The Diversity Visa (DV) Program, also called the Green Card Lottery, is an annual program that gives up to 55,000 immigrant visas to people from countries with low immigration to the U.S. Its purpose is to make U.S. immigration more diverse. Winning the lottery can eventually lead to permanent residency (a green card).
Country of Birth: You must be from a country eligible that year. Countries that already send many immigrants to the U.S. are excluded.
Education or Work: You must have at least a high school education or equivalent, or at least two years of work experience in the last five years in a job that requires training.
No Age Limit, but most applicants are adults since they need to meet the education/work rule.
Citizens of the following countries are not eligible to apply:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, The People’s Republic of 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, Vietnam, Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible
No, it is completely free to enter. Fees only apply later if you are selected.
Winners are usually announced the following May. For example, DV-2026 results are available in May 2025.
Yes. If you are legally in the U.S. when selected, you can apply for adjustment of status with USCIS.
Submitting more than one entry, providing incorrect information, having certain criminal records, or falling for scams.
You submit your entry online during the registration window, which usually runs from October to November, at the official government website: https://dvprogram.state.gov/. In May of the following year, a random draw is held to select applicants. Those selected can then proceed to apply for immigrant visas. This process repeats the same way every year.