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2025 DV Lottery Registration Now Open – Submit an Entry

The U.S. Department of State announces 2025 DV lottery registration. The online registration period for the diversity visa (DV) lottery 2025 program begins on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 12:00 PM EDT, until Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 12:00 PM EST.

Natives of the countries with low immigration rates to the United States will be able to apply for the DV lottery 2025 program. It is completely free of charge.

The U.S. Department of State provides 55,000 diversity visas every year through this program.

The random selection process for the 2025 DV lottery program will be carried out via a computerized system. The results will be published on May 6, 2024, and are available until September 30, 2025.

Those selected and approved to receive diversity visas are allowed to live and work in the United States.

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What is the diversity visa (DV) lottery program?

The DV program is the United States congressionally-mandated immigration lottery program. It is administered by the U.S. Department of State under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

The program makes available 55,000 immigrant visas annually. It aims to diversify the immigrant population in the United States. It is a program for nationals of countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. 

The first DV lottery program began in 1995. Since then, over 1.4 million people have won the DV lottery and immigrated to the United States. Every year more than 20 million people around the world apply for the diversity visa lottery program.[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_Immigrant_Visa

Initially, the diversity visa lottery program was administered by mail until 2005. Since then, the program has been operated exclusively online. So that’s why it is also called the “electronic diversity visa” (EDV) lottery program.

Every year, the U.S. Department of State makes an official announcement for the DV lottery registration period. All eligible applicants can submit only one entry each year during this period. If you submit more than one entry, you will be disqualified for further processing.

You can include your spouse and children’s information while submitting a diversity visa program entry form.

If you are randomly selected, you are allowed to enter the United States after interviewing at the U.S. embassy or consulate. Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that you will be granted an immigrant visa even if you are randomly selected. The consular officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate will make the final decision.

How to apply for DV lottery 2025 online?

If you want to apply for the DV lottery 2025 program, you must register a DV entry form online during the registration period. The application period for DV lottery 2025 starts on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 12:00 PM EDT and continues until Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 12:00 PM EST.

Follow these simple three steps any year during the DV lottery registration period.

Step 1: Visit the U.S. Department of State official DV lottery website: https://dvprogram.state.gov/

Step 2: Fill out the DV lottery entry form with your personal information.

Step 3: Submit the electronic application before the application deadline.

Entrants will receive a unique confirmation number after submitting an application. Save this confirmation number. It will be required for an entrant status check. Keep in mind that the confirmation page will not be available once you close the window.

How to fill 2025 DV lottery registration form online?

Filling out the diversity visa lottery online registration form is a straightforward process. You do not need any specific computer skills to submit your DV lottery 2025 program entry form.

Follow these steps to fill out the DV lottery entry form online.

Step 1: Gather your passport information and prepare your personal information. It includes your date of birth, city of birth, spouse and children’s information, if any, etc.

Step 2: Visit the official website for the DV lottery program: https://dvprogram.state.gov/

Step 3: Fill out the following information accurately without missing any field.

  • Full Name
  • Gender
  • Date of birth
  • Birth city
  • Country of birth
  • Mailing address
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Highest level of education
  • Marital status
  • Spouse and children’s information (if any)

Step 4: Upload a valid digital image for each family member in your application.

Step 5: Review and submit the application.

It is very important to pay attention to the accuracy of your information while filling out the application.

Check out this Dbd guide – complete step-by-step process to fill DV lottery entry form, where we have explained the application procedure in detail.

Who is eligible for DV lottery 2025?

There are two very straightforward eligibility requirements for the 2025 DV lottery registration.

  • You must not be a native of DV lottery-eligible countries.
  • You must have at least a high school education or its equivalent. Or have two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience.

Diversity visa program 2025 eligible countries

Natives from the following countries are not eligible for the DV lottery 2025. If you are not a citizen of any one of the following countries, you are qualified to participate in the DV lottery 2025 program.

  1. China (including Hong Kong SAR)
  2. Brazil
  3. Bangladesh
  4. Colombia
  5. Jamaica
  6. Nigeria
  7. Philippines
  8. Canada
  9. Pakistan
  10. Mexico
  11. South Korea
  12. United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories
  13. Venezuela
  14. Haiti
  15. India
  16. Honduras
  17. Vietnam
  18. El Salvador
  19. The Dominican Republic

Check out this – diversity visa immigration lottery eligible countries list page, where we have listed countries by continent which are eligible to participate in the 2025 DV lottery program.

DV lottery photo requirements

Often ignored by many applicants, the valid photograph is a vital part of your diversity visa lottery application. Your application will be disqualified for further processing with an invalid digital photograph.

These are a few of the critical requirements of the DV lottery photo:

  • Photo must be between 600*600 pixels to 1200*1200 pixels.
  • Image background must be plain white or off-white.
  • Pose a photo with a neutral facial expression with both eyes open.
  • Image must be in JPEG, JPG format with a file size less than 240 KB.

Check out this – diversity visa lottery photo requirements page for complete digital photography requirements.

If you are interested in seeing some sample digital photos that fulfill all criteria of the diversity visa program, look at these DV lottery photos examples.

How are DV lottery winners selected?

DV lottery selection is a randomized process. With the help of a computerized system, the U.S. Department of State randomly selects applicants from all qualified entries.

Keep in mind that the initial selection process is random. However, to receive a diversity immigrant visa, you will be interviewed and screened by a consular at a U.S. embassy.

Besides the initial DV application requirement, the consular will review your criminal background and medical examination information during your interview. Applicants must pass both of these requirements to obtain an immigrant visa.

How to check DV lottery result 2025?

To check the DV lottery 2025 result, follow these three simple steps:

Step 1: Gather the following information required to check your DV result.

  • Confirmation number.
  • Last family name.
  • Year of birth.

Step 2: Visit the official DV entrant status check page: https://dvprogram.state.gov/ESC/(S(v5s5ffjwzchgmqpbqgf22g2a))/default.aspx.

Step 3: Enter your confirmation number, last family name, and year of birth to check the status of your DV lottery application.

Related: Follow this step by step guide to check DV result

When to check DV lottery entrant status?

You can check the fiscal year 2025 DV lottery entrant status from May 6, 2024, until September 30, 2025. The U.S. Department of State will publish the result on its official DV lottery entrant status check page: https://dvprogram.state.gov/ESC/(S(xg4akwix55hz4i1w5uee35qm))/CheckStatus.aspx.

How to avoid DV lottery scams and fraud?

There are many scams and frauds related to the diversity visa lottery. In most cases, fraudsters will try to trick you into paying for a fake green card or provide false information about the diversity visa program.

Follow these simple guidelines to avoid the most common DV lottery scams and frauds:

  • Do not share your personal information with any entity claiming to provide diversity visa services. There is only one place for the DV lottery registration. It is the U.S. Department of State’s DV lottery official webpage: https://dvprogram.state.gov/.
  • Never wire money or make a payment to anyone claiming to provide diversity visa services for you. There is no fee for this DV lottery. Keep in mind that neither the U.S. Department of State nor any other agency charges a fee for submitting a DV lottery application.
  • The only official page where you can check your DV result is https://dvprogram.state.gov/ESC/(S(xg4akwix55hz4i1w5uee35qm))/CheckStatus.aspx. Do not trust any other website that claims to publish DV lottery results.
  • Avoid any emails, SMS, phone calls, or live chat claiming they are from State Department. The U.S. Department of state never contacts applicants by phone or email to provide diversity visa-related information.
  • If you encounter any scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission. You can call 1-877-382-4357 to file your DV-related complaint. [2]https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/media/video-0055-diversity-visa-lottery-scam
  • Only trust the official U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs website for any information related to the diversity visa program. Avoid giving personal information to any other website.

FAQs about 2025 DV lottery registration

What is the difference between the DV lottery and the EDV lottery program?

The DV lottery refers to the diversity visa program in which applicants are randomly selected. The EDV lottery program is the online system used by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs for DV lottery registration and status check. Both refer to the same diversity immigrant visa lottery system, but they use different formats (mailing versus electronic). From 2005, the DV lottery system transitioned to an online EDV program.

Is DV lottery 2025 canceled?

As of now, the DV lottery is not canceled for the fiscal year 2025. Do not trust any website claiming the DV lottery is no longer available. It is important to keep in mind that the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs publishes its official policy regarding changes on diversity immigrant visa programs on its official webpage. To verify any updates related to the upcoming DV lottery, visit this State Department official DV lottery page – https://dvprogram.state.gov/.

What is a confirmation number for the DV lottery registration?

A confirmation number is an online verification number used to check the status of your DV lottery registration. You can use this account number to check the result of your DV lottery application.

Can the 2025 DV lottery online registration be edited once submitted?

You can not edit the DV entry form once it has been submitted. Additionally, for the sake of correcting the information, if you submit more than one entry in the same fiscal year, your entry will be disqualified for further processing.

Can husband and wife apply separately for the DV lottery application?

Yes, as far as both husband and wife meet the DV lottery requirements, they can register separately for the DV lottery application. In this case, the husband will be the primary applicant in one entry, and on another entry, a wife will be the primary applicant. However same primary applicant cannot register more than one entry in the same fiscal year.

How to fill DV lottery registration entry form from Nepal?

Filling the DV lottery entry form from Nepal is the same process as the rest of the world. It does not matter where you are filling a green card lottery entry form. Follow this – electronic diversity visa (EDV) lottery entry form filling guide to complete your application accurately.

What will happen if you win the diversity visa lottery while asylum pending?

If you won the diversity visa lottery while asylum is pending, you could adjust your status as a permanent resident by filing for I-485. However, you should be in a valid status in the United States until you complete the adjustment of the status process through USCIS.

Sometimes why is the DV lottery website not working?

Due to the high volume of traffic, sometimes the DV lottery website is temporarily down. You might have noticed an error message “site can’t be reached.” Usually, on DV result day, you may encounter this type of error message.

What to do if you won DV lottery while in the USA?

There would be two options if you won the U.S. green card lottery while in the USA. Either you can proceed with adjustment of status staying in the USA, or you can return to your home country and do the consular processing to obtain the immigrant visa through the DV lottery.

Can asylum-seekers register for the DV lottery?

Yes, of course, asylum-seekers are eligible for the DV lottery registration. However, keep in mind that you should be in a valid status to obtain a green card from the DV lottery.

Is there a green card lottery program?

People usually refer to the diversity visa lottery program as a green card lottery program. It is a real and legit immigration lottery program administered by State Department.

Is the U.S. diversity visa green card lottery free?

Yes, the green card lottery program conducted by the U.S. Department of State is completely free. Avoid fraud and scams if someone asks you for a fee related to the green card lottery program.

How to win the American visa lottery?

You have to register for a green card lottery program to win the American visa lottery during its registration period. For the fiscal year 2025, it starts from Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 12:00 PM EDT until Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 12:00 PM EST.

How many green card lottery visas are available each year?

55,000 green card lottery visas are available every year through the U.S. diversity visa program. Among these visas, 5,000 green card lottery visas are reserved for NACARA (Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act).

How to check the status of diversity visa lottery without a confirmation number?

You would not be able to check the status of diversity visa lottery without a confirmation number. However, if you forget the confirmation number, follow the instructions by clicking on the “forget confirmation number” option. Applicants must have their registered email access to retrieve their confirmation number.

When will Bangladesh be eligible for the DV lottery?

Since 2013, Bangladeshi citizens were not eligible for the DV lottery program. Bangladesh will qualify for the DV lottery when less than 50,000 people immigrate to the United States over five years.

Is India an eligible country for the DV program 2025?

No, Indian citizens are not eligible to apply for the DV 2025 program because India has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States over 5 years.

What documents should I carry to the green card interview?

You should carry the documents requested by your local embassy or consulate as part of the immigrant visa process. These documents vary from one country to another. The most common documents asked by embassies during the green card interview include passport, civil and criminal records, birth certificate, marriage certificate, photographs, police clearance certificates, and more.

What are the languages accepted for online DV lottery registration?

The only language accepted green card DV lottery registration is English. The State Department does not allow any other languages for DV entry forms. If you are filling the online green card lottery program form, make sure that you are typing everything in English only.

How will I notify if I am selected in the DV lottery?

Applicants will not be notified about the status by State Department. Applicants must check the entrant status by themselves. Once the result is published, you will be able to check the status from the entrant status check page. So if you get notified about your result from any third party, then be aware that it is a fraud.

Am I qualify for DV 2025 if I do not have a high school diploma?

Yes, you will qualify for DV 2025 even though you do not have a high school diploma. However, you should have two years of work experience in DV lottery qualifying jobs within the past five years. Make sure that your country of birth is on DV eligible countries list.

Final thoughts on DV lottery registration

Registering a diversity visa lottery with correct information during its registration period is the only way to win it. Be aware of fraud and scams related to the DV lottery. Never pay money to register your application for the DV program. Check the entrant status only on the official webpage of the State Department.

We hope you have enjoyed our detailed guide on 2025 DV lottery registration. If you feel that this information might be helpful to your friends and families, then share it with them. We wish all of you good luck with your diversity visa registration.

About the author

Raju Chopra
Raju Chopra
Immigration Attorney | + posts

Raju Chopra is an experienced immigration attorney with a Master's degree in Law from the University of Colorado Boulder. He has worked on international immigration matters for the past ten years, helping clients navigate the often confusing world of global visa laws and regulations. Raju is passionate about offering practical legal advice and guidance to those looking for work abroad or seeking visas for travel.

Sarika Patel
Sarika Patel
Immigration Attorney, UAE | + posts

Sarika Patel is an experienced immigration expert with a Master's degree in Law from the University of Dubai. For the last two decades, she has been living in Dubai, and throughout this time, her focus has been on providing helpful information and advice to those seeking to immigrate or gain a visa in Dubai. Sarika is passionate about helping people navigate the often complex and confusing world of immigration, visa rules, and laws in the UAE.

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