The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery, is a U.S. government program that provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each year to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. The selection process is random, and the program is run by the U.S. Department of State.
Application Period for DV-2026
The application window for the DV-2026 program opened on October 2, 2024, at 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and closed on November 5, 2024, at 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST). During this period, eligible individuals could submit their entries through the official website.
Application Process
The application process is straightforward and free of charge:
- Submission: Applicants completed the online form on the official DV program website during the registration period.
- Confirmation Number: Upon successful submission, applicants received a unique confirmation number, essential for checking the status of their entry.
- Single Entry: Only one entry per person was allowed. Multiple entries would result in disqualification.
What is the CONFIRMATION Number?
If you are confused about the Confirmation Number let me explain it.
When a person enters the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery successfully, they are given a confirmation number, which is a special number. To identify your entry and find out the status of your application, use the confirmation number. This number must be kept private and secure since it will be required to verify the lottery results and to carry out the remaining steps in the system if you are chosen as the winner. After you have filed your DV Lottery application online or via email, you will normally receive the confirmation number. The confirmation Number looks like
DV Lottery 2026 Photo Requirements
- Photo Size: 600 x 600 pixels
- File Format: JPEG
- Background: Plain white or off-white
- Expression: Neutral (no smiling, no glasses)
- Face Position: Face must be centered and cover 50-69% of the photo
DV Lottery 2026 Photo Checker
To verify if your photo meets the requirements, use the official photo tool on the U.S. Department of State website.
Who Can Apply? (DV Lottery 2026 Eligibility)
DV Lottery 2026 Eligible Countries List
To qualify for the DV Lottery, you must be born in a country with low U.S. immigration rates. Countries with high immigration numbers are not eligible.
❌ Countries NOT eligible for DV Lottery 2026:
- Nigeria
- India
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- China (mainland-born)
- Canada
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Mexico
- Philippines
- South Korea
- United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) & its territories
- Venezuela
How to Check the DV Lottery Results 2026?
The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery 2026 results will be publicly available starting May 6, 2025. The U.S. Department of State does NOT notify participants whether they have won. You must check your status online using the official DV Lottery website:
Go to the official DV Lottery result page:
Click on “Check Status”.
Enter your confirmation number, last name, and birth year.
Click “Submit” to view your results.
Important: You will NOT receive an email or call about selection. Always check the results online yourself.
What Happens If You Win the DV Lottery?
This advice is particularly pertinent given that technical issues have already occurred on this website. As was the case in 2014 when numerous participants saw their results revised after the initial announcement.
You will see on the website that “you have randomly selected for further processing in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program”. If you are one of the fortunate ones. Congratulations! Save your case number now and proceed with your visa application.
You can also use the Entrant Status Check on the official website to look up the status of your application.
Wait for your interview appointment after submitting your DS-260 application form at Travel.state.Gov. Your automatically created case number determines the date of your interview session. The earlier you can pass the interview, the lower the case number will be. It makes no difference how early you check or submit your DS-260 paperwork.
If you are selected, you must:
Submit Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application)
Attend an Interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate
Submit Supporting Documents (passport, birth certificate, education/work proof)
Pass Medical and Security Checks
Tip: The earlier you submit Form DS-260, the sooner you may get an interview date.
How winners of the DV Lottery are selected?
Green Card recipients for 2026 will select at random by a computer, as in previous years. The drawing is conducted by the State Department, which selects a preset number of participants from among the millions of entries received. Each year, a different amount of winners is selected,
People should meet specific educational or job experience standards and come from a nation that is disadvantaged in terms of immigration to the United States in order to be eligible to participate in the DV Lottery.
The winners will be notified by email or through the Entrant Status Check on the official State Department website once they have been selected.
Common Questions About the DV Lottery
Can Nigerians Apply for the DV Lottery 2026?
No, Nigeria is NOT eligible for the DV Lottery 2026.
When Can I Apply for the DV Lottery 2026?
The application period was October 2 – November 5, 2024. If you missed it, you can apply for DV-2027 in October 2025.
How Can I Check My DV Lottery 2022 Results?
You can no longer check DV Lottery 2022 results. The official period to check results ended on September 30, 2022.
Requirements for DV Lottery 2023?
The requirements for DV-2023 were the same as for DV-2026:
✔ Born in an eligible country
✔ High school diploma or 2 years of work experience
✔ Valid passport
Final Tips for DV Lottery Applicants
Only apply through the official website:
Keep your confirmation number safe to check results.
Do not trust agencies asking for money to “guarantee” selection. The lottery is random.
Use the official DV Lottery Photo Tool to check if your photo meets the requirements.
If selected, follow instructions carefully to avoid missing deadlines.
Next DV Lottery (DV-2027) Expected Dates:
- Opens in October 2025
- Results in May 2026
Can’t access the results of the DV Lottery 2026?
Don’t worry if you discover that the official DV Lottery website is down. Website visitors who want to know if they won the Diversity Visa Lottery pay a lot of attention during the first few days after the announcement.
You can return and recheck in a few days. There is no need to rush because the outcome of the check does not determine whether you are selected or not. Just be careful to remember that the announcement will be made between May 6 and September 30, 2026.
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