Diversity Visa Program

What is Diversity Visa Program?

The Department of State annually administers the statutorily created Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Section 203 (c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides for a class of immigrants known as “diversity immigrants” from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For Fiscal year 2025, up to 55,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) will be available. There is no cost to register for the DV program, but selectees who are scheduled for an interview will be required to pay a visa application fee prior to making their formal visa application where a consular officer will determine whether they qualify for the visa.

All entries must be submitted electronically during the specified registration period on the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website. No late entries or paper entries are permitted. During each registration period, the law authorizes only one entry per individual. To detect multiple entries, the Department of State employs sophisticated technology. You will be disqualified for submitting more than one entry. This website cannot be used to submit an entry until the date and time specified on the DV Instructions page.

Find out about entry period, eligibility, cost and how to apply for the DV-2026:

DV Lottery 2026 Cost

There is no fee to enter the DV-2026.

DV-2026 Entry Period

The online registration period for the DV-2026 Program begins on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4) and concludes on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5). Submission of more than one entry for a person during the registration period will disqualify all entries for that person.

Countries that are not eligible for DV-2026

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including mainland and Hong Kong born), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Venezuela, and Vietnam. 

DV-2026 Qualifications

- High School Education: at least a high school or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education; OR
- Work Experience: two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform. The Department of Stat will use the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online database to determine qualifying work experience.
  If you are qualifying with work experience, you must have two years of experience in the last five years, in an occupation which, by U.S. Department of Labor definitions, requires at least two years of training or experience that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating of 7.0 or higher.
  The U.S. Department of Labor provides information on job duties, knowledge and skills, education and training, and other occupational characteristics on their website http://www.onetonline.org/. The O*Net online database groups work experience into five “job zones.” While many occupations are listed, only two years of experience in certain specified occupations qualify an individual for a Diversity Visa.

Find out if you are eligible for DV-2026

DV-2026 Photo Requirements

DV entry photos must be of the same quality and composition as U.S. visa photos.  You can see examples of acceptable photos here.  Do not submit a photograph older than six months or a photograph that does not meet all of the standards described at the link below.

Find out DV-2025 photo requirements.

Apply DV Lottery 2026

Submit your Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form) online at dvprogram.state.gov. After you submit a complete entry, you will see a confirmation screen containing your name and a unique confirmation number. Print this confirmation screen for your records.