US opens diversity visa lottery registration for 2026

The U.S. Department of State has officially opened online registrations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery program, offering up to 55,000 green cards.

Registrations opened at noon Eastern Daylight Time and will continue until November 5, 2024, providing applicants five weeks to submit their entries through the official lottery website.

This program, known for promoting diversity in U.S. immigration, has become a significant opportunity for people from underrepresented countries.

**Eligibility Criteria and Exceptions**

To be eligible for the DV lottery, applicants must be born in countries with historically low rates of U.S. immigration.

For the 2026 lottery, individuals born in nations such as Bangladesh, Brazil, China, and India are excluded due to high immigration numbers.

However, exceptions exist. “People born in Macau SAR and Taiwan remain eligible,” clarified a spokesperson from the Department of State. Furthermore, applicants can qualify through a spouse or parent’s country of birth under certain conditions.

**How to Register and Submission Rules**

The registration process is straightforward and free of charge. Applicants must complete an online form and submit a digital photo.

It is crucial that only one entry per person is allowed, and submitting multiple applications will result in immediate disqualification.

“Each entry must be complete and accurate,” the State Department emphasized, adding that the system will generate a confirmation number for each successful submission.

This number will be vital when checking the lottery results in May 2025.

**Random Selection and Notification Process**

Lottery winners will be selected through a computer-based random draw. Results will be available online starting May 3, 2025.

“We urge applicants to use their confirmation numbers to check their status,” said a State Department official. Importantly, winners will not be notified via email, phone, or mail, as the department strictly avoids using such methods to prevent fraud.

Those selected will be eligible to start applying for their green cards beginning on October 1, 2025.

**Warning Against Fraud and Scams**

The State Department has issued several warnings regarding potential fraud, emphasizing that the official DV lottery website is the only legitimate platform for registration.

Scammers often promise guaranteed entry or charge for services, which are completely unauthorized.

“There is no fee to enter the DV lottery, and we encourage applicants to be cautious of third-party sites claiming otherwise,” warned the department.

Individuals were advised to report any suspicious activities and avoid providing personal information to unverified sources.