where to report fraud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DV-2027 registration open now?
As of late October 2026, no. A court ordered the State Department to open registration, reportedly from November 1 for 30 days, but the government has appealed. Only trust dates published on the official State Department sites.
Can Nigerians enter the DV lottery?
Not for DV-2026, because Nigeria sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the previous five years. A Nigerian-born entrant can still qualify through a spouse born in an eligible country, or in some cases through a parent's birth country. Nigeria is also under partial travel restrictions that suspend immigrant visas.
How much does it cost to enter the green card lottery?
From DV-2027, the official entry fee is $1, paid on the official site. If you are selected, you pay $330 per person when you apply for the visa, plus medical exam and document costs. Anyone charging more just to enter is not the US government.
What are my chances of winning?
They depend on your region and how many people from your country enter. Millions of people enter each year for roughly 55,000 visas, so odds are low for most countries. Couples entering separately improves family odds.
Do I need a job offer or sponsor if I win?
No job offer is needed. You must show you won't rely on public benefits, and evidence of skills, savings or a US-based supporter helps.
I was selected for DV-2026 but did not get my visa. Can I still get it?
Generally no. DV-2026 ended on September 30, 2026, and selections cannot carry over. Some selectees are pursuing court cases, so get advice from a qualified immigration lawyer if you were affected.
Before You Enter
- Apply for or renew your passport now so it's ready when the window opens.
- Bookmark the official entry site, dvprogram.state.gov, and ignore anyone selling entries.
- Check whether your country is eligible and whether it's under travel restrictions.
- If you also study or work abroad, compare other routes such as the F-1 student visa or EB-3 sponsorship.
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Fees, quotas and requirements change often, so confirm every detail on the official government website before you apply or pay anyone. See our editorial policy.
