State Department Rule Adds $1 Diversity Visa Lottery Registration Fee

(UNITED STATES) The State Department has finalized a new $1 fee to register for the Diversity Visa lottery, shifting a small part of program costs from those who win to the millions who enter each year. The agency published the final rule on September 16, 2025, with the rule listed as effective on that date. The Department says it intends to implement the fee 30 days after publication, aligning the first collection with the next open registration period.

The change amends 22 CFR parts 22 and 42 and updates Item 33 of the Schedule of Fees to add the registration fee alongside the existing $330 Diversity Visa application fee, which remains unchanged for now.

Purpose and Rationale

The Department frames the rule around fairness and program integrity. Historically, the cost of running the lottery was rolled into the application fee paid later by selectees — a small fraction of total entrants. By adding a nominal $1 fee at entry, the Department aims to:

• Shift technology, data storage, automated selection, and security checks costs to those who submit entries.
• Place the burden on those who seek a chance to apply, rather than only on those who are later selected.
• Reduce fake or mass entries and curb unscrupulous actors who try to control confirmation numbers or trick hopefuls into paying for results they never receive.

Officials say the $1 payment at submission will be collected inside the official system and required prior to submission and completion of the registration.

Legal and Regulatory Basis

Key statutory and regulatory authorities cited:

• Section 636 of Public Law 104–208, reproduced at 8 U.S.C. 1153, permitting a “Diversity Immigrant Lottery Fee” to recover costs.
• General user charges statute 31 U.S.C. 9701.
• 22 U.S.C. 4219, under which the President sets consular fees (delegated to the Secretary of State by Executive Order 10718).
• OMB Circular A-25 guidance on user charges for special benefits.

The final rule amends 22 CFR 42.33 to:
– Remove prior language that said no fee would be collected at submission.
– Add that an electronic registration fee will be collected at the time of registration through an authorized U.S. government payment portal.

Payment must be completed before an entry is submitted; a DV entry will not be submitted unless the entrant completes the $1 payment step in the official system.

Consular officers will still collect the $330 Diversity Visa application fee from selectees who proceed to apply.

Budgeting, Fees, and Cost Model

From a budgeting standpoint:

• The registration fee shifts lottery-related costs to the entry stage, but the $330 application fee will not be reduced immediately.
• The DV application fee last changed in 2012, when it dropped from $440 to $330.
• The Department will review consular fees annually using a cost model and may later decide whether to adjust the application fee after the cost reallocation is measured across a full cycle.

Projected workload and revenue estimates in the rule:

• Estimated 25,000,000 annual registrations → about $25,000,000 from the new fee.
• About 62,000 Diversity Visa applications (selectees who proceed to apply).
• The Department notes it anticipates demand may decrease in part due to these fee changes, though the fee is only one dollar.

Administrative Procedure and Timing

• The Department issued the rule as a direct final rule under the “foreign affairs function” exemption in the Administrative Procedure Act, asserting visa policy is a foreign affairs function.
• Officials argued that prior notice could allow bad actors to adapt tactics before the fee takes effect, causing “undesirable international consequences.”
• The rule is effective September 16, 2025, and implementation is intended 30 days after publication — so entrants should expect the $1 registration fee to be in effect for the next entry window after that 30-day period.

How the Entry Process Will Change (Step-by-Step)

When the Diversity Visa lottery opens (annual window of at least 30 days), entrants will:

1. Visit the official website announced by the State Department.
2. Complete the online form with accurate personal details.
3. Upload a compliant photo per the stated rules.
4. Submit the entry and complete the $1 payment in the same session through the authorized U.S. government payment portal.
5. Save the confirmation number securely.

Core rules remain unchanged: one entry per person, strict identity and eligibility rules, and disqualification for duplicates. The payment step acts as a speedbump to discourage high-volume, bogus filings.

Fraud Prevention and Practical Effects

The rule aims to reduce common scams and abusive practices:

• Tying submission to a $1 payment inside the official platform makes it harder for fake agents to submit entries on others’ behalf or to hold confirmation numbers hostage.
• A payment record helps entrants show they completed registration themselves.
• If speculative and bulk entries fall, genuine entrants may face less competition from duplicate or coached entries.

Analysts (e.g., VisaVerge.com) suggest a small fee at scale can filter out abusive filing patterns without creating a real barrier for genuine entrants.

Access and Payment Concerns

• The rule states the fee will be collected “through an authorized U.S. Government payment portal” but does not name the portal.
• Payment option choice matters in areas with limited banking access or rare online cards.
• Advocates will watch how accessible and secure payment methods are implemented, especially in regions with limited internet or banking infrastructure.

Scope and Limits

• This change affects only the Diversity Visa portion of the Schedule of Fees and related regulations.
• It does not change other visa categories or consular fees beyond the DV fee item.
• The Department confirms the rule is not a “major” rule under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act and does not trigger Unfunded Mandates Reform Act thresholds.

Equity Considerations

• The Department acknowledges the possibility that the $1 fee could deter some low-income entrants, but believes the level is set to avoid real hardship while deterring mass speculative entries.
• Clear communication is emphasized: the entry is not to be filed through third parties charging more; the official entry includes the $1 payment inside the government portal.
• The most important anti-fraud tool remains public awareness: the official entry window, official site, and the Entrant Status Check are the only authoritative channels.

Impact on Odds and Selection

• The fee does not change the odds of selection or the randomized selection process.
• Regional and country caps and ineligibility provisions based on recent immigration levels remain in force.
• The fee is a gatekeeping tool to support system costs and integrity, not a means to influence selection.

Revenue and Program Presentation

• The Department’s revenue table: 25,000,000 entries × $1 = $25,000,000 projected annual collection.
• Over time, if shifting costs reduces the average per-applicant expense at the consular stage, the Department may consider adjusting the $330 application fee in future fee reviews.
• Under current law, the Department retains DV-related fees instead of depositing them into the general Treasury fund because Congress authorized retention for these specific fees.

Practical Guidance and Warnings for Entrants

Community groups and media can help by sharing these reminders:

• The official DV entry is online only, for a limited time, and now includes a $1 payment inside the government website.
• The government never emails to say you “won” and then asks you to pay to claim a prize. Results are checked using your confirmation number.
• No one can improve your chances for a fee. The draw is random; duplicate entries disqualify.

Be cautious of third parties charging more than $1 or promising special access. The entry is free to attempt except for the $1 official registration fee collected in the portal.

Operational Benefits for Consular Operations

If speculative entries drop:

• Consulates may receive a cleaner pipeline of selectees who intend to proceed.
• This could reduce appointment backlogs and no-shows in the Diversity Visa track.
• Better data integrity and fewer fraudulent entries could ease administrative burdens.

Schedule of Fees Update

The Schedule of Fees now lists the Diversity Visa fee in two parts:

• Registration Fee: $1 (due at entry)
• Application Fee: $330 (due only if selected and applying for a visa)

Entrants should plan for both stages but remember the second fee is only required after selection.

References and Where to Find Official Information

• Full text of the rulemaking and docket materials: Regulations.gov
• Official program instructions and announcements: the State Department’s DV program page at the State Department’s DV program page at travel.state.gov

Final Takeaway

The Department presents the $1 registration fee as a small, practical step to spread costs more fairly and protect entrants from scams while funding the technical backbone required for a fair draw. For most families, the process will remain familiar: one form, one confirmation number, and now, one dollar — a brief, verified step intended to keep the Diversity Visa lottery secure, transparent, and accessible.