United States | Diversity Visa 2026 registration open until Nov. 5

Registration for the Diversity Visa 2026 lottery is open until Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Key Points:

• Registration began Wednesday, Oct. 2, and closes Tuesday, Nov. 5, at noon EST.
• Please note that the Federal Register lists 2023 dates and has not yet been updated as of publication.
• Applicants must register online by submitting the Diversity Visa entry form, which is available on the State Department’s e-DV website. Paper applications are not accepted. Entries are limited to one person, and multiple entries will render the entrant ineligible.
• Lottery winners will be selected at random. Registrants will be given a confirmation number that they may use to check if they’ve been selected starting from May 4, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026, on the e-DV website.
• This year, individuals born in the following countries are ineligible: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including mainland and Hong Kong born), Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Venezuela and Vietnam. Natives of Macao and Taiwan are eligible.
• With the exception of Cuba, which is not eligible for DV-2026, there were no changes in eligibility from the previous fiscal year.
• The State Department’s complete instructions are available here.

Additional Information: The State Department urges applicants not to wait until the final week to register because heavy demand may cause website delays. Individuals should also be aware of scams that frequently target DV lottery registrants. Individuals are reminded that the registration process is free and that the only way to enter the lottery and obtain lottery results is via the State Department’s e-DV website.