Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for the Green Card Lottery 2025. The U.S. Green Card Lottery, also known as the Diversity Visa Lottery, is a program that allows individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to apply for a permanent resident visa, or Green Card, to live and work in the United States.
The Green Card Lottery is held annually, and each year the U.S. Department of State makes 50,000 Green Cards available through the program. The lottery is conducted through an online application process, and individuals who are selected through the lottery can apply for a Green Card and move to the United States. For Fiscal Year 2025, up to 55,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) will be available.
Requirements For DV Lottery 2025
The exact requirements may also differ from year to year, so it is critical to read the official guidelines carefully. To apply for the U.S. Diversity Lottery 2025, also known as the Green Card Lottery 2025, you will need to meet the following eligibility requirements;
1. Country of Chargeability
You must be a native of a country eligible to participate in the DV Lottery 2025. The list of eligible countries varies each year and is based on historical immigration data. It is important to note that being born in an ineligible country does not automatically disqualify individuals if their spouse or parents were born in an eligible country.
2. Education or Work Experience
Applicants must have either a high school diploma or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education. Alternatively, individuals without a high school diploma may qualify based on their work experience. They must have at least two years of work experience within the last five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience.
3. Age
No age limit but you need to be above 18 years to be eligible to satisfy that you have completed at least 12 years of formal primary and secondary schooling.
3. Passport Requirements
You must have a valid passport that will not expire for at least six months after your intended period of stay in the U.S. Though the passport requirement at the application stage was scrapped in 2023. Therefore you can apply without, then the passport later.
DV Lottery 2025 Registration Process
The DV-2025 Green Card Lottery application process is conducted entirely online. It is crucial to follow the instructions provided by the U.S. Department of State to ensure a successful application. Here are the key steps involved;
1. Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) Entry Form
You will need to complete and submit the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form or DS-5501), online at dvproqram.state.qov during the application period. All other sites offering to fill out the application are not the official DV Program (Lottery) services. The form requires personal information, including name, date of birth, gender, and contact details. There is no cost to submit the online entry form.
2. DV Photo Requirement
You can take a new digital photograph or scan a recent (taken within the last six months) photograph with a digital scanner if it meets all of the standards below;
- In color
- In focus
- Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50 percent and 69 percent of the image’s total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement details.
- Taken within the last six months to reflect your current appearance
- Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
- Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
- With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
- Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
- Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
- Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
- Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
- Do not wear eyeglasses.
- If you normally wear a hearing device or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.
3. Confirmation Number
After you submit a complete entry, you will see a confirmation screen containing your name and a unique confirmation number. Print this confirmation screen for your records. Starting May 4, 2024, you will be able to check the status of your entry by returning to dvproqram.state.qov, clicking on Entrant Status Check, and entering your unique confirmation number and personal information.
US Green Card Lottery 2025 Registration Period
Applicants must submit entries for the DV-2025 program electronically at dvprogram.state.gov between October 4, at noon EDT and November 7, noon EDT. Do not wait until the last week of the registration period to enter as heavy demand may result in website delays. No late entries or paper entries will be accepted.
The law allows only one entry per person during each entry period. The Department of State uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries. Submission of more than one entry for a person will disqualify all entries for that person.
US Green Card Lottery 2025 Application Cost
There is no cost to register for the DV Lottery 2025, but selectees who are scheduled for an interview will be required to pay a visa application fee prior to making their formal visa application where a consular officer will determine whether they qualify for the visa.
Green Card Lottery 2025 Ineligible Countries
Each year, citizens of nations with large numbers of citizens immigrating to the United States are not eligible for the Green Card Lottery. The list may change slightly each year. For DV-2025, Citizens of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years:
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Canada
- The People’s Republic of China (including mainland and Hong-Kong born)
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Republic of Korea (South Korea)
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
Green Card Lottery 2025 Official Website
The State Department Web site for the 2025 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2025) is dvprogram.state.gov.
DV Lottery 2024 Photo Checker
This free tool verifies if your photo meets all Green Card Lottery photo requirements. Always use PHOTO TOOL on travel.state.gov, this is the LEGIT way to confirm if you’ve achieved DV Photo requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is eligible for the DV Lottery 2025?
The DV Lottery is open to natives of countries that have historically low rates of immigration to the United States. Individuals from countries with high rates of U.S. immigration are not eligible to register. It is important to note that being born in an ineligible country does not automatically disqualify individuals if their spouse or parents were born in an eligible country.
2. Is a passport required for DV Lottery 2025?
The requirement to possess a valid passport for the DV Lottery was dropped for participation beginning with DV-2024 in 2022, as a court declared it invalid due to a formal error. Meaning one doesn’t require a passport.
3. What is the deadline for DV Lottery 2025?
The annual Diversity Visa lottery registration period for FY 2025 opened on October 4, 2023, at noon EDT, and will close at noon EST on November 7, 2023.
4. How can I increase my chances of winning the DV Lottery?
Both you and your spouse—if both are eligible—should apply. This gives you two chances to win, as opposed to one. If one of you wins, the other can ignore his or her application and enter as a derivative spouse.
5. What is the age limit for DV?
To apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery, you must reach the age of 18 to fulfill all the educational requirements. However, there is no Green Card Lottery Maximum Age Limit to apply. If you meet all the criteria required for the application, you can Start Your Application Now.
6. What is the best time to apply for DV Lottery?
Every year the DV lottery opens for less than a month. At this time, anyone from an eligible country has the chance to apply. This year, the timeframe to apply runs from October 7 to November 10.
7. How many times can I apply for DV Lottery?
You can only apply once per year, so you don’t want to be disqualified from achieving your dream due to a simple application error.
8. How can I increase my chances of winning DV Lottery 2023?
By having eligible spouses and children enter the DV lottery along with you, you can legally increase the chances of obtaining a U.S. green card this way.
9. Can I include my boyfriend in the DV lottery?
You can only include yourself, your legally married spouse (opposite sex or same-sex), and all unmarried children under 21 (if relevant) on your DV-Lottery application; a partner whom you are not legally married to can NOT be included on your DV-Lottery application.
10. Can I fill the DV lottery with my phone?
Submitting your application form for the U.S. diversity visa program is possible through your iPhone or any other Smartphone, iPod,d, and tablet, during the application forms submission period.
11. Can I apply for the DV Lottery without a passport?
They are not necessary at the time of applying for the DV Lottery.
