2026 Diversity Visa Program
The registration period for the 2026 Diversity Visa Lottery is Oct. 2nd to Nov. 5th, 2024.
What Is the Diversity Visa Lottery?
Officially known as the “Diversity Immigrant Visa Program,” the Diversity Visa Lottery was designed to increase immigration opportunities for individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S. Each year, lottery winners (“selectees”) are drawn randomly from the pool of eligible applicants. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of State, which sets regional quotas every year based on how many immigrants from a region have come to the U.S. in recent years. These quotas and the countries from which selectees are drawn change over time, and no single country can receive more than 7% of available Diversity Visas in any given year.
Registration for the 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) Program will open from October 2 to November 5, 2024. This program allows people from countries with low U.S. immigration rates, who meet eligibility requirements, to enter for a chance to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa.
How to Retrieve Forgotten DV Lottery Confirmation Number
The program, commonly referred to as the DV Lottery or the Green Card Lottery, awards up to 50,000 immigrant visas each year to people meeting certain eligibility requirements. These include:
- Being a citizen of a country with a low immigration rate to the United States
- Having graduated from high school or its equivalent or having qualifying work experience
“The diversity of the United States is one of our greatest strengths as a country. The Diversity Visa Program embodies this ethos, allowing applicants from all over the world a chance at obtaining an immigrant visa. Entering the lottery is free and easy – but do read all the directions before applying!”
The 2026 DV Program will open at 12:00 p.m. EDT on October 2, 2024. dvprogram.state.gov is the ONLY way to enter. The law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. The Department of State uses advanced technology to detect multiple entries. Individuals with more than one primary entry per Diversity Visa season will be disqualified. The program instructions can be found at travel.state.gov/dv.
There is no cost to register for the DV Program. Those interested in registering are strongly encouraged to complete the entry form themselves without a “visa consultant,” “visa agent,” or other facilitator who offers to help. If somebody else helps you, you should be present when your entry is prepared so that you can provide the correct answers to the questions and retain the confirmation page and your unique confirmation number.
Selections will be made in May 2025. The website dvprogram.state.gov/ESC is the ONLY way to see if you were selected. Any email claiming to notify entrants that they have been selected for the DV Program is a scam. The Department of State will NOT contact you if you have been selected.
How check the results for the DV-2025 Lottery
10 Tips for Applying for the 2026 Diversity Visa Program:
- Tip #1 – Read the instructions at travel.state.gov/dv to find out if you qualify. Do NOT enter if you do not meet the qualifications.
- Tip #2 – Go to dvprogram.state.govto submit your entry. This is the ONLY way to enter. Do not be fooled by scams or fraudulent sites.
- Tip #3 – There is NO fee to enter. Beware of those who claim they can improve your chances if you pay them, or who offer to complete your application for free.
- Tip #4 – Complete the Diversity Visa Program entry yourself. Unscrupulous visa facilitators have retained an applicant’s confirmation number, and then demanded more money or illegal activities in exchange for the confirmation number.
- Tip #5 – Use a photo taken in the last six months. Using an old photo will disqualify your entry.
- Tip #6 – Only submit ONE entry per person. Individuals with more than one primary entry per Diversity Visa season will be disqualified.
- Tip #7 – Remember to list your spouse and ALL unmarried children under the age of 21 in your application, even if they will not be traveling or immigrating with you. Incorrect or missing information in your entry can mean disqualification – even after you are selected.
- Tip #8 – Keep your unique confirmation number. The confirmation number will be the only way to check whether an entry has been selected in May 2025.
- Tip #9 – Selections will be made in May 2025. The website dvprogram.state.gov/ESC is the ONLY way to see if you were selected. Any email claiming to notify entrants that they have been selected for the Diversity Visa program is a scam. The Department of State will NOT contact you if you have been selected.
- Tip #10 – Remember, being selected does NOT guarantee you a visa interview or visa. In order to issue as many visas as possible, there will be more selectees than there are visas available.
