Eligibility & Requirements for the Green Card Lottery

 

The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, often referred to as the Green Card Lottery, was created to provide opportunities for individuals from countries with historically low immigration to the United States. To participate, applicants must meet specific requirements set by the U.S. Department of State. These requirements are carefully designed to ensure fairness, eligibility, and proper verification of applicants.

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Educational and Work Experience Requirements Explained

Applicants must meet at least one of the following qualifications:

1. Education Requirement

   • The minimum educational requirement is a high school education or its equivalent.

   • This means successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education comparable to the U.S. high school system.

   • Vocational or professional training without standard secondary school completion may not qualify unless it is equivalent to U.S. education levels.

2. Work Experience Requirement

   • If an applicant does not meet the educational criteria, they may still qualify through work experience.

   • The applicant must have two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience.

   • Eligible occupations are determined using the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online database. Only jobs classified as requiring preparation level 4 or higher typically meet the criteria.

Failure to meet either of these requirements will result in disqualification, even if an applicant is selected in the lottery.

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List of Eligible and Ineligible Countries for the DV Lottery 2026

The list of eligible countries is updated every year based on immigration trends. A country becomes ineligible if more than 50,000 of its nationals immigrated to the United States in the past five years.

For the DV-2026 Lottery (applications in 2025), most countries around the world remain eligible. However, certain high-immigration countries are excluded.

Ineligible countries for DV-2026 are expected to include:

• Bangladesh

• Brazil

• Canada

• China (mainland-born, except Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan)

• Colombia

• Dominican Republic

• El Salvador

• Haiti

• Honduras

• India

• Jamaica

• Mexico

• Nigeria

• Pakistan

• Philippines

• South Korea

• Venezuela

• Vietnam

• United Kingdom and its dependent territories (except Northern Ireland, which remains eligible)

Eligible countries include all others not on this list. People born in eligible countries can apply, regardless of their current citizenship or residence.

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Special Cases: Couples, Children, and Family Entries

The DV Lottery allows some flexibility in family-based applications.

1. Couples Applying Separately

   • Married couples can both submit individual entries if they each meet eligibility requirements.

   • This increases the family’s chances of selection because if either spouse is chosen, the other spouse automatically qualifies as a derivative applicant.

2. Including Children

   • All unmarried children under 21 years of age must be included in the parent’s application, regardless of whether they plan to immigrate.

   • This includes biological children, legally adopted children, and stepchildren.

   • Failure to list all eligible children may result in disqualification.

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What Happens If You’re Already in the U.S. on Another Visa and Win the Lottery?

Applicants already living in the United States under a temporary visa (such as student, work, or visitor visa) can still participate and, if selected, adjust their status without leaving the country.

• If you win, you must file an Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

• This process allows you to apply for lawful permanent residence while remaining in the United States.

• You must remain in lawful status until your adjustment is processed. Overstays or violations of visa terms may complicate or disqualify your application.

Those outside the U.S. will go through Consular Processing at their home country’s U.S. embassy or consulate.