- Form
- DS-5501
- Fee
- $1 per entry; $330 per person for the later visa application, as of October 2026
- Time
- DV-2027 entries must open by November 1, 2026; visas must be issued by September 30, 2027
- Where
- Online at dvprogram.state.gov
A federal judge ordered the State Department to announce DV-2027 registration dates by October 29 and open applications by November 1, 2026, after the expected fall 2025 registration never opened. The judge rejected the government’s request to suspend the order, but an appeal remains pending.
The online entry is for people born in countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States. Applicants must also meet an education or work-experience test.
Check your eligibility before preparing an entry
The U.S. Green Card Lottery offers up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually. The Diversity Visa program is limited to applicants who are natives of a low-admission foreign state for the fiscal year in question.
Applicants must meet at least one of two qualifications: secondary education equivalent to 12 years of U.S. schooling, or two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years. Consular officers use the Department of Labor’s O*Net On Line to assess qualifying work experience.
Kazakhstan appeared on the eligible-country list in the last published lottery instructions. Check the updated list before applying; eligibility can vary by fiscal year. A visa cannot be issued after that fiscal year ends.
| India | China | ROW | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Feb 01, 2023 | Aug 01, 2023 ▲31d | Current |
| EB-2 | Nov 01, 2013 | Oct 01, 2021 | Apr 01, 2025 ▲90d |
| EB-3 | Jan 22, 2014 ▲21d | Jan 22, 2022 ▲14d | Jun 15, 2024 ▲31d |
| F-1 | Jan 22, 2021 ▲366d | Jan 22, 2021 ▲366d | Jan 22, 2021 ▲366d |
| F-2A | Oct 22, 2026 ▲30d | Oct 22, 2026 ▲30d | Oct 22, 2026 ▲30d |
Submit one complete entry through the official portal
The State Department accepts entries only online at dvprogram.state.gov. Registration normally opens once a year for about a month in the fall. Do not use an agent or another website to submit an entry for you.
- Open the portal when registration begins. The State Department must announce the DV-2027 dates by October 29 and open entries by November 1, 2026, under the amended order. Confirm the schedule in the department’s announcement before submitting.
- Complete electronic form
DS-5501. Enter your name, date and place of birth, passport details, address and the other information requested on the form. - List your qualifying family members. Include your spouse and every living, unmarried child under 21, including adopted children and stepchildren, even if they will not immigrate. Do not list family members who are already U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Each listed family member needs a separate photograph.
- Upload the required images. Provide the passport scan and photographs in the specified file formats and sizes. Review each image before submitting.
- Pay the entry charge. The $1 registration fee applies to each entry, as of October 2026, and must be paid through the authorized U.S. government payment system.
- Submit once and save the confirmation number. You will need that number to check your status later.
Each person may submit only one entry in a registration period. Submitting multiple entries leads to disqualification. Under the regulations, if two or more petitions are submitted for one fiscal year, all are void and that person becomes ineligible for that year.
An eligible spouse may submit a separate entry. That does not permit either spouse to submit multiple entries of their own.
Prepare the passport and photographs in the required formats
The new DV-2027 rules require a valid passport, with limited exceptions. Rules effective April 10, 2026, also require passport details and a scan of the passport’s biographic and signature pages.
| Document or image | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Each entrant | Required under the new rules, subject to limited exceptions. |
| Passport scan | Each entrant | Biographic and signature pages; JPEG format; no larger than 5 MB. |
| Digital photograph | Each entrant | Taken within the past six months; square, 600 × 600 pixels; JPEG; no larger than 240 KB. |
| Family-member photographs | Each listed family member | A separate photograph is required for each person listed on the entry. |
Photographs must have a plain white or off-white background. The person must face the camera directly and must not wear glasses. Check the dimensions and file sizes before uploading; an image that misses a technical requirement may prevent a complete entry.
The entry fee is separate from the later visa fee
As of October 2026, each entry requires a $1 registration fee. The fee began on September 16 of last year; participation had previously been free. The DV-2026 registration period, October 2 to November 7, 2024, has closed.
| Payment | Amount and timing, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Lottery registration | $1 for each entry, paid through the authorized U.S. government payment system. |
| Immigrant visa application | $330 per person, paid to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate cashier at the scheduled appointment. |
The visa fee applies later, if selected applicants proceed with their case. Medical examinations and other immigration expenses cost extra. The DV-2027 visa deadline is September 30, 2027, as of October 2026; unused visas cannot be issued after that date.
The schedule leaves DV-2027 participants less time than usual to finish the later steps. A separate court order first drew attention to an October 18 opening target and November 19 notification date. An amended order reported October 24 set the later schedule now in effect, so use the department’s announcement for the dates applicants should follow.
Selection starts a visa process, not a green card grant
The government does not notify entrants that they have won by email or regular mail. Check results through the official status-check service by selecting Entrant Status Check and entering the confirmation number. The government’s status-check site is dvlottery.state.gov.
A computer randomly selects entries. No service or payment can increase an entrant’s odds.
Selection is not approval for a green card. Selected applicants must complete the immigrant visa application, DS-260, submit supporting documents, undergo a medical examination and attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
In Kazakhstan, immigrant visa interviews take place at the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty. The $330 visa application fee is paid at the embassy or consulate cashier when the applicant attends the scheduled appointment; medical and other immigration costs are additional.
Ignore anyone promising to improve your odds
Michael Waller, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, warned that scammers claim they can help people win or raise their chances. “the problem is, they can't.”
“all of these con artists will take your money, but you'll get nothing in return,” and they “might even cost you the chance to get a green card legally”
The State Department will not email or mail a winner notification. Entrants should rely on the official status-check site, avoid advance-payment requests by check, money order or wire transfer, and use government websites ending in .gov. The department also warns against agents or sites promising guaranteed selection.
People who encounter a lottery scam can contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-382-4357.
Frequently asked questions
When is DV-2027 registration expected to open?
A federal judge ordered the State Department to announce the registration dates by October 29 and open entries by November 1, 2026. The government’s request to suspend the order was rejected, but an appeal remains pending. Check the State Department’s official announcement before applying, because the department’s published instructions are the schedule applicants should follow.
Who can enter the Diversity Visa lottery?
Applicants must be natives of a country eligible for the relevant fiscal year, generally one with historically low immigration to the United States. They must also meet at least one education or work-experience requirement: education equivalent to 12 years of U.S. schooling, or two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years. Country eligibility can change each year, so check the updated instructions.
What documents, photographs, and fees are required for an entry?
The DV-2027 rules require each entrant to provide valid passport details and a scan of the passport’s biographic and signature pages, subject to limited exceptions. The scan must be a JPEG no larger than 5 MB. Applicants also need recent, square digital photographs that meet the stated size and file requirements; each listed family member needs a separate photo. The registration fee is $1 per entry.
Does being selected mean I will receive a green card?
No. Selection only allows an applicant to continue the visa process; it does not guarantee approval or a green card. Selected applicants must submit Form DS-260, provide supporting documents, complete a medical examination, and attend an interview. DV-2027 visas must be issued by September 30, 2027. Check results using the official status-check service and your confirmation number; the State Department does not notify winners by email or regular mail.
