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Last Updated On: October 4, 2024 | Published On: October 4, 2024
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced the submission dates for the 2026 Diversity Visa Green Card lottery. Electronic entry submission begins at noon on October 2, 2024 and closes at 12PM EST on November 5, 2024. All submissions must be made through the electronic system and those submitted past November 5th will not be accepted. There is no fee to enter but individuals selected and scheduled for an interview need to pay the visa application fee before appearing before the consular officer.
The results of the (FY) 2026 lottery are expected to be announced in May 2025.
Out of the millions of people who apply every year, the DOS allots 55,000 immigrant visas per year through a lottery pool for foreign nationals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S. These 55,000 are chosen randomly by a computer. There are many health, education and employment opportunities made available as a recipient of the diversity lottery program. Based on continent, the highest number of DVs issued go to Africa and Europe.
Only one registration per person is permitted and submitting more than one will disqualify all entries for the individual – the Department of State has technology to detect this. Late entries or those submitted by paper will not be accepted.
The National Visa Center will randomly select eligible applicants and the total amount of green cards provided to a region cannot exceed 7%. Individuals chosen will be given the opportunity to apply for permanent residence or an adjustment of status. The online application to enter is free so beware of any scams that ask you to pay. Have additional questions? It’s best to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys!
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Will mail notification letters be sent to those selected?
The DOS does not mail notification letters or notify selectees by email. What’s more, U.S. embassies and consulates will not provide a list of selectees. Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website is the ONLY means by which the Department of State notifies selectees of their selection.
What should I do if I was selected?
Congrats if your entry was chosen! You will be directed to a confirmation page with further instructions, including details about immigration fees for the United States. The Entrant Status Check is the only method used to notify individuals. The Department of State does not send notification letters by mail or inform selectees through email. Furthermore, U.S. Embassies and Consulates do not provide a list of selectees. If you haven’t been selected, you will only receive notification through the Entrant Status Check. It is strongly advised that you personally access the Entrant Status Check and not rely on someone else to do it for you.
Just because you are selected in the Diversity Visa Lottery does not mean you are automatically entitled to a green card. What it does mean is that you are eligible to apply for the immigrant visa for yourself and your eligible relatives. With years of experience, VisaNation Law Group’s diversity visa lawyers can help you gather and complete the required material in a timely manner in order to secure a Green Card Lottery case, approval.
In order to adjust your status you must prove the following:
Below is a list of requirements to confirm your qualifications for the Diversity Visa Program:
Once the results are announced sometime around May 2025, you will:
Based on a per continent basis, the highest number of DVs in the past have been issued to Africa and Europe. The specific allocations beyond that are unknown since USCIS has not released the data.
Below is the list of countries that are eligible for the 2026 Diversity Visa lottery based on USCIS guidelines.
AFRICA
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Liberia
Burkina
Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Libya
Cabo Verde
Central African
Republic
Chad
Comoros
Madagascar
Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Djibouti
Malawi
Egypt*
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Mali
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Mauritania
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Asia
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Bhutan
Brunei
Burma
Cambodia
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel*
Japan***
Jordan
Kuwait
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Nepal
North Korea
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Syria*
Taiwan**
Thailand
Timor-Leste
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
Europe
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau Special Administrative Region**
North Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
Northern Ireland
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Tajikistan
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vatican City
North America
Oceania
Australia
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
New Zealand
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
South America, Central America and The Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Barbados
Belize
Bolivia
Chile
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Ecuador
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
Uruguay
*For DV-2026, natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in 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, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Venezuela, and Vietnam. Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.
Below are some frequently asked questions about the Diversity Visa:
Does being selected in the lottery guarantee green card approval?
No, it is not a guarantee but it means you are eligible to apply for a diversity visa. Once you are selected, you will need to go through the green card application process. It’s important to get the process underway sooner than later. To get this started, it’s best to schedule a consultation with one of our immigration attorneys.
What do I do if my native country is not eligible for the diversity visa?
You, the applicant, have the ability to claim your spouse’s native country if it is eligible. However, your spouse must also be able to receive and meet all visa requirements and they will need to accompany you to the United States with a DV-2 Visa. If both your parents were born outside of your native country and they did not reside in the country after you (as the applicant were born), the applicant can claim the parents’ native country. With the exception of Cuba, which is not eligible for DV-2026, there were no changes in eligibility from the previous fiscal year.
How do I know if I have a qualifying occupation based on the work experience criteria?
First, go to the Department of Labor O*Net Online Database then under the “Find Occupations” select “Job Family”. Then select the link of your occupation. The DOL qualifies work experience that 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. You will be able to see this information in the summary under your specific occupation.
When can I apply for 2026 DV Lottery?
The 2026 DV lottery is between October 2, 2024 and November 5, 2024.
How to check eligibility for US DV Lottery 2026?
See the list above of eligible countries as well as criteria.
How can I apply for 2026 DV Lottery?
You will need to submit your Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form or DS-5501), online at dvprogram.state.gov.
How many DV winners in 2026?
55,000 are selected every year from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S.
What are the chances of winning 2026 DV visa lottery?
This depends on the number of total submissions USCIS receives per year, we know it is in the millions but do not have exact data to provide an accurate chance of winning percentage.
What if I lost my confirmation number?
You can retrieve it on the official website by clicking ‘Forgot confirmation number’.
If you have received an email saying you were selected in the 2026 Diversity Visa Lottery, practice extreme caution. Scammers have been known to do this and ask for money. You should check only on the official State Department portal to find out if you were selected. Here are other resources related to 2026 Diversity Visa to help safeguard yourself against fraud.