DV Lottery 2027: How to Enter, Eligible Countries, Requirements & What Happens If You Win

Thinking about entering the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery? The good news is that the entry itself is simple and free. But before you apply, you need to check a few important things. This guide explains who can enter DV-2027, which countries were excluded from the previous program, when registration is expected to open, how to submit your entry, what happens after selection, how much the process costs, and what can cause problems.

DV-2027 registration dates and some program details have not yet been announced by the U.S. Department of State. Check the official instructions when they are published. This guide distinguishes between confirmed information from previous DV programs and details that are not yet official for DV-2027.

Is DV-2027 open yet?

No. The DV-2027 registration period has not yet been officially announced by the U.S. Department of State. If you’re searching for “is DV 2027 open?” or “when will DV 2027 open?”, don’t rely on websites that publish unconfirmed registration dates — check dvlottery.state.gov directly.

Registration opening date	Not yet announced
Registration deadline	Not yet announced
Selection results	Announced by the U.S. Dept. of State
DV-2027 program deadline	September 30, 2027

The registration deadline and September 30, 2027 are different dates. The registration deadline is the final date you can submit your entry. September 30, 2027 is the end of the DV-2027 program year — the deadline by which DV-2027 visas must be issued. Don’t confuse the two.

The process in 7 steps

1. Check your country of birth
2. Check your education or work experience
3. Prepare your photo and family information
4. Submit one entry during the official registration period
5. Save your confirmation number
6. Check whether you were selected
7. If selected, complete the immigrant visa process

1. Which countries are eligible for DV-2027?

Eligibility is generally based on your country of birth, not your current citizenship or country of residence. The final DV-2027 country list has not yet been published — countries can change from one program year to another.

For DV-2026, people born in these countries were not eligible: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (incl. Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam.

This is the previous year’s list, not the confirmed DV-2027 list. If your country is not on this list, check the official DV-2027 instructions when released.

If your country is not eligible: if your spouse was born in an eligible country, you may be able to use your spouse’s country of birth for chargeability if the program’s requirements are met.

2. Do I meet the DV Lottery requirements?

You need to meet the country requirement and one of these two:

Option 1 — Education: the equivalent of a U.S. high school education (high school diploma, A-levels, Abitur, Baccalauréat, Matura, or other recognised secondary qualification). A university degree is not required.

Option 2 — Work experience: at least two years of qualifying work experience during the previous five years, in an occupation meeting the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET training/experience requirements (e.g. software developer, physician, lawyer, architect, accountant, nurse, civil engineer). Check your occupation’s O*NET Job Zone at onetonline.org — a professional job doesn’t automatically qualify.

There’s no separate minimum age, but the education/work requirement means younger applicants may not qualify.

3. Can my spouse and children be included?

Yes — and this is where mistakes cause serious problems. You must include your current spouse and all living unmarried children under 21 (biological, adopted, or qualifying stepchildren), even if they don’t plan to immigrate with you.

Both spouses can submit separate entries if each independently qualifies — effectively doubling a household’s chances. But each person may submit only one entry; multiple entries by the same person cause disqualification.

4. When does DV-2027 registration open?

Not yet announced. Registration normally happens during a limited period in the autumn, but don’t rely on an exact date until the State Department publishes official instructions. Have ready in advance: your and your family’s personal/education/address information, and a compliant digital photo.

5. How much does it cost to enter?

Entering is free. You never need to pay an agency or “immigration consultant” for the initial entry — it’s submitted through the U.S. government’s Electronic Diversity Visa system. If you’re selected and proceed with the immigrant visa process, you’ll face separate costs: immigrant visa fees, medical exam, police certificates, translations, travel. Be suspicious of anyone claiming they can “increase your chances” for a fee — selection is random.

6. How to enter the DV-2027 lottery

The only official way to enter is the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV) at dvlottery.state.gov. It takes 20–30 minutes with your photo ready, and there’s no fee.

1. Go to the official website — not a third-party form
2. Prepare a compliant photo (see below)
3. Enter your personal information carefully
4. Add every eligible family member — omitting one is misrepresentation and can disqualify your whole application
5. Submit once — multiple entries per person cause automatic disqualification
6. Save your confirmation number. The government does not email or call winners — this number is the only way to check your status.

7. Photo requirements

A non-compliant photo is the single most common reason DV entries are rejected — the State Department uses automated image checks.

Requirement	Spec
Format	JPEG (.jpg)
File size	Maximum 240 KB
Dimensions	600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels
Background	Plain white or off-white only
Head size	50%–69% of image height
Glasses	Not allowed (banned since 2016)
Head coverings	Not allowed, except documented religious reasons
Recency	Taken within the past 6 months

Check your photo with the free tool at travel.state.gov/photocomposer before submitting. Every family member needs their own compliant, recent photo — don’t reuse an old passport photo.

8. What happens after you submit?

Nothing immediately — the government conducts a random selection first. You check your own result at entrantstatus.state.gov using your confirmation information; there’s no “Congratulations” email. If selected, you receive a case number and become a DV selectee who can apply for an immigrant visa.

9. Does winning mean you get a Green Card?

No. Selection is an opportunity to apply, not a visa. You still need to complete forms, provide documents, pass a medical exam, attend an interview, satisfy admissibility requirements, and enter the U.S. within the required period. More people are selected than there are visas available, since not everyone selected completes the process.

10. What is a DV case number?

A code like EU00012345 — the prefix identifies your region, and the number affects processing order. A case number can be too high to become current before the program year ends, so selectees should track the Visa Bulletin.

11–13. After selection: DS-260 and documents

The process runs: selection → check case number → complete Form DS-260 (a detailed immigrant visa application covering personal history, addresses, education, employment, family, travel) → prepare documents (passport, birth/marriage certificates, police certificates, education records, work-experience evidence) → wait for your case to become current → medical exam → interview → visa decision → travel → become a permanent resident.

14. Do I need a job offer?

No — unlike employment-based visas, the DV program doesn’t require U.S. employer sponsorship. But winning a visa doesn’t come with a job, housing, health insurance, or savings — plan realistically for how you’ll support yourself.

15. How much money do I need?

There’s no single figure — it depends on whether you’re moving alone or with children, where you’ll live, and whether you already have a job or savings. Budget for: visa and document costs + medical exam + flight + temporary housing + deposit + first rent + food + transportation + emergency savings, covering your first few months, not just arrival day.

16. The DV visa interview

The consular officer reviews your application and determines eligibility, asking about your personal information, family, education/work history, and plans in the U.S. Your application, documents, and answers must be truthful and consistent. Hearing “221(g)” means additional administrative processing is needed — not an automatic refusal.

17. What can go wrong

A case number too high to be reached, a missing document, a medical issue, additional processing, or the September 30 program deadline arriving before your visa is issued. The deadline is absolute — visas not issued by midnight September 30, 2027 are permanently cancelled, even mid-process. Start preparing documents the moment you’re selected.

18. Can my family come with me?

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 (biological, qualifying adopted before age 16, or qualifying stepchildren established before age 18) may receive derivative visas. Parents and siblings are not eligible as derivatives. Derivatives can travel separately, but the principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as them, and the whole family must complete the process within the same program year.

19. Arriving in the USA

Entering with your DV immigrant visa makes you a lawful permanent resident: you can work for any employer, change jobs, live in any state, and study. Work authorization is immediate. Apply for a Social Security Number at your nearest SSA office (free) and a driver’s license at your state’s DMV. Green Cards are renewed every 10 years online; travel abroad is generally fine up to about 6 months per trip.

20. Path to U.S. citizenship

A Green Card doesn’t automatically make you a citizen. General naturalization eligibility is 5 years as a permanent resident (or 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen), assuming other requirements are met: DV selection → immigrant visa → permanent residence → citizenship eligibility → naturalization.

21. How to avoid DV Lottery scams

The DV Lottery is one of the most heavily scammed immigration programs in the world. Entering is always free. Be wary of any message saying “You have won! Pay now,” “We can increase your chances,” or “You must use our immigration agent.” The only official site is dvlottery.state.gov. Keep your confirmation number private and check your own status — you don’t need an agency to do it for you.

DV-2027 checklist

Before entering: check your country of birth and the eligible-country list, confirm you meet the education or work requirement, gather spouse/children information, prepare compliant photos.

During registration: use the official website, enter information carefully, include every eligible family member, submit only one entry, save your confirmation number.

After registration: check the Entrant Status Check, record your case number if selected, complete DS-260, follow the Visa Bulletin, complete the medical exam, attend the interview.

Before moving: calculate moving costs, plan temporary accommodation, research housing and healthcare, prepare an emergency fund, plan your first weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Can I enter the DV Lottery if I’m already in the USA on a visa? Yes. Being present on any visa (tourist, student, work) doesn’t disqualify you. If selected, you can adjust status inside the USA or attend a consular interview abroad.

How many entries are typically submitted each year? Around 10–15 million entries representing 20–25 million people (including family members) are submitted annually. Odds of selection are roughly 0.5%–1%, depending on region.

Can I submit one entry and my spouse submit another? Yes. Each spouse may submit a separate entry; if either is selected, the other and any unmarried children under 21 can immigrate as derivatives.

What happens if my case number is too high to be processed? If all 55,000 visas are issued before your number is reached, your selection expires and you must re-enter in a future round.

Do I need a job offer in the USA to get a DV visa? No. You must demonstrate you won’t be a public charge — typically through savings, a sponsor, or a job offer (helpful, not required).

Can I choose which state to live in? Yes. As a Green Card holder you can live and work anywhere in the USA.

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This guide was prepared by the RelocateCompass editorial team to help readers understand the Diversity Visa process. Because U.S. immigration rules can change between program years, we distinguish confirmed information from previous DV programs from details not yet official for DV-2027. Primary sources: U.S. Department of State (Diversity Visa Program, Bureau of Consular Affairs), U.S. Department of Labor O*NET.

RelocateCompass provides general relocation and immigration information and is not a law firm or immigration law practice. Nothing on this page is individual legal advice. DV rules, eligible countries, registration dates, fees, and procedures can change — always verify current DV-2027 instructions with the U.S. Department of State before submitting an entry or making immigration or financial decisions.