The United States is set to open applications for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery 2027, more commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, beginning in early October 2025. The program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of State, offers up to 55,000 immigrant visas each year to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S.
For the first time since the program’s launch, applicants will be required to pay a $1 electronic registration fee when submitting their entries. This change, effective from October 16, 2025, was introduced to help offset the administrative costs of managing the high volume of entries received each year. According to the State Department, the DV Lottery sees more than 25 million registrations annually, though only a small percentage are selected to proceed to the visa application stage.
The DV-2027 application window is expected to open in early October and close in early November 2025. Exact dates will be announced by the Department of State through official channels. Applicants must submit their entries electronically through the official DV Lottery website. No paper entries are accepted.
To be eligible, applicants must be natives of countries that have historically low rates of immigration to the United States. In addition, they must have at least a high school education or its equivalent, or two years of qualifying work experience in the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience.
When applying, individuals must provide accurate personal details, including educational background, passport information, and a recent digital passport-style photograph that meets U.S. visa standards. After completing the application and paying the $1 registration fee, applicants will receive a confirmation number. This number is essential for checking their selection status in May 2026, as the U.S. government does not send notification emails, letters, or phone calls to applicants.
The new $1 fee is non-refundable, even for those who are not selected or do not proceed with a visa application. It must be paid electronically through an authorized U.S. government payment system at the time of registration. The $330 visa application fee for those selected remains unchanged.
The State Department says the registration fee is intended to spread program costs more evenly across all applicants, rather than placing the financial burden solely on the selected few. The agency also believes the fee may help reduce fraud and discourage the submission of fake or duplicate entries by third-party agents.
While the $1 fee is modest by most standards, it may still pose a challenge for individuals from low-income countries, who often have limited access to digital payment systems or face additional currency conversion fees. Advocates have raised concerns that even small financial barriers could discourage participation from underrepresented regions.
Nevertheless, the DV Lottery remains one of the most accessible immigration programs offered by the U.S. government. Prospective applicants are urged to prepare all required documents in advance, use only the official government website, and be cautious of scams or unofficial services that charge excessive fees.
The U.S. government emphasizes that the only way to enter the DV Lottery is through the official website, and no outside organization can increase an applicant’s chances of being selected. As immigration policies continue to evolve, staying informed about updates to the DV program will be critical for anyone seeking permanent residency in the United States.
