Requirements - U.S. Green Card Lottery

USA Green Card Lottery

Each year, 50,000 immigrant visas are made available through a lottery to people who come from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. None of these visas are available for people who come from countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the past five years. Anyone who is selected under this lottery will be given the opportunity to apply for permanent residence. If permanent residence is granted, then the individual will be authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. You will also be allowed to bring your spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21 to the United States.

Apply online for the American Green Card Lottery Program -
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Who is Eligible to Enter the Diversity Visa Lottery?

  • You or your spouse must be a native of a country that is eligible to participate in the Diversity Visa Lottery. You may also be eligible to apply if your parent was born in a country that is eligible to participate. (The State Department will publish the names of countries that are eligible to participate before each year's lottery.)

  • You must have a high school diploma or the equivalent, defined in the United States as successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education; OR you must have two years of work experience within the last five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform. See the State Department information on the DV program.

Countries that could not participate in previous year's Lottery:

  • Anguilla

  • Bermuda

  • Brazil

  • British Virgin Islands

  • Canada

  • Cayman Islands

  • China mainland

  • Colombia

  • Dominican Republic

  • El Salvador

  • Falkland Islands

  • Gibraltar

  • Haiti

  • India

  • Jamaica

  • Mexico

  • Montserrat

  • Pakistan

  • Peru

  • Philippines

  • Pitcairn

  • Poland

  • Russia

  • South Korea

  • St. Helena

  • Turks and Caicos Islands

  • United Kingdom

  • United States

  • Vietnam