United States: FY 2026 Diversity Visa Lottery Registration Opens October 2

• The DV lottery is open to natives of countries that have historically low rates of immigration to the United States.
• Individuals from countries with high rates of U.S. immigration are not eligible to register.
  • This year, those born in the following countries are ineligible: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including mainland and Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
  • Individuals born in Macau SAR and Taiwan can participate.
  • Those who cannot register because their country of birth is excluded may be able to qualify through a spouse who was born in an eligible country or, in certain circumstances, through a parent’s country of birth.
• Entrants must have at least a high school education (or equivalent) or two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years.

• Entrants must submit an online form and a digital photo through the official DV lottery website. DV lottery applicants may include a spouse and children in their entry.
• Only one entry is permitted per person. If there are multiple registrations on behalf of one person, all of the registrations are disqualified.
• Applicants must carefully follow the State Department’s official lottery instructions. Lottery entries and digital photos that do not precisely conform to the instructions will be disqualified.
• Once the application is accepted, applicants will receive a confirmation number, which can be used to check the status of their application.

The State Department chooses lottery winners by random computer selection. Results will be published starting May 3, 2025 through at least September 30, 2026, on the official DV lottery entry status website.

Foreign nationals can learn whether they were selected only by visiting the official DV website and entering their confirmation number. The State Department does not notify entrants by letter, e-mail, fax, or telephone. The official website is the only legitimate source of lottery results.

DV lottery fraud is very common, but foreign nationals can and should take a few precautions to protect themselves.

• Look out for deceptive lottery websites. The only authorized DV lottery website is located on the State Department website. The State Department does not use or authorize any outside individual or company to accept lottery applications or operate the lottery. There are many websites posing as official government sites or claiming to have State Department authorization. These sites should be avoided.
• The State Department does not charge a fee for lottery registrations. A website, individual, or company claiming there is a government fee to enter the lottery is fraudulent.
• If lottery assistance is needed, seek competent advice. Applicants may use a lawyer or other representative to prepare a lottery registration, but they should be wary of commercial websites that claim to register applicants outside of the registration period or purport to be authorized by the State Department to accept registrations for a fee.
• Beware of lottery e-mails, letters, or faxes that claim to be from the State Department. The State Department does not send e-mails, letters, or faxes about the DV lottery. The official website is the only legitimate source of information about lottery results and the only place to submit a lottery registration.
• Be skeptical of any communication claiming a foreign national has won the DV lottery when the applicant did not register or registered in a previous year.
• Avoid sending money or personal information to questionable individuals or companies.

Learn more about DV lottery fraud by visiting the websites of the State Department and the Federal Trade Commission.