The DV-2027 lottery now requires a registration fee. Here’s more

In a notable shift for aspiring immigrants, the U.S. Department of State’s Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery—popularly known as the Green Card Lottery—will charge a $1 registration fee for the first time starting with the DV-2027 program.

This annual program, established under the Immigration Act of 1990, randomly selects up to 55,000 individuals from countries with historically low U.S. immigration rates, offering them a pathway to permanent residency and the chance for a new life in America. With registration set to open in early October 2025, the fee has sparked discussions about accessibility, but officials insist it’s a minimal step toward program sustainability.

For decades, the DV Lottery has been a beacon of hope for millions worldwide, drawing 20-25 million entries annually and issuing visas to promote demographic diversity. Previously free to enter, the process relied on fees from selectees—about $330 per applicant during visa processing—to fund operations like website maintenance, fraud detection, and random selection algorithms. However, with only around 100,000-120,000 people selected each year (to account for dropouts), this model left the bulk of costs unrecovered from the vast majority of non-selectees.

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The $1 fee, announced on September 18, 2025, addresses this imbalance by spreading expenses across all participants, potentially generating $20-25 million yearly. According to the Federal Register, it reflects the “operational costs of running the annual DV lottery program,” including cybersecurity enhancements and data management amid rising fraud attempts. Department officials highlighted that the nominal amount deters mass spam submissions by scammers, who exploited the free entry to overload the system with fakes, thus improving selection integrity. Critics, including immigration advocates, worry it could exclude the poorest applicants in developing nations, but proponents note it’s far less than a coffee and doesn’t impact the random draw—odds remain about 1 in 200-300 overall.

The fee is non-refundable, payable via credit or debit card at submission on the official E-DV website (dvprogram.state.gov), and applies per individual entry—no group discounts. It’s separate from post-selection costs and won’t buy anyone an edge; the lottery is purely algorithmic and blind to payments.

As of October 1, 2025, exact DV-2027 dates are pending announcement, but expect the window to mirror recent years: opening October 2 and closing November 7 at noon Eastern Time. No extensions—miss it, and you’re out until next year. Eligibility is straightforward but strict: You must be born in a qualifying country (e.g., excluding high-immigration nations like India, Mexico, or Nigeria; full list in annual instructions), possess a high school education or two years of skilled work experience in the last five years, and be admissible to the U.S. (no major criminal or health bars). Spouses and unmarried children under 21 can derivative from a winner’s entry.

How to Apply for the DV-2027 Lottery

The DV-2027 registration period is expected to open in early October 2025 (likely around October 2, based on the pattern from DV-2026) and close in early November 2025 (around November 7), at 12:00 noon Eastern Time each day. Exact dates will be posted on the official DOS website (dvprogram.state.gov) shortly before opening—no extensions are granted, and late or early submissions are invalid. The process is entirely online, free of charge except for the new $1 fee, and must be completed personally by the applicant (no agents or third parties). Only one entry per person is allowed; multiple entries result in automatic disqualification of all submissions for that individual.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for DV-2027, you must meet all of the following criteria as of the date your entry is submitted:

• Country of Birth: You must be a native of an eligible country (those with fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the prior five years). The full list is published in the annual instructions, but ineligible high-immigration countries for recent years include Brazil, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam. If ineligible due to your birth country, you may claim eligibility through a spouse or parent born in an eligible country.
• Education or Work Experience: You must have either (1) at least a high school education or equivalent (e.g., 12 years of primary/secondary education), or (2) two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience (per the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET database, typically skilled trades or higher).
• Admissibility: You must be admissible to the U.S. (no serious criminal history, health issues, or other grounds of inadmissibility under U.S. immigration law).
• Family Derivatives: If selected, you can include your spouse and unmarried children under 21, but they do not need to meet education/work requirements independently.

DOS publishes detailed eligibility FAQs in the annual instructions PDF, expected soon for DV-2027.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Prepare in Advance (Before Registration Opens):
   • Gather required documents: Recent passport-style photo (see below), full name, date/place of birth, gender, nationality, marital status, and contact info.
   • Ensure you have a stable internet connection and a valid email address. Create a free account on dvprogram.state.gov if needed (though not always required for entry).
   • Review the official instructions at travel.state.gov (search for “DV-2027 Instructions”) for the latest rules.
2. Access the Official Website During the Registration Window:
   • Go to dvprogram.state.gov exactly when it opens. The site handles high traffic, so try during off-peak hours (e.g., early morning U.S. East Coast time) to avoid crashes.
   • Select “DV-2027” and start a new entry.
3. Complete the Online Entry Form:
   • Enter personal details accurately (e.g., name exactly as on birth certificate—typos lead to disqualification).
   • Indicate if including spouse/children (their details must be provided, but they are derivatives only).
   • Upload your photo (critical—see requirements below).
   • Answer eligibility questions (education/work experience).
4. Pay the $1 Fee:
   • At submission, enter credit/debit card details for the non-refundable $1 charge. No other payment methods are accepted.
5. Submit and Receive Confirmation:
   • Review for errors, then submit. You’ll get a unique confirmation number immediately—print/save it securely, as it’s your proof of entry and required to check results.
   • Do not resubmit; check status only via the site later.

Photo Requirements

• Digital color photo taken within 6 months, against plain white/light background.
• Size: 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels, JPEG format, 240-300 DPI.
• Full face view (70-80% of photo height), neutral expression, no glasses/headwear (unless religious/medical with temple showing).
• Use the official photo tool on the site to validate before upload—invalid photos disqualify entries.

Warnings

• Scams: Only use dvprogram.state.gov—beware of fake sites/emails promising “guaranteed wins” or charging extra fees. Report fraud to the DOS Visa Fraud Tip Line.
• No Guarantees: Entry does not ensure selection; results are random and available starting May 2026 via confirmation number.
• Post-Selection: If selected, act quickly—submit DS-260 form, pay $330 fee, attend interview by September 30, 2027.