US Opens Registration for 2026 Diversity Visa Lottery

The United States has officially opened the registration for its 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, offering thousands of hopeful immigrants a chance to win a Green Card.

The registration period, which began on Wednesday, will remain open until November 5, 2024. Those selected will be announced in May 2025.

The DV Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery, is an annual program that provides 50,000 permanent residency visas to applicants from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States.

Successful candidates can live and work in the US, with the opportunity to apply for citizenship later.

How to Apply for the DV Lottery

Applicants must complete the electronic form at dvprogram.state.gov before the deadline. The process is free, and individuals should ensure they meet all requirements to avoid disqualification.

After submitting the form, applicants receive a unique confirmation code, which they must keep to check their status later.

To avoid issues, the US government recommends using modern web browsers, as older ones like Internet Explorer may experience technical difficulties.

Applicants are only allowed one submission; multiple applications will lead to automatic disqualification.

Important Application Details

To successfully register, applicants must provide:

Full name (exactly as it appears in the passport)

Gender

Date of birth

City and country of birth

Recent photos of the applicant and their immediate family (taken within the last six months)

Mailing address

Current country of residence

Email address that will be valid until May 2025

Highest level of education

Marital status and number of children

It’s crucial to submit accurate information to ensure the application is valid.

Photos submitted must meet U.S. visa standards: they should be in color, taken against a white background, and measure 51 x 51 mm.

Applicants are advised to use the “Photo Tool” available on the DV Lottery website to check if their photos meet the requirements. Reusing photos from previous years can result in disqualification.

Once the application is submitted, a confirmation page will display the applicant’s name and a unique confirmation code. It is vital to print and save this page, as it will be needed to check the application status in May 2025.