Updated November 4, 2024
The U.S. Department of State’s instructions for the 2026 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2026) are now available and entries must be submitted electronically between Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)(GMT-4) and Tuesday, November 7, 2024, at 12:00 Noon, Eastern Standard Time (EDT)(GMT-5). Submission of more than one entry for a person during the registration period will disqualify all entries for that person.
For DV-2026, persons who are natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR)*, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
*Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.
Note: United Kingdom and its dependent territories are eligible for DV-2026.
Eligibility requirements and entry instructions are on the U.S. Department of State’s website here: Diversity Visa Instructions.
The congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered annually by the Department of State under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This law provides for a class of immigrants known as diversity immigrants, with visas made available to persons from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For fiscal year 2026, up to 55,000 diversity visas will be available.
© Jewell Stewart Pratt Beckerson & Carr PC 2024