United States•North America5-8 months
Free
Indefinite
Yes
Not Required
Allowed
Available
Allowed
Annual lottery providing ~55,000 immigrant visas to nationals of countries with low U.S. immigration rates. Random selection from qualified entries.
790 chars — 3 paragraphs, P1=311, P2=308, P3=167, all hard caps met
DV Lottery registration | 0 USD |
Immigrant visa application fee (DS-260, per person) per person | 330 USD |
USCIS immigrant fee (per person, paid after visa issuance) per person | 235 USD |
Medical examination (varies by approved physician and location) | — |
| Low case number (early interview, Oct–Feb) | 5 months – 8 months |
| High case number (later interview, depends on cutoffs) | 8 months – 1 year |
| Status type | Permanent / indefinite |
55,000 visas per fiscal year
Born in an eligible country (nationals of high-admission countries are excluded: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam)
High school diploma or equivalent formal 12-year education (GED not accepted), OR 2+ years of qualifying work experience (Job Zone 4–5 occupation) in the past 5 years
Pass medical examination by an approved physician
Meet all US admissibility requirements
No disqualifying criminal history
Valid passport (starting with the DV-2027 cycle, applicants must provide valid passport information and upload a scan of the passport's biographic page when submitting their initial electronic entry)
Submit only one entry per registration period (duplicate entries cause automatic disqualification)
Education
high_school or higher
Experience
2+ years
Valid passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond intended entry)
DS-260 (Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application, completed online)
Birth certificate
Police certificates from each country where you have lived 6+ months since age 16
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Divorce or death certificates (if applicable)
Adoption decree (if applicable)
Military records (if applicable)
Court and prison records (if applicable)
Medical examination results (from approved physician)
Two passport-style photographs per person
Proof of education (diploma/transcripts) or qualifying work experience documentation
Financial support evidence (Affidavit of Support or proof of own funds meeting 125% of poverty guideline)
| DV Entry Electronic Diversity Visa Entry (online lottery registration at dvprogram.state.gov) | Fill online |
| DS-260 Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application | Fill online |
| Application Steps | Submit online registration at dvprogram.state.gov during the official open window, pay the $1 regist… | travel.state.gov |
| Blockers | Must be selected in lottery; Must process before fiscal year end; The U.S. Department of State has t… | travel.state.gov |
| Dependent Visa | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 | travel.state.gov |
| Fee Breakdown | DV Lottery registration: 1 USD; Immigrant visa application fee (DS-260, per person): 330 USD; USCIS … | travel.state.gov |
| Fee Breakdown · DV Lottery registration · amount | 0 | travel.state.gov |
| Fees | Registration free; $330 immigrant visa application fee per person; $235 USCIS immigrant fee per pers… | travel.state.gov |
| Forms | DV Entry (online only at dvprogram.state.gov — no form number); DS-260 (Immigrant Visa and Alien Reg… | travel.state.gov |
| Forms · DS-260 · description | Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application | travel.state.gov |
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