Candidates must have at least a high school education or two years of qualifying work experience within the last five years.
While registration has historically been free, a $1 entry fee was proposed for 2025. Selected applicants must pay a non-refundable visa fee before their
Country of Origin: Applicants must be natives of countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S.. Ineligible countries for the most recent cycles included Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland/Hong Kong), India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Korea, and Vietnam.
As of December 2025, the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program is currently suspended by the U.S. government. The suspension followed a shooting at Brown University involving a suspect who had entered the U.S. through the program in 2017