Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery
The two official State Department pages differ. The DV entry page says: "There is no cost to register for the DV Program." The State Department fee page lists a Diversity Visa Registration Fee of USD 1.00 (paid at registration by the principal applicant) and a Diversity Visa Application Fee of USD 330.00 per selectee. Check the E-DV site at the time you register.≈ $1
Not stated on the official page we read. Entries are accepted only during the registration period set each year.
Check if you're eligible for this pathway
Get an AI-powered eligibility analysis personalized to your profile — see your match score, gaps, and next steps.
- Personalized eligibility score
- Gap analysis
Source-backed requirements
Eligibility
(2)High School Education
DocumentConditionalApplicants must have successfully completed a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education or its equivalent.
Verified officialQualifying Work Experience
ConditionalThe principal applicant needs 2 years of work in the preceding 5 years in a qualifying occupation; check O*NET Job Zone 4 or 5 and SVP 7.0 or higher.
Verified official
Preparation
(1)Passport Requirement
DocumentConditionalApplicants must provide valid, unexpired passport information and upload a scan of the biographic and signature page in the electronic entry form.
Verified official
Application
(2)Country Eligibility
MandatoryUse the country of eligibility for the relevant DV year under its official instructions; nationality alone does not determine DV eligibility.
Verified officialSingle Entry Limit
MandatorySubmission of more than one entry for a person during the registration period will result in the disqualification of all entries for that individual.
Verified official
Steps marked with a document icon require physical documents. Generate your checklist to track them.
Source citations
22 CFR 42.33 — Diversity immigrants
U.S. federal legislation/regulations
CurrentOct7,2026eCFR. Education OR work; onlyprincipalqualification. Passportinformation+biographic/signatureJPEGmax5MB with42.2(d),(e),(g)(2)exemptions; singleentry. Do not replaceactual2026passportwitholdpre2026knowledge.
State Department — Confirm DV Qualifications
U.S. Department of State
2yearslast5;O*NETJobZone4/5SVP7.0;principalnotderivatives;formal12yearschools/notGED.
Official links
Share this pathway
Found this useful? Share the official requirements and your research with friends, family, or your network.
