Green Card Lottery: Diversity Visa Program Explained

What Is the Green Card Lottery?

The Green Card Lottery, officially called the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program, is run each year by the U.S. Department of State. It offers people from countries with historically low immigration to the United States a chance to apply for permanent residency. Each year, up to 55,000 green cards are reserved for winners of this lottery.

The program was created under the Immigration Act of 1990 with one main goal: to broaden representation in America’s immigrant population. In simple terms, it gives people from underrepresented regions the opportunity to live and work in the U.S.

That’s why guides like this matter. Here, you’ll learn how the DV Lottery works, who qualifies, how to apply step by step, and the pitfalls to avoid—so you don’t miss your once-in-a-lifetime chance.

DV Lottery Eligibility: Countries, Education & Work Requirements

Not everyone can apply for the Green Card Lottery. The U.S. Department of State has two basic requirements you must meet before submitting an entry:

1. Country of Birth

You must have been born in a country that has sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the past five years. The list of eligible and ineligible countries changes slightly every year.

1. Bangladesh
2. Brazil
3. Canada
4. The People’s Republic of China (including mainland and Hong Kong born)
5. Colombia
6. Cuba
7. Dominican Republic
8. El Salvador
9. Haiti
10. Honduras
11. India
12. Jamaica
13. Mexico
14. Nigeria
15. Pakistan
16. Philippines
17. Republic of Korea (South Korea)
18. Venezuela
19. Vietnam

These countries exceeded the U.S. Family- and Employment-based immigration threshold over the past 5 years and are ineligible for DV.

All other countries not listed above are generally eligible for the DV Lottery in the current year. According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security data, eligibility can vary each year. Always refer to the latest DV Instructions PDF for the authoritative list.

If your birth country is not eligible, don’t lose hope—sometimes you can claim your spouse’s or parent’s (Cross-chargeability rule) country of birth if it qualifies.

• Spouse Exception: If your spouse was born in a country with historically low immigration to the United States, you can claim your spouse’s country of birth. To qualify, both you and your spouse must be listed on the same DV Lottery entry, both must meet eligibility and be issued visas, and you must enter the U.S. together.
• Parent Exception: If you were born in a country that is not eligible, but neither of your parents was born there or legally lived there at the time, you may instead claim the country of birth of one of your parents—provided that country is eligible for the DV program.

2. Education or Work Experience

In addition to country of birth, you must also meet one of the following requirements:

Education Requirement

• You must have at least a high school education (or its equivalent).
• This means successful completion of a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education comparable to U.S. standards.

Work Experience Alternative

• If you don’t have the required education, you may still qualify through your work background.
• You must show at least two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years.
• The job must fall under the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET system, specifically:
  • Job Zone 4 or 5
  • SVP (Specific Vocational Preparation) rating of 7.0 or higher

These rules exist to ensure that applicants have the basic skills to support themselves and contribute once they move to the United States.

Examples of Qualifying vs. Non-Qualifying Jobs

Source: O*NET OnLine

Tip: Many people get disqualified for overlooking these requirements. Double-check that you meet both the country eligibility and education/work rules before you spend time filling out your entry.

How to Apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery

Applying for the DV Lottery is simple, straightforward, and done entirely online. But it’s crucial to follow each step carefully to avoid common mistakes that could disqualify your entry.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

• Make sure you meet the country of birth and education/work experience requirements.
  • Country of Birth: List the country where you were born, using its current name if it has changed.
• Double-check any exceptions, such as claiming your spouse’s or parent’s country if applicable.

Step 2: Gather Required Documents

• A valid, unexpired passport (required for the 2026 DV Lottery and beyond).
• Recent digital photograph of yourself and each family member included in your application.
• Basic information such as date of birth, place of birth, current address, spouse, and children.
  • Spouse: List your spouse, even if they don’t live with you or don’t plan to immigrate.
  • Children: List all biological and adopted children, regardless of age, and all step-children under 21, even if you are no longer married to their parents.

Step 3: Complete the Online Entry

• Submit your application.
• Complete all fields accurately. Mistakes, missing information, or photos that don’t meet specifications are the most common reasons for disqualification.

Step 4: Review Before Submission

• Double-check every entry: spelling of names, dates, country eligibility, and family members.
• Ensure the photo meets the U.S. State Department’s requirements. Learn about the photo requirements from our detailed guide.

Step 5: Submit and Save Your Confirmation

• After submitting, you’ll receive a confirmation number.
• Save this number carefully—you’ll need it to check your results later.

Step 6: Wait for Results

• The DV Lottery is random, so winning is never guaranteed.
• Use your confirmation number to check results online when they are announced. Avoid emails, calls, or third-party services claiming to notify winners for a fee—they are scams.

Pro Tip: Keep a checklist of every detail and submit only one entry per person. Multiple entries for the same person automatically disqualify your application. The winners and their families are eligible to apply for a green card.

How Are Winners Selected and How to Check Your Results

Winners of the Green Card Lottery are chosen randomly from all eligible entries submitted during the application period. To ensure fair representation, a certain number of visas are allocated to each region of the world, and no single country can receive more than 7% of the Diversity Visas available in any given year.

There is no way to influence the selection, so be cautious of anyone claiming they can guarantee a visa. There is no way to influence the selection, so be cautious of anyone claiming they can guarantee a visa.

Once the results are announced, you can check them online only using the Entrant Status Check on the official DV Lottery website: dvprogram.state.gov. You will need your confirmation number, date of birth, and last name to access your results.

The U.S. government never sends emails or makes phone calls to notify winners. Be alert and avoid scams that claim to guarantee a visa or request fees.

Green Card Lottery Timeline

The Green Card Lottery follows a structured timeline, and understanding it can help you plan each step carefully:

• Notification of Winners: Typically, winners are notified about seven months after submitting their entry.
• Visa Application & Interview: After being selected, it can take up to 14 months to be scheduled for your interview and receive your Diversity Visa, depending on how quickly you submit your visa application.
• Example (DV-2026):
  • Application Period: October – November 2024
  • Winners Announced: May 2025
  • Visa Application Period: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026

The sooner you apply for your visa during the fiscal year, the sooner you can be scheduled for your interview and potentially receive your visa.

• Visa Validity: Once issued, a Diversity Visa is usually valid for up to six months. You must enter the United States on or before the expiration date printed on your visa.

Tip: Planning ahead and applying early in the fiscal year can help you secure your interview date sooner and reduce delays in receiving your visa.

What to Do If You Are Selected

Being selected in the Green Card Lottery is exciting—but it’s only the beginning. Even though it may take a year or more before you can enter the United States, acting quickly is crucial. Here’s why:

1. Visa Deadlines: Your application must be processed and your visa issued by the end of the fiscal year for which you were selected.
2. Limited Availability: More people are selected than there are visas, so waiting too long could mean all visas are already issued.

When you’re notified of your selection, you’ll receive a numerical rank that indicates when you can apply for your visa. Starting around the end of July, you can check the U.S. Department of State’s visa bulletin to see when your application window opens.

The first visas become available on October 1, the start of the U.S. fiscal year, and you can submit your application up to 90 days in advance. Include your spouse and any unmarried children under 21, if applicable.

If You’re Outside the United States

Most DV Lottery winners live outside the U.S. In this case:

• Submit Form DS-260 to the National Visa Center (NVC) once a visa is available.
• Your application will be forwarded to the U.S. consulate in your home country.
• The consulate will schedule a visa interview, where your immigrant visa will be approved if you meet all requirements.

If You’re in the United States

If you are already in the U.S. on a temporary (non-immigrant) status, you will apply for your Green Card through USCIS by filing Form I-485.

• Submit your application as soon as a visa becomes available according to the monthly visa bulletin.

Tip: Whether inside or outside the U.S., start preparing your documents early to avoid delays and secure your interview as soon as possible.

Challenges You Might Face and How to Overcome Them

While the Diversity Visa Lottery is an incredible opportunity, it comes with its share of challenges. Being aware of them—and knowing how to handle them—can greatly improve your chances of success.

1. Eligibility Restrictions

Challenge: Not everyone can apply. Applicants must meet country of birth requirements and education/work experience criteria. Some people may assume they qualify when they don’t, or overlook alternative eligibility options through a spouse or parents.

Solution: Check eligibility carefully before applying. If your country is ineligible, see if you can claim eligibility through a spouse or parent. Ensure you meet the high school education or work experience requirement.

2. High Competition

Challenge: Millions of people apply each year, but only 55,000 visas are available.

Solution: Submit a carefully prepared application, double-check eligibility, and ensure your photos and personal details meet official requirements.

3. Disqualification Due to Mistakes

Challenge: Simple errors—wrong country of eligibility, incorrectly formatted photos, or missing information—can disqualify you.

Solution: Follow the official DV Lottery guidelines closely. Review your entry multiple times before submitting.

4. Scams and Fraud

Challenge: Some websites and agents falsely promise a guaranteed Green Card in exchange for money. Falling for these scams can lead to financial loss and disqualification.

Solution: Always use the official DV Lottery website (dvprogram.state.gov) for your application and status checks.

Top Mistakes to Avoid in Your DV Lottery Application

In 2024 alone, more than 14 million people applied for the DV Lottery. Sadly, many lost their chance—not because they weren’t eligible, but because of preventable mistakes such as submitting the wrong type of photo, picking the wrong country of eligibility, or falling for scams promising guaranteed approval.

Even small mistakes can disqualify you. Here are the most common errors and how to avoid them:

1. Entering the Wrong Country of Eligibility: Many applicants mistakenly use the country where they currently live instead of their country of birth, or forget they can claim a spouse’s or parent’s country under certain conditions.
2. Incorrect or Ineligible Photos: Photos that don’t meet the official DV Lottery requirements are a frequent reason for disqualification.
3. Leaving Out Family Members: Failing to include your spouse or all qualifying children can lead to disqualification.

Remember: The DV Lottery may seem simple, but attention to detail is key. Avoid these mistakes to give yourself the best chance of success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion: Increase Your Chance of Winning in a Green Card Lottery

Winning the Green Card Lottery can open the door to a life in the United States, but success depends on careful preparation. By ensuring you meet eligibility requirements, following all instructions precisely, submitting your application on time, gathering necessary documents, and avoiding scams, you can maximize your chances of being selected. Attention to detail and timely action are key—don’t let preventable mistakes stand between you and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Before you proceed, it’s a good idea to speak with an immigration expert or attorney who can guide you through the Green Card Lottery process and help ensure your application is done correctly.