Apply Now: Final Weeks for Green Card Lottery 2025 - Immigrant Winning Green Card Lottery
Sanwar Ali workpermit.com
Support migrant centric journalism today and donate
By Sanwar Ali:
Sanwar Ali is the founder of workpermit.com and a pioneer in legal services automation, specializing in AI-enhanced immigration solutions. He has designed the first ever Green Card Lottery AI eligibility and application assistant available FREE on the ChatGPT store.
He has also designed and developed the first AI L1 visa assistant system to help businesses manage their L1 visa applications and streamline the intra-company transfer process, helping businesses transfer key personnel to their US offices.
The 2026 Diversity Visa Program (also known as the Green Card Lottery) is approaching its deadline. The application period closes on November 7, 2024, at 12:00 PM EST. This program offers individuals from eligible countries the chance to apply for permanent residency in the United States through a US immigration lottery.
Winning the Diversity Visa Lottery is one of the most accessible ways to apply for a US Green Card, especially for those who lack family sponsorship or a job offer.
What Is the Green Card Lottery?
The Green Card Lottery is part of the Diversity Visa Program, which was created to increase diversity in the US immigrant population. The program offers 55,000 diversity visas annually to people from countries with low immigration rates to the United States.
For those selected, the lottery offers a relatively easy path to US permanent residency, provided that all legal requirements are met and the applicant completes the necessary steps.
Eligibility Requirements for the 2026 Green Card Lottery
To apply for the 2026 Green Card Lottery, applicants must meet specific criteria regarding their country of birth and education or work experience.
1. Country of Birth
To participate in the Green Card Lottery, applicants must be born in an eligible country. Each year, the US government excludes countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US over the last five years. For the 2025 lottery, the following countries are ineligible:
| Region | Ineligible Countries |
|---|---|
| Africa | Nigeria |
| Asia | Bangladesh, China (Mainland-born), India, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam |
| North America | Canada, Mexico |
| South America, Central America, Caribbean | Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica |
Exceptions: If your spouse was born in an eligible country, you can apply through their country of birth, provided both of you are applying together. You may also apply under your parents' country of birth if neither parent was born or legally resident in your country of birth.
2. Education or Work Experience
In addition to country eligibility, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
Education: Applicants must have a high school diploma or its equivalent, meaning the completion of a 12-year elementary and secondary education course.
Work Experience: If an applicant does not meet the education requirement, they may still qualify based on work experience. The applicant must have two years of work experience in the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience. The US Department of Labor’s O*Net Online database can be used to determine which jobs are eligible.
How to Apply for the Green Card Lottery
The application process for the 2026 Green Card Lottery is completely free and must be submitted online via the official US Department of State website. Here’s how to apply:
Submit Your Application: Ensure that you submit your application through the official Diversity Visa Program website.
Provide Accurate Information: Applicants must accurately fill out personal details such as name, birth country, education, and work experience. Mistakes could lead to disqualification.
Upload a Valid Photo: The application requires a digital photo that meets specific guidelines. Incorrect photo submissions are a common cause of disqualification.
Receive a Confirmation Number: Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation number. Keep this number safe, as it is required to check your status when the results are available in May 2025.
What Happens After Selection?
If selected, the Green Card Lottery provides a relatively easy path to obtaining US permanent residency, but there are still several steps to complete:
- Complete Form DS-260: This online immigrant visa application must be submitted by those selected.
- Attend an Interview: Applicants must attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate, submit supporting documents, and undergo a medical examination.
- Pay Government Fees: Fees for visa processing and medical examinations apply only to those selected.
- Pass Background Checks: Like all immigrants, selected applicants must pass standard background and security checks.
Full List of Eligible Countries for the 2026 Green Card Lottery
The following is a complete list of eligible countries for the 2026 Diversity Visa Program, organized by region:
| Region | Eligible Countries |
|---|---|
| Africa | Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Asia | Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Yemen |
| Europe | Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (including Greenland), Estonia, Finland, France (including Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana), Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands (including Aruba and Curaçao), North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan |
| North America | The Bahamas |
| Oceania | Australia (including external territories), Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, New Zealand (including Niue and Tokelau), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu |
| South America, Central America, Caribbean | Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay |
Conclusion
The Green Card Lottery is one of the simplest paths to US permanent residency for individuals from underrepresented countries. With the deadline for the 2026 Diversity Visa Program approaching on November 7, 2024, eligible individuals should submit their applications as soon as possible.
By being selected in the Green Card Lottery, applicants gain access to a relatively easy process for securing a US green card, provided they meet all necessary requirements. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline to seize this opportunity.
workpermit.com helps with US Work Visa: L1, H1B, E2, and O1 Visas
There are various types of US visas that individuals can apply for, depending on their circumstances. Some of the most common employment-based visas include:
L1 visa: This visa is for intracompany transferees who work in managerial or executive positions or have specialized knowledge.
H1B visa: This visa is for specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields.
E2 visa: This visa is for investors who have made a significant investment in a US business and, management or essential skills employees. Only certain nationalities can apply.
O1 visa: This visa is for individuals with extraordinary abilities in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics.
Workpermit.com is a specialist visa services firm with over thirty years of experience dealing with visa applications. For more information and advice, please contact us on 0344 991 9222 or at london@workpermit.com(link sends e-mail)
