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United StatesPermanent residenceLast checked October 17, 2026

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

DV Lottery

The Diversity Visa program offers up to 55,000 immigrant visas a year to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the US, chosen by random computer selection from online entries. Entrants must be natives of an eligible country and have at least a high school education or 2 years of qualifying work experience. Since the DV-2027 program year, entrants must give valid passport details and upload a passport scan, and pay a 1 USD registration fee. Being selected does not guarantee a visa: selectees must apply and be issued a visa or adjust status by 30 September of the program's fiscal year. DV issuance and processing have been subject to pauses and court orders since December 2025.

See requirements ↓
3 entry rules for United States based on recent travel

These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.

Entry restrictions apply to 40 passports for United States

The government has suspended some or all visas for holders of these passports. Exceptions exist; see the source.

  • Afghanistan
  • Angola
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Chad
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Haiti
  • Iran
  • Laos
  • Libya
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Myanmar (Burma)
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Palestinian Territories
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Turkmenistan
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Source: Proclamation 10949 - Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats (Federal Register, 10 Jun 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 - Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the Security of the United States (Federal Register, 19 Dec 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 full text (GovInfo)Source: U.S. Department of State - Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United StatesSource: Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for FY2027 (Federal Register, 2 Oct 2026) - cites Proclamation 10998 as in force

Life in United States

Money

3

Currency

US Dollar

USD

US Dollar

Cost of living

100

Price level · US = 100

World Bank price levels, 2025

Tax

10–37%

Income tax (national)

social security 7.65%

Federal rates; most states and some cities add their own income tax. 37% starts above USD 626,350 (single, 2025).

Official rates, 2026 · headline only

Living

1

Happiness

6.8

#22 of 145 countries

World Happiness Report 2025

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Who it’s for

Natives of eligible low-admission countries who have finished high school (or the equivalent) or have 2 recent years of experience in a qualifying occupation.

Eligibility

  • Native of an eligible country

    UnderINA 203
    as determined
    • The entrant must be a native of a low-admission country for that fiscal year, as determined under INA 203(c).
    • Northern Ireland is treated as a separate country.
    • The list of eligible countries changes each year and is published in the State Department's program instructions.

  • Education or work experience

    You need at least a high school education or equivalent, or 2 years of recent qualifying work experience.

    • High school equivalent means 12 years of elementary and secondary education comparable to the US
    • Work experience must be within the last 5 years
    • The occupation must need at least 2 years of training or experience
    • Occupations are judged using the Department of Labor's O*Net database
    Official wording

    The entrant needs at least a high school education or its equivalent (12 years of elementary and secondary education comparable to the US), or 2 years of work experience within the last 5 years in an occupation that needs at least 2 years of training or experience, as judged using the Department of Labor's O*Net database.

  • One entry only

    Submit only one entry per person per year.

    • Two or more entries for the same person make all of them void
    • The person cannot be considered that year
    Official wording

    Only one entry may be submitted per person per year. If two or more entries are submitted for the same person, all are void and the person cannot be considered that year.

A sneak peek at what's inside

  • Next requirementValid passport at entry
  • Document checklistElectronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (DS-5501)
  • FeesDV electronic registration fee

The full requirements are for members

Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.

  • 6 more requirements
  • 8 documents
  • 4 fees
  • 6 steps
  • Processing times and conditions
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