DV Lottery ( Green Card photo ) Eligibility Requirements

Comprehensive guide to qualifying for the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery Program

Country Eligibility

Must be born in a qualifying country with historically low U.S. immigration rates

Education

High school diploma or equivalent (12 years formal education)

Work Experience

2 years qualifying work experience as alternative

Family Eligibility

Includes spouse and unmarried children under 21

Country Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be natives of countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. The U.S. Department of State updates the list of eligible countries annually based on immigration data from the previous five years.

Ineligible Countries (2025)

  • • Bangladesh
  • • Brazil
  • • Canada
  • • China (mainland-born)
  • • Colombia
  • • Dominican Republic
  • • El Salvador
  • • Haiti
  • • India
  • • Jamaica
  • • Mexico
  • • Nigeria
  • • Pakistan
  • • Philippines
  • • South Korea
  • • United Kingdom*
  • • Vietnam

*Except Northern Ireland

Regional Breakdown

Africa

Most countries eligible except Nigeria

Asia

Most countries eligible except those listed

Americas

Limited eligibility due to high immigration rates

Europe

Most countries eligible except UK (mainland)

Oceania

All countries eligible except Australia

Education & Work Experience Requirements

Education Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent (12-year course of elementary and secondary education)
  • GED alone is not sufficient unless accompanied by required secondary education
  • Online degrees accepted only from accredited institutions recognized by the government
  • Foreign education must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency

Work Experience Alternative

  • Minimum two years of qualifying work experience within past five years
  • Occupation must be classified in Job Zone 4 or 5 (requiring substantial preparation)
  • Must have DVP (Department of Visa Processing) range of 72 or higher
  • Unskilled labor or temporary work does not qualify

Family Eligibility Requirements

Primary Applicant

  • Must meet all education/work requirements
  • Must be native of eligible country
  • Must pass medical and security checks

Spouse

  • Automatically included in application
  • No education/work requirements
  • Must pass standard immigration checks

Children

  • Must be under 21 and unmarried at time of application
  • Includes biological, adopted, and step-children
  • Must be listed on initial application
  • Children born after application must go through separate process

Additional Requirements

Financial Requirements

  • Must demonstrate ability to financially support yourself and dependents in the U.S.
  • Must not become a public charge (rely on government assistance)
  • May need to provide bank statements, employment letters, or property ownership proof
  • May require Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) from U.S. sponsor if needed

This information is based on general DV Lottery requirements and may change. Always verify current requirements on the official U.S. Department of State website at travel.state.gov.

This is not an official U.S. government website. We provide informational resources about the Diversity Visa Program.