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The U.S. Department of State will start accepting online applications for the 2026 Diversity Visa lottery on Wednesday, October 2, at noon EDT. Applicants will have until November 5, noon EST to submit their applications online.
For FY 2026, the State Department will make 55,000 green cards available to foreign citizens.
The Diversity Visa program gives foreigners from countries that typically don’t send many immigrants to the United States the chance to receive a green card. The following countries aren’t eligible to apply for 2026: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including mainland and Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
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The State Department recommends applying for the green card lottery early in the registration period in case of any website delays due to high demand. Only one submission is allowed per person.
You can enter the lottery here. For more info, Boundless has put together a detailed guide on how to register for the green card lottery.
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If you aren’t eligible to apply you may still qualify if your spouse was born in an eligible country or, in some cases, through your parent’s country of birth.
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