Eligibility: who can and cannot apply
The DV Lottery is open to applicants born in countries that sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the prior five years. Ineligible countries include: Mexico, India, China (mainland-born), the Philippines, Bangladesh, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Korea, the Dominican Republic, the UK (excluding Northern Ireland), Vietnam, Canada, and several others that Congress may update. Crucially, eligibility is based on your country of birth, not citizenship — so if you were born in an eligible country but hold an ineligible country's passport, you may still enter.
Education or work requirement: you must have a high school diploma or equivalent, OR have two years of work experience in the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience (as defined by the US DOL).
How to register (it's free)
Registration opens in October for about one month and is conducted exclusively at dvlottery.state.gov — there is no fee. You submit a digital photo meeting strict requirements, your biographical information, and basic education/work details. You may submit only one entry per year; duplicate entries are automatically disqualified. You should record your confirmation number — it is the only way to check selection results when they are published in May.
Third-party websites that charge to 'help' you enter the DV Lottery are scams. The DOS registration system is free and straightforward.
Selection, interview, and claiming the visa
Winners are selected by random computer draw from the pool of qualified entries. Being selected is not the same as receiving a green card — you must then complete Form DS-260 (online immigrant visa application), gather civil documents (birth, marriage, police certificates), undergo a medical exam, and attend a consular interview at a US embassy. Visas are issued in case number order; if your case number is high, you may not receive an interview before the fiscal year ends on September 30 and unused visas expire.
If you are selected and already in the US in valid nonimmigrant status, you can file Form I-485 to adjust to permanent resident status instead of attending a consular interview abroad.
Related Questions
How many people apply for the DV Lottery each year?
Typically 10–15 million entries are submitted annually. About 55,000 diversity visas are issued, but more than 100,000 individuals are initially selected to account for those who fail to qualify or miss the deadline — giving a selection rate of roughly 0.5–1%.
Can I include my family in a DV Lottery application?
Yes — your spouse and unmarried children under 21 are included in your application and receive derivative visas if you are selected. Each spouse in a married couple may separately enter the lottery, effectively doubling the couple's chances.
How do I find out if I won the DV Lottery?
Results are published in May at dvlottery.state.gov. You check your status using the confirmation number you received when you registered. The DOS does not send notification emails — all official communication is through the online portal.
What happens if I win but cannot attend the interview before September 30?
The diversity visa expires at the end of the fiscal year (September 30). There is no carryover and no extension. Missing the interview deadline means losing the selection permanently.
Are DV Lottery winners automatically approved for a green card?
No. Selection in the lottery establishes priority; you still need to pass the consular interview, background check, and medical exam. Misrepresentation, criminal history, or immigration violations can still result in denial.
Official Sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and processing times change; always confirm with the official government source before acting.