Every year, about a million immigrants receive a green card, permitting them to reside and work in the USA as legal permanent residents. One of the ways to acquire a green card is through the Diversity Visa Lottery, which offers 50,000 visas each year to immigrants from countries that have low immigration rates to the US. If you’re considering participating, here’s essential information concerning the Diversity Visa Lottery for the year 2026 in terms of the requirements, eligible countries and how to apply.
What Is the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The official name of the Diversity Visa Lottery is the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. It was established in order to increase the number of immigrants to the US and particularly to invite applicants from countries that are not represented in the immigration process. This program is administered by the US Department of State and it selects at random a certain number of eligible applicants from a region of the world that has a low level of immigration to the US. In addition, there is a restriction that not more than 7% of the total visas can be issued to individuals from a single country, which further promotes diversity amongst recipients.
Who Is Eligible for the Diversity Visa Lottery 2026?
Eligible Country
One of the key requirements is that you must be a native of an eligible country. This list changes based on immigration trends, and for the 2026 lottery, the following countries are ineligible:
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Canada
- China (including mainland and Hong Kong)
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
Nonetheless, it is still possible for you to apply if your husband or parents are from any of the qualifying countries. Residents of Macau SAR and Taiwan still remain eligible.
Education or Work Experience
- You must also meet one of the following two criteria:
- A high school education or its equivalent.
- Two years of work experience within the last five years in a job that requires at least two years of training or experience.
- These qualifications ensure that applicants have the necessary skills to succeed in the U.S.
What Are the Chances of Winning the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The odds of winning a Diversity Visa are low. Recent data shows that fewer than 1 in every 200 to 400 applicants are selected, depending on the year. For example, in 2021, there were over 11.8 million applicants, but only 50,000 were selected. Countries from regions like Africa and Asia often have higher numbers of entries, making the competition fierce. However, if selected, this could be a life-changing opportunity to obtain permanent residency in the U.S.
How to Apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery
There is no fee for applying for the Diversity Visa, and the process of application is entirely online. The necessary entry form (DS-5501) must be filled out and sent on the applicable website only.
Important Steps for Applying:
1. Complete the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (DS-5501) online.
2. Ensure your application is complete and accurate—no corrections or multiple entries are allowed.
3. Submit your application before the deadline: November 5, 2024, at noon Eastern Standard Time.
Keep your application number in a safe place, as you will need it to check your status when results are announced in May 2025.
What Happens After Selection?
In the event that you are chosen, it wouldn’t signal the end of your journey. More nominations are received than there are visas to issue, and so even when chosen, one must additionally wait for the case number to be their own. In the event that the said number is selected, some security procedures, interviews, and medical examinations ought to be taken. It is also essential for applicants to pay processing charges amounting to $330 and attach all the relevant papers.
Green card lotteries grant no such benefits, contrary to popular belief, as they do not guarantee a visa to the winner. Every person chosen has to go through multi-level filtration because they need to fulfill all the requirements for obtaining a residence permit.
Final Thoughts
The Diversity Visa Lottery presents a special chance to immigrate in the United States, and become a lawful permanent resident. Although, the chances of being selected are quite low, it still is an easy and cost-free means for people from the minority countries to do so. If you or anyone you know wishes to apply for the visa, ensure you qualify and apply within the registration period, otherwise, it will be disastrous. Time is not on your side as the last date to submit your applications is November 5, 2024.
