2026 Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery (DV-2026) Now Open

Each year, the U.S. government makes available 55,000 permanent resident (“green card”) visas to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. (see below). To qualify, eligible individuals must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent, or two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years. Applicants for DV-2026 will be entered into a random, computer-generated lottery drawing.

The registration period for the 2026 Diversity Visa Lottery is now open and will close at noon EST on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Applications must be submitted electronically at https://dvprogram.state.gov/ during the registration period. Paper entries will not be accepted. Additional information about the DV Lottery can be found here. Entrants will be able to check the DV lottery website to see whether they have been selected beginning May 3, 2025.

Native-born applicants of the following countries are not eligible to apply for this year’s lottery (because these countries sent a total of more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. during the previous five years): 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. Persons born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible to apply.

The Department of State reminds applicants to be aware of fraudulent websites posing as official U.S. government websites. In recent years, companies posing as government agencies have sought money in order to complete and submit DV entry forms. There is no charge to download and submit the Visa Lottery entry form.

For further details on the 2026 Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery, please contact your KM&M attorney.