The U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, offers a pathway to permanent residency in the United States. Here's the latest information regarding the 2025 and 2026 lotteries:
DV-2025 Lottery
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Registration Period: The entry period for the DV-2025 lottery closed on November 7, 2023.
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Eligibility: Nigeria was ineligible for the DV-2025 lottery due to high immigration rates to the U.S. in the previous five years.
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Selection Results: Winners were notified starting May 4, 2024.
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Application Status Check: If you applied, you could check your status at dvprogram.state.gov using your confirmation number.
DV-2026 Lottery
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Registration Period: The entry period for the DV-2026 lottery is expected to open in October 2024 and close in November 2024.
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Eligibility: As of the DV-2024 lottery, Nigeria was ineligible. However, eligibility criteria may change, so it's advisable to check the official DV Lottery website for the most current information.
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Application Process: The application process is free and conducted online. Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements and submit your application within the specified period.
For the 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery, applicants must be natives of countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. The U.S. Department of State publishes an official list of eligible and ineligible countries each year. For the 2026 program, the eligibility criteria were determined based on immigration data from the previous five years.
Eligible Countries for DV-2026
The following regions and countries are eligible for the DV-2026 program:
Africa
Most African countries are eligible, with the notable exception of Nigeria.
Asia
Countries such as Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), 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, and Yemen are eligible. However, countries like Bangladesh, China (including Hong Kong), India, Pakistan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam are ineligible.
Europe
Most European countries are eligible, including 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, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Vatican City. The United Kingdom and its dependent territories are ineligible.
North America
Only The Bahamas is eligible. Canada and Mexico are ineligible.
Oceania
Countries such as Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu are eligible.
South America, Central America, and the Caribbean
Eligible countries include Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. Countries like Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, and Venezuela are ineligible.
❗ Ineligible Countries for DV-2026
Nationals of the following countries are ineligible to apply for the DV-2026 program:
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Bangladesh
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Brazil
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Canada
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China (including Hong Kong)
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Colombia
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Cuba
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Dominican Republic
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El Salvador
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Haiti
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Honduras
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India
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Jamaica
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Mexico
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Nigeria
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Pakistan
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Philippines
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South Korea
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Venezuela
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Vietnam
However, individuals born in Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Taiwan remain eligible to participate.
Alternative Eligibility Options
If you were born in an ineligible country, you might still qualify through:
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Spouse: If your spouse is from an eligible country, you can claim their country of birth. Both of you must be named on the same entry and must immigrate together.
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Parents: If neither of your parents was born in or a legal resident of your country of birth at the time of your birth, you may claim the country of birth of either of your parents.
DV-2026 Registration Period
The registration period for the DV-2026 Lottery was from October 2, 2024, to November 7, 2024. The results were scheduled to be announced in May 2025. If you missed this registration period, you will need to wait for the next lottery cycle.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official U.S. Department of State DV Lottery website.Important Reminders
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No Fees: There is no fee to enter the DV Lottery. Be cautious of fraudulent services claiming to increase your chances for a fee.
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One Entry Per Person: Submitting multiple entries can lead to disqualification.
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Photo Requirements: Ensure your photo meets the specified requirements; outdated or incorrect photos can result in disqualification.
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Confirmation Number: Keep your confirmation number safe; it's necessary for checking your application status.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official U.S. Department of State's DV Lottery website.