The Diversity Visa (DV) program is a U.S. government lottery that makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available each fiscal year to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. A computer selects entries at random. Selection is only the start of a process that includes document checks, a fee, and an interview, and it does not guarantee a visa.
Quick answer
- Administered by the U.S. Department of State under section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Up to 55,000 visas for fiscal year 2026, spread across six geographic regions, with no more than 7 percent to any one country.
- Entries are submitted online only, once per person, during a fixed entry period.
- Winners are drawn randomly by computer and learn the result only through Entrant Status Check.
The figures above come from the Department of State instructions for DV-2026 and apply to DV-2026. The annual limit and the details change from year to year, so each program year has its own instructions.
Stage 1: the entry period
Each year the Department of State announces a registration window of at least 30 days. Entries are accepted on the official site, dvprogram.state.gov, and nowhere else. Paper entries and late entries are not accepted. The law allows one entry per person per period, and the Department states that it uses technology to detect duplicates. A person with more than one entry is disqualified.
Stage 2: the random drawing
After the entry period closes, entries are numbered by geographic region and a computer picks them at random. The Department of State selects more than 55,000 entries, because some selectees will not qualify and others will not pursue the case. For that reason there are not enough visas for everyone who is selected. Being selected means only that a person may be eligible to apply.
Stage 3: checking the result
Results are published on the same official site through a tool called Entrant Status Check. For DV-2026 it was available from May 4, 2025, through at least September 30, 2026. The Department does not send notification letters or emails about selection, and unsolicited messages claiming a win are not legitimate. The unique confirmation number from the entry is needed to log in, so it must be kept. More detail is in the guide to checking DV lottery results.
Stage 4: the visa application
Selected entrants follow the instructions shown in Entrant Status Check. The next steps include the online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application (form DS-260), supporting documents, and an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Selectees who are already in the United States may apply to adjust status with USCIS if they are otherwise eligible. At the interview, a consular officer decides whether the person qualifies. Proof of education or work experience must be presented at that stage, not at entry.
Stage 5: fees and the fiscal-year deadline
For DV-2026 there was no fee to submit an entry. Selectees who were scheduled for an interview pay visa fees in person to the consular cashier, or pay USCIS directly when adjusting status. The final rule published March 11, 2026 adds an entry fee of $1 for the DV-2027 program, covered in what changes for DV-2027 entrants.
All visas must be issued by September 30 of the program year. There is no carry-over into the next year, and spouses and children who derive status from the selectee must also receive visas before that date. Once all available visas are issued, the program ends, which can happen before the fiscal year closes.
Who can take part
Eligibility depends on the place of birth, not on citizenship or residence, and on a minimum level of education or work experience. The full explanation is in the guide to DV lottery eligibility.
Common misunderstandings
- Selection is not approval. Each case is reviewed again at the interview.
- Paying a third party does not increase the chance of being selected, because selection is random.
- An email or letter announcing a win is not how the Department of State notifies people.
- Only the official entry site accepts entries. No other website, including this one, accepts entries.
Frequently asked questions
How many people win the Diversity Visa lottery?
Up to 55,000 visas are available for DV-2026, and more than 55,000 entries are selected to allow for people who do not qualify or do not continue.
Can the entry be submitted from outside the United States?
Yes. The Department of State says an entry may be submitted from any location.
Does a person need to be selected before starting the visa application?
Yes. The visa process begins only after Entrant Status Check shows that an entry was selected.
What happens if the visa is not issued by September 30?
The selection expires. There is no carry-over to the next program year.
Related reading
- Who is eligible for the DV lottery
- DV entry form guide
- DV lottery timeline
- DV lottery costs and scams
About this guide
This website is for information only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. government, does not give legal advice or consultations, and does not offer application services. Entries are submitted only on the official entry site, and the current official instructions control, because rules change each year.
Last verified: October 2026. Sources: Department of State instructions for DV-2026; final rule published March 11, 2026.