United States · Immigration54
Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
An annual lottery making a limited number of immigrant visas available to people from countries with historically low U.S. immigration. Entry is free and only through the official Department of State site during the entry period.
Requires current verification · Editorial record dated 10/20/2026 · Not lawyer review or an eligibility decision. Check current official instructions.
Who this is for
Natives of eligible countries with at least a high-school education or two years of qualifying work experience.
Entry opens only during a short annual window, and eligible countries change. Verify the current year’s instructions on the official Department of State page.
Common problems
Scams
The lottery is free. Any site charging to enter, or any email claiming you won without your having entered, is fraudulent.
The fiscal-year deadline
All processing must finish by September 30 of the program year; visas cannot carry over.