The United States Department of State has confirmed that applicants selected in the DV-2027 Diversity Visa Lottery can begin applying for immigrant visas from October 1, 2026.
The visa application window for successful selectees will run until September 30, 2027, providing a 12-month period for eligible applicants to complete the process.
The announcement offers clarity to thousands of people selected in the Diversity Visa programme, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, which provides a route to permanent residence in the US for eligible nationals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the country.
Registration changes underway
The State Department also said it is making changes to the DV-2027 entry and registration process.
However, it has not yet announced the opening date for the next registration exercise, saying the date would be released “as soon as practicable”.
The department is also expected to separately announce when DV-2027 selection results will be available through the official Entry Status Check system.
Selected applicants unaffected
The planned changes to the registration process will not affect people already selected for DV-2027.
The State Department confirmed that their existing eligibility and visa application conditions remain unchanged, with the October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 application period still in place.
Prospective applicants have been advised to rely on official US government channels for information about the lottery and to be wary of fraudulent websites, agents and individuals claiming they can influence selection or visa approval.
Important: Being selected in the Diversity Visa Lottery does not itself guarantee a visa. Applicants must still meet the programme’s eligibility requirements and complete the required immigrant visa process.