DV Lottery 2027 Countdown: Live Timer, Entry Dates, and How to Apply for the U.S. Green Card

Update – October 23, 2025:

The DV-2027 Diversity Visa Lottery has not yet opened, breaking from the usual October timeline. The U.S. State Department confirmed that the program will proceed, but entry has been delayed due to changes in the application system, including the rollout of a new $1 electronic entry fee. Full details are below to help you prepare and avoid misinformation.

Entry Period Delayed: Unlike previous years, the Diversity Visa (DV) 2027 lottery did not open in early October as expected. As of late October 2025, the U.S. State Department has not yet begun DV-2027 registration. In the November 2025 Visa Bulletin, the State Department noted that “Dates for the DV-2027 program registration period will be widely publicized in the coming months”, advising hopefuls to check the official DV webpage for updates. The agency confirmed the program will still go forward (it’s mandated by law), but “this year, there will be changes to the DV entry process,” which is why the usual timeline has shifted. In other words, the DV-2027 lottery is not canceled – it’s just postponed. The official start and end dates will be announced on the State Department’s website and via the Federal Register once finalized, so monitor those official sources for the announcement. It’s possible the entry window could open later in 2025 or even in early 2026, given the current delay.

Why Hasn’t It Opened Yet? The delay is largely attributed to a new change in the entry process that the State Department is rolling out for DV-2027. Immigration experts point to the introduction of a mandatory $1 electronic registration fee for all lottery entrants as a likely cause. Implementing a worldwide payment system into the DV entry website is a significant technical update – one attorney noted this could be the “technical reason” behind the delayed launch. (In 2017, a technical glitch forced a restart of the DV-2019 lottery, so changes to the system have caused delays before.) Additionally, a U.S. government shutdown in early October 2025 may have slowed down the rollout of the new system. The State Department hasn’t officially confirmed the exact reason for the delay, but they have acknowledged that changes to the entry process are being made this year – hence the wait. The bottom line is that DV-2027 will happen, and entrants should stay prepared and patient for the new registration window to open.

New $1 Entry Fee for DV Lottery

One big update for the DV-2027 cycle is the introduction of a $1 entry fee. Historically, entering the DV lottery was entirely free – but starting this year, every entrant must pay $1 USD when submitting the online DV Lottery form. This $1 fee is paid electronically at the time of entry through the official government portal (i.e. when you hit “Submit,” you’ll be prompted to make a payment). Credit or debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, etc.) will likely be accepted; the exact payment methods will be detailed on the official site. The fee is non-refundable – you pay it once per entry and it will not be returned to you under any circumstances. Even if you are not selected in the lottery or decide not to complete the visa process, you won’t get the $1 back. Also, you cannot transfer an unused fee to a future year – each year’s lottery entry is a separate process.

It’s important to note that this $1 is the only cost to enter the lottery – beware of any third parties charging more. The official government entry fee is $1 (paid on the dvprogram.state.gov website); anything beyond that is not from the U.S. government. Scammers might try to use this new fee to trick people into paying more, so stay alert and only use the official DV lottery website for your entry.

Why add $1? The State Department implemented this fee to offset the program’s administrative costs and deter fraud. In recent years, tens of millions of people submit DV entries (over 20 million entries for DV-2026 alone) which created significant processing costs. Previously, all the costs of running the lottery were covered by the fees paid only by winners (the $330 visa application fee each selectee pays later). Now, by charging a small amount to every entrant, the burden is shared by all participants. According to the State Department, this $1 fee will generate around $25 million annually to help fund the DV program’s operations (since roughly ~25 million entries are expected). This revenue will go toward maintaining the entry system, data storage, security checks, and other program improvements. Officials also believe that even a token $1 fee may discourage “speculative” or fraudulent mass entries submitted by unscrupulous agents, because it introduces a small financial hurdle. In short, the fee is designed to make the lottery more self-sustaining and secure.

Impact on Applicants: For most individuals, $1 is a very small price – the change won’t be a big financial burden for the vast majority of applicants. However, it does mean you’ll need access to a payment method that works online internationally. If you’re in a country with limited banking access, be sure to arrange a way to pay the $1 fee (for example, an international Visa/MasterCard debit card or a trusted friend to help with payment). Also remember that if you win the lottery, you’ll still have to pay the usual $330 visa application fee at the next stage (that fee has NOT changed – it remains $330 per person for those selected). The $1 entry fee is separate; paying it does not mean you’ve paid any part of the visa fee. Essentially, everyone pays $1 to enter, and winners pay $330 later when submitting the full visa application, just as before.

Next Steps: Be Prepared and Stay Informed

What should you do now? First, keep an eye on official updates. The State Department will announce the DV-2027 entry period dates as soon as they are ready – this announcement will appear on the Diversity Visa page of travel.state.gov and likely in a press release or Federal Register notice. Make sure you are checking the official DV Lottery website (dvprogram.state.gov) or the Bureau of Consular Affairs website regularly. Don’t rely on rumors; when the dates are set, it will be clearly publicized by the U.S. government. Given the “coming months” guidance, the opening could happen later in the fall or even winter, so stay patient.

Use this extra time to double-check your application materials. Ensure you still meet all eligibility requirements (country of birth and education/work experience) as outlined in the official instructions. This is a good chance to take a new photo if needed – remember that your DV lottery photo must be taken within 6 months of submitting the entry, so a photo you took earlier in the year might be too old by the time the lottery opens. Review the photo requirements (background, size, etc.) and have a compliant photo ready. Also, gather any required information (like details for your spouse or children if they will be on your entry) so you’re ready to fill out the form quickly when it opens.

One piece of good news: aside from the $1 fee, no other major changes to the entry process have been implemented for DV-2027. Notably, there is no new passport requirement for entering this year. (In the past, there was a proposal to require all entrants to have a valid passport at the time of entry, but that rule is not in effect for DV-2027.) So you will not need to enter passport information for the upcoming lottery unless the State Department explicitly changes that in the new announcement. The main new hurdle is simply remembering to pay the $1 fee.

Finally, once the DV-2027 entry period is announced and opens, plan to submit your entry early. Given the delay, there may be a lot of pent-up demand and possibly new systems in place, so the website could be busy. Avoid waiting until the last few days of the window to apply, to steer clear of site overload or any unexpected glitches. After you submit your entry (and pay the fee), you’ll get your usual confirmation page with a unique number – be sure to save that confirmation number carefully, just as before. You will need it to check if you won. The timeline for results may or may not shift a bit due to the delayed entry (normally, DV results come out in early May the year after entry). The State Department has not indicated a change yet, so for now expect that DV-2027 winners would be able to check their status by around May 2026, but stay tuned in case they adjust that. Regardless of the timing, remember: the only way to find out if you were selected is by using the official Entrant Status Check online – they will not email or call you about lottery results. Any message claiming you won the DV without you checking the official site is a scam.

In summary, the DV-2027 lottery is on its way, just a bit delayed. Stay alert for the new application window announcement, prepare your documents and photos in the meantime, and be ready to pay a modest $1 when you enter. The opportunity to win a U.S. green card through the lottery is still very real – and with careful attention to the new rules, you’ll be ready to seize that chance when the program opens. Good luck!

Original Post Continues Below:

The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery is an annual program that randomly selects up to 55,000 people worldwide for U.S. permanent residency. It is free to enter and run by the U.S. State Department—you must apply online using the official website. Even if you’ve never won in past years, it’s worth trying again. Each year is a completely new random draw, so every eligible applicant truly has a shot. Now’s the perfect time to get ready: mark your calendar, gather your documents, and be prepared to apply. Since there are so many applicants and only about 50,000–55,000 visas available, it pays to follow the rules carefully and start early.

Why You Should Try Again

People all over the world hope for a chance at U.S. permanent residency, and the DV Lottery offers just that. Because the selection is purely random, each year is a fresh opportunity. There’s no penalty for applying multiple times in different years—your odds are the same every time you try. The program makes over 50,000 visas available annually, so those who keep applying sometimes do eventually succeed. Entering again costs nothing—it’s free—and only requires filling out an online form. If you weren’t selected last year, remember: millions enter, but with a little luck, you could be chosen next time. Keep your documents and info up to date so you’re ready when the entry period opens.

Timeline for DV-2027

The State Department will announce the exact DV-2027 dates, but based on previous years, there’s a clear pattern: the entry period usually opens in early October and closes in early November. For instance, the DV-2026 entry period ran from October 2, 2024, to November 7, 2024. Expect DV-2027 registration to open around the first week of October 2025 and close in the first week of November 2025. No entries are accepted before or after this window. It’s smart to apply soon after the window opens, since waiting until the last week can be risky—the site often gets overloaded.

Once you submit your entry, you’ll immediately see a confirmation page with your name and a unique confirmation number. Print or save this confirmation number right away—you’ll need it to check your status later. Don’t lose it, and never give it to anyone else. The State Department does not notify winners by email or mail; instead, you must use the official Entrant Status Check on the website to find out your result. For example, DV-2026 entrants could check results starting May 3, 2025—about six months after the entry period closed. DV-2027 results are expected around May 2026.

Eligibility

To enter DV-2027, you need to meet two main eligibility requirements:

1. Country of Birth:
You must have been born in a country that is eligible for the program. Each year, the State Department publishes a list of ineligible countries—these are countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the previous five years. For DV-2026, the ineligible countries included (by birth): Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland and Hong Kong), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam. (Macau S.A.R. and Taiwan were exceptions—they were eligible.) If you were born in an ineligible country, you might still qualify by claiming your spouse’s country of birth (if they are from an eligible country and you apply together) or through other specific exceptions. Always check the latest instructions for the official list of eligible and ineligible countries before you apply. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, you can quickly check using our free tool: Free DV Lottery Eligibility Checker.

2. Education or Work Experience:
You must have at least a high school education (completion of 12 years of formal elementary/secondary schooling) or two years of qualifying work experience in the past five years. “High school or equivalent” usually means a high school diploma or its foreign equivalent. If you don’t meet the education requirement, you may still qualify if your work experience is in an occupation that appears on the U.S. Department of Labor’s qualifying list. There’s no minimum age to apply, but the education/work requirement means most applicants are at least in their late teens.

In summary:
Double-check that you qualify before applying. The DV program cares about your country of birth, not your current residence or citizenship. You can’t apply with a “country of eligibility” other than your birth country unless you fit the exceptions (such as through a spouse or parent).

How to Apply

When DV-2027 entry opens, you’ll need to submit your application online through the official website https://dvprogram.state.gov/ using the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (DS-5501). There is no fee to enter—don’t pay anyone to apply. The form must be completed in English, and all information must be accurate and match your documents. You can submit your entry yourself or with your family, but do not use unapproved agents or websites; only the U.S. government’s system is legitimate. Each eligible person can only submit one entry per year—submitting more than one entry for the same person will disqualify all entries for that person.

Before you begin, gather this information:

• Personal Details: Full name (as in your passport), gender, birth date (day/month/year), city and country of birth.
• Country of Eligibility: Usually your country of birth (unless you qualify through spouse/parent).
• Photograph: A recent digital color photo (see Photo Requirements below). If married, you’ll need your spouse’s info and photo. If you have unmarried children under 21, include their details and photos too. To make sure your photo meets the official requirements, you can use our free DV Lottery Photo Checker & Crop Tool.
• Contact Information: Your current mailing address, country of current residence, and an email address you check regularly. (A phone number is optional.)
• Education: The highest level of education you have completed (e.g., high school diploma, university degree).
• Marital and Family Details: Your marital status, your spouse’s name and birth date (if married), and names/birthdates of any eligible children.

Check all information carefully. You won’t get a chance to correct errors after submitting, and mistakes or missing details can make you ineligible. After completing your entry, the site will show a confirmation page with your unique confirmation number—save or print this immediately. No paper entries or late entries will be accepted. Submit before the deadline and watch for the official closing time. After applying, wait until May 2026 to check your status on the Entrant Status Check with your confirmation number. The State Department will not email you if you win—only trust the official portal.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

The best way to protect your chances of being selected is to follow the rules closely. Here are some helpful tips:

• Enter Early, Not Last Minute. The system gets overloaded near the deadline, so submit your entry as soon as the program opens. Use an up-to-date browser (avoid outdated ones).
• One Entry Per Person. Only submit one entry for yourself. If you submit more than one, you will be disqualified. You can apply as an individual, and your spouse and children can also submit their own entries, but each person only gets one entry per year.
• Use the Official Site Only. When the lottery opens, only use the official government website. Don’t use third-party services or other websites—they may try to charge you or scam you. The entry is always free, and any site or email asking for payment is fraudulent. The State Department will never email you to say you’ve been selected.
• Provide Complete, Accurate Data. Double-check all required fields and make sure everything matches your passport or official documents. Typos, different spellings, or missing information can disqualify you.
• Prepare a Correct Photo. A common reason for disqualification is an improper photo. Follow the photo guidelines closely and use a proper tool to format your image. There are free online tools to crop your photo to the right size and check that it meets the requirements.
• Keep Your Confirmation Number Safe. Write down or screenshot your confirmation code and save it in several places. Without it, you can’t check your results. Keep it until the DV-2027 visa period ends (September 30, 2027).

These tips won’t increase your odds in the random draw, but they will make sure you don’t lose your chance because of a simple mistake.

Photo Requirements

The DV Lottery has strict photo requirements. Your photo must meet all U.S. visa photo standards. In short: the photo must be recent (taken in the last 6 months), in color, showing your full face looking straight at the camera, with a neutral expression and both eyes open. The background should be plain white or off-white. Don’t wear hats or head coverings (unless for religious reasons, and your full face must be visible). Glasses, headphones, and other accessories are not allowed.

There are detailed digital requirements too:

• The photo must be a JPEG (.jpg) file
• 600×600 pixels, square (height and width the same)
• File size no larger than 240 KB

If you scan a 2×2-inch photo, scan it at 300 DPI to meet these specs. Do not use a photo you submitted in a previous DV lottery, or one that has been digitally altered in any way. The photo must be a new, recent image showing your current appearance (within 6 months). Avoid shadows, non-neutral expressions, blurry images, or odd color tones.

Because the rules are so specific, prepare your photo in advance. Use official tools or our free DV Lottery Photo Checker & Crop Tool to crop and verify your image before you apply. An ineligible photo is one of the most common reasons otherwise-qualified applicants are disqualified, so pay close attention to every detail.

DV-2027 is a real chance to pursue the American Dream—and you’ll miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Mark your calendar for early October 2025 and start getting your application materials together now. Check your eligibility, gather your passports and educational/work documentation, and take a new digital photo that fits all the rules. The entire process is free and done only through the U.S. government website. Be on the lookout for any emails or websites asking for money—the real process is always free and straightforward. Even if you haven’t been lucky in the past, there’s no reason not to try again—it only takes a few minutes to apply. Read the official DV instructions carefully, follow the steps above, and submit your entry when the time comes. With careful preparation, you’ll maximize your chances of being selected. Good luck!

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