Green Card Lottery 2025 (DV-2027): Everything you must know

The green card lottery (or the “diversity lottery”) for 2025 (DV-2027) is NOT OPEN YET. The most important thing to know: There's only one way to legitimately enter. Don't listen to any of the websites out there that say they will give you a special service or a higher chance of winning, it's never real.

So what else is very important to remember about entering the green card diversity lottery?

Is the Green Card lottery 2025 (DV-2027) currently open?

No. And that's a little bit strange as it normally opens October 1/2/3.

Generally we see the Diversity Lottery open today (or in the days surrounding the 1st of October) and this year we haven't seen that.

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced on September 16 that, beginning October 16, 2025, all individuals registering for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery (or “green card lottery”) must now pay a $1 electronic registration fee. This rule and fee comes into action 30 days after September 16, which is October 16, 2025.

What that means is that we can estimate that the DV Lottery will, in 2025, open on or around October 16, 2025.

How long are applications for the 2025 Diversity Green Card Lottery (DV-2027) open?

Applications are normally open for a little over a month between October and November. With the adjusted dates this year, we don't know what is going to happen but stay tuned for updates.

Where should you enter the DV Green Card Lottery?

Enter only on the official website. There is only one official website for entering the green card lottery: https://dvprogram.state.gov/

DO NOT TRUST ANY WEBSITE THAT TELLS YOU OTHERWISE.

The official information about DV-2027 can be found at Travel.State.Gov. You should trust this and only this for accurate advice about the lottery (aside from this article, of course).

At every turn, make sure that your website still says “.gov” at the top to ensure that you haven't accidentally found a link to an unofficial site.

Does it matter when you enter the DV lottery?

If you are considering applying for the DV Lottery, apply early to avoid missing out because the website usually experiences issues close to the application period end date due to heavy website traffic.

That being said, your chances do not increase or decrease based on when you apply.

Is it free to enter the Green Card Diversity Lottery?

No. While it has been free up before 2025, the Trump Administration did change that in September 2025, so that applications will now cost $1USD.

Do not pay anything more than $1USD, as if you do, you are likely on a scam website.

We do not know yet how the payment will be made exactly, but we will update this page when we know more.

DO NOT TRUST ANY WEBSITE THAT TELLS YOU OTHERWISE.

How do I fast track my entry or give myself a better chance of winning?

There is no fast-track or any more “reliable” way to get a green card from the green card lottery other than applying on the official site.

There are no tricks, no benefits to entering at a certain time of day, and no benefit to entering at the beginning or end of the process. As long as you enter between the start and finish dates.

DO NOT TRUST ANY WEBSITE THAT TELLS YOU OTHERWISE.

Don't lose your DV Confirmation Number!

When you finish applying you will be given a specific DV Confirmation Number which is very important to print, save, and write down.

You will need this number to check your application later, and it's impossible to recover later if you lose it. Send yourself an email with a screeshot and print the PDF and attach that too!

The Confirmation Number is 16 characters long (alphanumeric); the first four characters represent the program year. Example: 20251O0DZWY3DOV9

What does DV-2027 mean? What year does the green card lottery happen?

The lottery is drawn every year. The “DV-2027” lottery means that you will enter in late 2025, and you will find out if you won the lottery in mid-2026 (with interview and entry in 2026/2027).

Yes, it's a slow and long process, but that's just how it is, there's no way to speed things up.

Is the lottery still running this year?

Yes, it is still running as per usual, just delayed and with a $1USD cost.

What should I consider before entering the Green Card Lottery?

If you do win, and you can now apply to get a Green Card, it's worth considering the HEART Act. In short, if you become a green card holder for more than 8 years, if you ever want to give it up, you might have to pay LOTS of tax. Read more about the HEART Act.

You should also be very aware that may impact your ability to visit the US if you are drawn and then start the Green Card process, and it may impact any visa you are on if you are currently in the US.

Entering the lottery on its own though is not an issue, it's only if your number is drawn and you proceed again later.

Can I enter the Green Card Lottery if I have an E3 Visa?

Yes. It is my understanding that there are no real implications to entering the Green Card lottery, even if you have another visa.

Applying for a green card (if you win) is a whole other story, but simply entering the lottery should not result in any issues with a non-immigrant visa. That being said, it's always best to consult with an immigration attorney before undertaking something like this.

When does the DV-2027 Green Card lottery start?

The DV-2027 Green Card Lottery is likely to start on October 16, 2025.

Should you use a lawyer when applying for a green card?

It's a long and windy path, you should use help

The green card process is long and windy, including the application. For the best guide on everything green card be sure to check out BritSimonSays for a step-by-step Green card guide!

Best of luck with your application! I know it's stressful as many people are really keen to get into the U.S. and start their new lives as expats, but be patient, read as much as you can, and consult with an immigration lawyer if you have any serious concerns or queries.

Getting this process wrong, or any immigration process wrong in America can have long-lasting detrimental effects so don't do that.

Which countries cannot apply for the DV Lottery?

Applications depend on the country you were born, not the country you are living in, or the country you are a citizen of. We don't have the final list for 2025 but the list from 2025 shows that those born in these countries cannot apply:

• Bangladesh
• Brazil
• Canada
• China (including Hong Kong SAR)
• Colombia
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Haiti
• Honduras
• India
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Republic of Korea (South Korea)
• Venezuela
• Vietnam

Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.

The UK is now eligible to enter the Green Card Lottery.

Read about a DV lottery success story!

To read a story about one of America Josh's readers, check out A Green Card Success Story by an Australian Expat.