Please note that this is not the official set of instructions. The only official guidance comes from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs. However, this document is designed to help you understand the process more quickly and avoid potential pitfalls when applying.
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Natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, The People’s Republic of China (including mainland and Hong Kong born), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Venezuela, Vietnam
It’s because more than 50,000 natives of those countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years.
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List of countries/areas by region whose natives are eligible for DV-2026
Tip #1: Complete the form on your own or seek assistance from trusted friends or family. Be cautious of scammers who may offer help for a low fee; they often demand more money later when you ask for your application number. This application number only appears after you've completed the form and is the sole way to check if you've been selected in the lottery. Scammers may demand money in exchange for your application number. The online entry application is simple and free of charge.
Information about Fraud, Warning, and Scams
Follow the steps below to complete your Diversity Visa Program entry:
Tip #2: If you submit your application but encounter a technical issue with your internet or the website, wait before resubmitting. Do not submit again until you've checked for an email confirmation. If you receive a confirmation email, your application has been submitted. If you don’t see any confirmation (even in your spam folder) after a day, then it’s safe to submit again.
Tip #3: If you find any DV-2026 Program Instructions in a non-English language, be aware that these are unofficial documents. The only official version is in English, even though all documents originate from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
The Department of State annually created Diversity Immigrant Visa Program known as “diversity immigrants” program for countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.
For Fiscal Year 2026, up to 55,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) will be available.
There is no cost to register for the DV program.
The Department of State distributes diversity visas among six geographic regions, and no single country may receive more than 7% of the available DVs in any one year
Selectees, selected through a randomized computer drawing, who are scheduled for an interview will be required to pay a visa application fee prior to making their formal visa application where a consular officer will determine whether they qualify for the visa.