Who qualifies
You qualify to enter the DV lottery if you were born in a DV-eligible country (large-sender countries like India, China, Mexico, Philippines and Vietnam are excluded) AND you meet the education or work-experience requirement: high school completion (12-year academic curriculum) OR two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training.
Eligibility requirements
- Native of a DV-eligible country (may cross-charge via spouse or parents).
- High school diploma (12-year academic curriculum) OR two years of qualifying work experience in an occupation requiring 2+ years of training/experience within the last 5 years.
- Admissible under INA §212(a) — no criminal, health, security or fraud bars, or an approved waiver.
- Ability to complete DS-260 processing before the fiscal year ends (September 30 of the following year).
Step-by-step process
- 1
Free electronic entry
Complete Form DS-5501 at dvlottery.state.gov during the ~30-day registration window (typically October–November). Only one entry per person; married couples may file separately.
- 2
Selection
State Department runs a random draw and publishes selection status through the online Entrant Status Check the following May.
- 3
Case number
Selectees receive a rank-order case number. Only those with current numbers may proceed under the monthly DV Visa Bulletin.
- 4
DS-260 immigrant visa application
File DS-260, medical exam, police clearances, and required civil documents.
- 5
Consular interview
Attend the interview at the assigned U.S. embassy. Must complete visa issuance before September 30 of the fiscal year — no extensions.
- 6
Enter U.S. as permanent resident
Immigrant visa is stamped in the passport; green card mailed within 90 days of U.S. entry.
Required documents
- Valid passport
- Birth certificate
- Marriage / divorce certificates as applicable
- High school diploma with transcripts, or work-experience letters covering last 10 years
- Police clearances from every country lived in 6+ months since age 16
- Medical exam by panel physician
- Military records (if applicable)
- Photos to State Department specifications
Processing times
Registration October–November. Selection announced the following May. Case numbers become current progressively October (fiscal-year start) through September of the following year. Total from entry to green card is typically 12–24 months for selectees. There is no priority-date protection — if you do not complete processing by September 30, the visa is lost.
Costs and fees
| DV registration | Free |
| DV lottery visa fee (per applicant) | $330 |
| Medical exam | $200–$500 |
| USCIS immigrant fee (after visa) | $235 |
| Passport, photos, translations | $100–$500 |
Pros and cons
Pros
- No employer, no family sponsor, no investment required.
- Registration is completely free.
- Path to permanent residence in 12–24 months for selectees.
- Whole family qualifies as derivatives on one selection.
Cons
- Selection is random with roughly 0.5–2% odds depending on region.
- Fiscal-year deadline is unforgiving — miss September 30 and the visa is lost.
- Large-sender countries (India, China, Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam etc.) are excluded.
- Selectees still must clear all admissibility hurdles at consular interview.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries are excluded from DV-2026?+
The State Department publishes the excluded-country list each year based on the last five years of immigration data. Recent years have excluded Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland), Venezuela and Vietnam.
How do I know if my case number is 'current'?+
The State Department publishes a monthly DV Visa Bulletin listing the highest case numbers eligible to schedule interviews for each region. Once your number is current, you proceed with DS-260 processing.
Can I enter if my country is not on the eligible list?+
Yes, via cross-chargeability. You may claim your spouse's country of birth if it is DV-eligible and you both immigrate together, or in some cases your parents' country of birth if you were born in an excluded country but your parents were not residents.
What if I do not meet the education requirement?+
You must have either a completed 12-year academic high school curriculum OR two years of work experience within the last five years in an occupation requiring at least 2 years of training or experience per O*NET Job Zone 4 or 5. Vocational or trade certificates do not substitute for the academic requirement.
Can I enter multiple times?+
No. Each entrant may submit only one entry per registration period. Duplicate entries result in disqualification. However, spouses may each file their own entry.
EntryNest tools that help
- Use the Eligibility Checker to confirm your birth country and education/work qualification.
- Use the Document Review tool once selected to verify your civil-documents packet.
- The Interview Prep tool covers common DV consular questions on intent and admissibility.