The Green Card Lottery — officially the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) programme — is one of the most accessible routes to U.S. permanent residence for people worldwide. Recent cycles have drawn more than 20 million qualified entries for up to 55,000 visas a year. Winning the lottery is one route; for skilled workers, there is also the employment-based (EB) pathway — but a strict 7% per-country cap forces applicants from India and China to wait over a decade.
This guide covers both routes, who qualifies, which countries are eligible and excluded, current wait times, and what to do next. It is part of our US green card guide, which compares all five routes to permanent residence. The DV-2026 cycle ended on 30 September 2026. DV-2027 registration has never opened, and no DV-2027 or DV-2028 dates have been announced. When registration does open, two new rules apply — a passport is required to enter, and there is a $1 fee.
Table of Contents
| At a Glance — Key Numbers (October 2026) – Diversity visas: up to 55,000 a year (~51,850 for DV-2026) | Ineligible countries (DV-2026): 19 | Entry: dvprogram.state.gov only — $1 fee from DV-2027 – DV-2027 registration: never opened. No DV-2027 or DV-2028 dates announced as of 7 October 2026 – Employment-based annual cap: at least 140,000 | Per-country ceiling: 7% of the combined total (25,620 for FY2027) – EB-1 India: 1 February 2023 | EB-1 Rest of World: Current – EB-2 India: 1 November 2013 (reopened 1 October 2026) | EB-2 Rest of World: 1 January 2025 (retrogressed from Current) – EB-3 India: 1 January 2014 | EB-3 Rest of World: 15 May 2024 |
Programme status — updated 7 October 2026
The Diversity Visa programme was suspended on 18 December 2025 and visa issuance was frozen for more than eight months. Issuance resumed on 28 August 2026, after a federal court ruled the pause unlawful in Medani et al. v. Trump et al. The State Department has confirmed the December 2025 pause “is no longer in effect.”
Two things follow from that, and they matter more than anything else on this page.
If you were selected in DV-2026: the cycle ended on 30 September 2026. That was the deadline to have the visa physically issued or adjustment of status approved, not merely to apply. Roughly 129,516 selectees and family members were registered against about 51,850 available visas, and more than eight months of the issuance year were lost to the pause. Selectees who did not receive a visa or status by 30 September 2026 derive no further benefit from their DV-2026 registration. There is no carryover into DV-2027 and no extension.
If you are waiting for DV-2027: registration has never opened. It would normally have run in October–November 2025. In November 2025, the State Department said it was changing the entry process and would announce dates “as soon as practicable”. As of 7 October 2026, it has published no DV-2027 entry period and announced no selectees, even though the DV-2027 visa year began on 1 October 2026 and ends on 30 September 2027. No dates have been announced for DV-2028 either. In a normal year, DV-2028 registration would open in early October 2026.
The court case: in Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio (S.D. Cal., No. 3:26-cv-04738), filed on 19 August 2026, an immigration law firm is asking a federal court to compel the State Department to open DV-2027 registration. Judge Jinsook Ohta refused an emergency order on 3 September and heard a preliminary-injunction motion on 24 September. At that hearing, the government argued that the DV-2027 registration window closed when fiscal year 2026 ended. A ruling is expected by 14 October 2026. A decision for the firm could force a registration window at short notice; a decision for the government could leave DV-2027 with no entrants at all. Two new entry requirements apply whenever registration opens — see What Changed for DV-2027 below.
1. What Is the Green Card Lottery?
The Green Card Lottery is the common name for the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa programme, established by the Immigration Act of 1990. Its goal is to diversify US immigration by welcoming people from countries that have historically sent fewer immigrants. It is the only US immigration programme that gives ordinary people — with no US job offer, no American relatives, and no special skills — a direct shot at permanent residence through a random computerised draw. The lottery is administered by the U.S. Department of State. Entry was free through DV-2026; from DV-2027 there is a $1 registration fee.
How Many Visas Are Available?
Congress authorises up to 55,000 diversity visas per year. Mandatory deductions under NACARA (Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act) and the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) for FY 2024 reduce the effective total. For DV-2025 and DV-2026, approximately 51,600–52,000 visas were available after these deductions.
2. What Changed for DV-2027
Two rules took effect on 10 April 2026 and both apply from the DV-2027 cycle onward. Neither existed when DV-2026 ran, and together they are the biggest change to how you enter the lottery since the entry moved online.
You now need a passport to enter. Every principal applicant must hold a valid, unexpired passport at the moment of entry and upload a scan of its biographic page with the application. Under the old rules you needed a passport only if you were selected. This front-loads the cost and the waiting time for anyone in a country where a passport takes months to obtain, and it will reduce entry volumes considerably. Limited exemptions exist for stateless applicants and a small number of other categories.
There is now a $1 fee. For the first time in the programme’s history, entry is not free. The fee is $1, non-refundable, payable by an internationally-enabled debit or credit card, and there are no waivers. It is small, but it changes the practical position for applicants without card access — and it creates an obvious opening for scam sites charging far more.
Why: the State Department cited fraud. It identified more than 2.5 million duplicate entries in the DV-2025 cycle, and says the passport requirement is the measure that historically suppressed them when it was previously in force.
What has not changed: eligibility, the education-or-experience test, the chargeability rules, the country exclusions, and the fact that dvprogram.state.gov is the only place to enter. Any site charging you more than $1 to enter is not the government.
Who Is Eligible for the Green Card Lottery?
Two conditions must both be met:
- Country of birth: You must be a native of a country that sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the previous five-year period. Countries above that threshold are excluded each year.
- Education or work experience: You must hold at least a high school diploma (or its recognized equivalent), OR have two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training.
| Special Rule: Born in an Ineligible Country? You may still qualify through your spouse’s or parents’ country of birth. • If your spouse was born in an eligible country, claim their country as your “chargeability country” — your spouse does not need to apply. • If your parents were both born in a currently eligible country at the time of your birth, you may also claim that country. |
Which Countries Are NOT Eligible for the Green Card Lottery?
Natives of the following 19 countries were ineligible for DV-2026, the most recent cycle with a published list. The DV-2027 list has not been published because registration has not opened. The list is recalculated every year from five-year immigration totals.
| Country | Region |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Asia |
| Brazil | South America |
| Canada | North America |
| China (mainland & Hong Kong) | Asia |
| Colombia | South America |
| Cuba | Caribbean |
| Dominican Republic | Caribbean |
| El Salvador | Central America |
| Haiti | Caribbean |
| Honduras | Central America |
| India | Asia |
| Jamaica | Caribbean |
| Mexico | North America |
| Nigeria | Africa |
| Pakistan | Asia |
| Philippines | Asia |
| South Korea | Asia |
| Venezuela | South America |
| Vietnam | Asia |
Which Countries Are Eligible for the Green Card Lottery? [bold paragraph, same style as other subheads]
If you were born in a country that is not on the list above, you were eligible for DV-2026. Eligibility follows your country of birth, not your citizenship or where you live. If you were born in an excluded country, you may still be able to claim a spouse’s or parents’ country of birth (see the box above).
[Bulleted list:]
• Africa: every country except Nigeria — including Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cameroon and South Africa.
• Asia and the Middle East: most countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Iran and the Gulf states. Excluded: Bangladesh, China (including Hong Kong), India, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea and Vietnam.
• Europe: every country, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. Northern Ireland is treated as a separate chargeability area from Great Britain.
• North America: The Bahamas is eligible; Canada and Mexico are not.
• Central and South America and the Caribbean: countries including Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago. Excluded: Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica and Venezuela.
• Oceania: every country, including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. The list changes each year. When DV-2027 or DV-2028 registration is announced, confirm your country against the official State Department DV instructions.
How to Apply for the Green Card Lottery: Step by Step
- Go to dvprogram.state.gov during the registration window. It has traditionally run from early October to early November, but DV-2027 registration has not opened and no future dates have been announced. When it opens, you will need a valid passport and a $1 fee.
- Complete the online form carefully. Upload a recent photograph meeting the exact State Department specifications. Errors or duplicate entries cause automatic disqualification.
- Save your unique confirmation number immediately after submitting. The government will NOT notify you by email, letter, or phone if selected. Your confirmation number is the only way to check your status.
- Check results from early May of the following year using the Entrant Status Check on the official website. Results for DV-2026 were available from 3 May 2025.
- If selected, gather documents promptly: A valid passport, birth certificate, police clearance certificates, and educational credentials. Book a medical examination with a State Department-approved physician.
- Attend your consular interview (outside the US) or file Form I-485 for Adjustment of Status (if already lawfully in the US). All processing must finish by 30 September of the relevant fiscal year — visas cannot carry over.
| Green Card Lottery | Key Dates |
|---|---|
| DV-2026 registration | 2 October – 7 November 2024 (closed) |
| DV-2026 qualified entries | 20,822,624 |
| DV-2026 selectees registered | ~129,516 (selectees plus family members) |
| DV-2026 visas available | ~51,850 (55,000 statutory, reduced by NACARA and NDAA) |
| DV-2026 results | From 3 May 2025 — dvprogram.state.gov |
| Issuance frozen | 18 December 2025 – 28 August 2026 |
| DV-2026 deadline | 30 September 2026 — passed. No extension, no carryover |
| DV-2027 registration | Never opened. No dates announced as of 7 October 2026 |
| DV-2027 visa year | 1 October 2026 – 30 September 2027 (began with no selectees) |
| DV-2027 litigation | Red Eagle Law v. Rubio — preliminary-injunction ruling expected by 14 October 2026 |
| DV-2028 registration | Not announced |
| Verified against travel.state.gov, 7 October 2026 | |
| ⚠ Scam Warning: Protect Yourself The US government will NEVER send an unsolicited email or letter saying you have won. Entering the Green Card Lottery costs $1 from DV-2027 and was free before that — nothing more, ever. Never pay anyone to register on your behalf. Only use the official site: dvprogram.state.gov. Dozens of copycat websites charge large fees for what costs a dollar. If you receive an email claiming you were selected, go directly to dvprogram.state.gov to verify — do not click links in unsolicited messages. |
3. Employment-Based Green Cards — The 7% Country Cap Problem
For skilled workers, executives, researchers, and investors, the employment-based (EB) system provides five preference categories with a statutory annual floor of 140,000 visas. A single structural rule — the 7% per-country ceiling — means your country of birth determines not just whether you wait, but for how long. Our employment based green card guide covers each category in detail.
| Category | Who Qualifies | Annual Limit | % of EB Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, multinational executives | ~40,040 | 28.60% |
| EB-2 | Advanced degree holders or exceptional ability; NIW available | ~40,040 | 28.60% |
| EB-3 | Skilled workers (2+ yrs exp), professionals, other workers | ~40,040 | 28.60% |
| EB-4 | Special immigrants (religious workers, broadcasters, etc.) | ~9,940 | 7.10% |
| EB-5 | Investors: $800K–$1.05M min. investment creating 10 jobs | ~9,940 | 7.10% |
How the 7% Per-Country Cap Works
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, no single country may receive more than 7% of the combined total annual employment-based and family-sponsored preference visas. For fiscal year 2027 (1 October 2026 – 30 September 2027), the State Department puts this ceiling at 25,620 visas per country — regardless of how many qualified applicants come from that country.
The practical effect: a software engineer from Estonia and one from India, with identical qualifications and petitions filed on the same day, face vastly different waits. The Estonian may receive a green card within 1–2 years. The Indian national may wait 12+ years — solely because India generates far more employment-based applicants than the annual cap allows.
Current Backlog Data (October 2026 Visa Bulletin)
- EB-1 India: 1 February 2023, a wait of more than 3½ years. China: 1 July 2023. All other countries: Current.
- EB-2 India: 1 November 2013, a wait of almost 13 years. The category reopened on 1 October 2026 after FY-2026 numbers ran out.
- EB-2 China: 1 October 2021, roughly a 5-year wait.
- EB-2 Rest of World: 1 January 2025. It retrogressed from Current at the start of FY2027, so even countries without historical backlogs now wait.
- EB-3 India: 1 January 2014, a wait of more than 12 years. • EB-3 China: 8 January 2022. Rest of World: 15 May 2024.
| Why Has the Country Cap Not Been Reformed? – The ~140,000 annual employment-based cap has not changed since the Immigration Act of 1990 — over 35 years ago. – The Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act (S.386) proposed phasing out the per-country ceiling. It passed the House but stalled repeatedly in the Senate. – Congressional Research Service analysis: removing the cap would cut Indian/Chinese wait times but would not reduce the overall backlog — it would only redistribute who waits. – As of October 2026, no legislation has been passed to change the 7% per-country cap. |
Cross-Chargeability: A Workaround for Couples
If you and your spouse were born in different countries and your spouse’s birth country has a shorter EB queue, both of you may be charged to your spouse’s country — even though you are the primary applicant. For example, an Indian national married to a German national could potentially receive a green card in months rather than years. Consult a licensed immigration attorney to determine whether this applies to your situation.
4. Family-Based Green Cards
US citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) may sponsor certain family members for permanent residence. The family-sponsored system has an annual limit of 226,000 visas. Key points:
- Immediate Relatives of US citizens: Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents face no annual numerical cap and no waiting list — the fastest family-based route.
- Family Preference categories (F1–F4): Cover adult unmarried children, married children, and siblings of US citizens, plus spouses and children of LPRs. Subject to annual limits — wait times range from a few years to over 20 years depending on the category and country of birth.
- Country caps apply here too: Nationals of Mexico and the Philippines face significantly longer waits than applicants from most other countries in several family preference categories.
- Derivatives: Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of the principal applicant are included on the same petition and may travel together.
5. Practical Tips for Applicants Worldwide
- File as early as possible. Your priority date is set when USCIS receives your petition. The backlog grows every year — every month of delay adds time to your wait.
- Check the Visa Bulletin monthly at travel.state.gov. Priority dates move forward and can retrogress without notice. You need to know your eligibility window in real time.
- Explore EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability). No employer, no PERM, no job offer needed. Significantly faster for those who qualify.
- Consider EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW). Self-petition without employer sponsorship — requires demonstrating your work benefits the US national interest.
- Use cross-chargeability if your spouse was born in a country with a shorter queue. This alone can turn a 12-year wait into under 2 years for eligible couples.
- Keep all documents current. Medical exam results, police certificates, and passport validity all expire. An out-of-date document can pause your case precisely when your priority date becomes current.
- Never miss the DV Lottery results window. Check the Entrant Status Check from the results date the State Department announces (traditionally early May). If selected and you miss the 30 September deadline, the visa is permanently lost — no exceptions.
- Do not submit duplicate DV Lottery entries. A second entry in the same year causes automatic disqualification of both entries.
- Get legal advice for employment-based cases. The rules around PERM, I-140, Adjustment of Status, and portability are complex. Mistakes are costly and sometimes irreversible.
6. All US Green Card Routes at a Glance
| Route | Key Facts (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| DV Lottery | Up to 55,000 visas/yr (~51,850 for DV-2026). $1 to enter from DV-2027. Ineligible for DV-2026: 19 countries incl. India, China, Mexico. DV-2027 registration has not opened. |
| EB-1 | ~40,040/yr. No job offer needed for EB-1A. India 1 Feb 2023 (3½+ years), China 1 Jul 2023. Others: current. |
| EB-2 | ~40,040/yr. India 1 Nov 2013 (~13 years). China ~5 years. Rest of World: 1 Jan 2025. |
| EB-3 | ~40,040/yr. India 1 Jan 2014 (12+ years). China 8 Jan 2022. Rest of World: 15 May 2024. |
| Family-Based | 226,000/yr total. Immediate availability for spouses of US citizens. Other categories: varies. |
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Green Card Lottery?
The Green Card Lottery is the popular name for the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) programme, run by the U.S. Department of State. It makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas a year available to natives of countries with low recent immigration to the US, chosen by random draw from qualifying entries. Entry was free up to DV-2026 and costs $1 from DV-2027. As of October 2026, DV-2027 registration had not opened.
Q: Is the Green Card Lottery free to enter?
It depends on the cycle. Entry to DV-2026 was free. From DV-2027 onward there is a $1 non-refundable registration fee, introduced by a rule effective 10 April 2026 — the first entry fee in the programme’s history. It must be paid by an internationally-enabled debit or credit card and there are no waivers.
That is the entire cost of entering. The separate government fees for the immigrant visa application, the medical examination and, if applicable, adjustment of status only arise if you are selected. Anyone charging you a fee to “register”, “improve your chances” or “check your results” is not the US government. Entry, and only entry, happens at dvprogram.state.gov.
Q: Which countries cannot apply for the Green Card Lottery?
Natives of 19 countries were ineligible for DV-2026, the latest cycle with a published list: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland & Hong Kong), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam. The list is recalculated every year; the DV-2027 list has not been published because registration has not opened
Q: I was born in an ineligible country — can I still enter?
Possibly yes. If your spouse was born in an eligible country, you may claim their country as your “chargeability country” and still qualify — even if your spouse does not apply. The same applies if your parents were both born in an eligible country at the time of your birth.
Q: What education or work experience is required?
You need at least a high school diploma (or equivalent), OR two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience. The U.S. Department of Labor O*Net system determines which occupations qualify.
Q: How long is the wait for an employment-based green card from India?
As of the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the first of fiscal year 2027, EB-2 India has a final action date of 1 November 2013 — it reopened on 1 October after FY-2026 numbers ran out — which is a wait of almost 13 years. EB-3 India sits at 1 January 2014, a wait of more than 12 years. EB-1 India has advanced to 1 February 2023, a wait of more than 3½ years. The root cause is the 7% per-country cap: no single country can receive more than 7% of annual employment-based visas, regardless of total demand.
Q: Can I change jobs while waiting for my green card?
Switching employers before your I-140 petition is approved risks your place in the queue. However, under the AC21 portability rule, once your I-140 is approved and your I-485 has been pending for 180+ days, you may move to a similar job without losing your priority date. Always consult a licensed immigration attorney before changing jobs during the green card process.
Q: What happens after I am selected in the DV Lottery?
Selection means you are eligible to apply for a visa — it does not guarantee a green card. You must still pass background and security checks, a medical examination, and a consular interview (or file I-485 if you are already in the US). All processing must be completed by 30 September of the relevant fiscal year. Unused DV visas cannot carry over.
Q: Is the green card lottery suspended?
Partly. Issuance of DV-2026 visas was suspended on 18 December 2025 and resumed on 28 August 2026, after a federal judge ruled the pause unlawful on 25 August. The DV-2026 cycle then ended on 30 September 2026. Registration is a separate matter: DV-2027 entry has never opened and no DV-2027 or DV-2028 dates have been announced. A lawsuit seeking to force DV-2027 registration, Red Eagle Law v. Rubio, is awaiting a ruling expected by 14 October 2026. The programme itself remains in law.
Q: What happens to DV-2026 selectees who don’t get a visa by 30 September 2026?
Their selection expires and cannot be revived. The statute ties diversity visas to the fiscal year, so a DV-2026 selection has no value after 30 September 2026 — for the selectee or for their spouse and children. There is no carryover into DV-2027, no priority in a future draw, and no administrative appeal. Selectees who are still waiting should confirm their DS-260 is complete, their documents and medical examination are current, and their consulate has scheduled them. Litigation over the pause is ongoing, with a court status conference set for 18 September 2026.
Which countries are eligible for the Green Card Lottery?
Natives of every country not on the ineligible list. For DV-2026 that meant every African country except Nigeria, all of Europe (including the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland), all of Oceania, most of Asia and the Middle East, and much of Latin America and the Caribbean. Eligibility follows country of birth, not citizenship, and you may be able to claim a spouse’s or parents’ country of birth instead.
| Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. US immigration rules change frequently — always verify current information at travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, and consult a licensed immigration attorney for advice specific to your situation. Sources: U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov) · USCIS (uscis.gov) · Visa Bulletin (September 2026) · Wikipedia Diversity Immigrant Visa · Congressional Research Service Report R46291 · Fragomen Immigration Law. |