DV-2027 Entry Period Opens On:
October 2, 2025 at 12:00 PM EDT
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 2x2-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!
Disclaimer:
The information presented on this page is for informational purposes only and is not an official statement or representation by any government agency. The data displayed is derived from internal analysis and is not verified by any official or governmental source. We make no guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Users should independently verify any details before making decisions based on this data. By using this information, you agree that we are not liable for any errors or omissions and that it should not be relied upon as legal or official guidance.
