Registration for the 2026 visa lottery in the USA is now open: If you are from one of these countries, you can participate
Registration for the 2026 United States “Visa Lottery” is now open for citizens of certain countries. Here’s who’s eligible for the program.
On October 2, the State Department announced that registration is now open for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, popularly known as the “Visa Lottery.” As well, the agency has released the list of countries whose citizens can apply.
Each year, the U.S. government grants up to 55,000 diversity visas to allow permanent residency to people from countries with low immigration rates to the United States. The State Department determines those selected through a random computer drawing.
Generally, the call opens two years in advance, so in 2024, citizens of eligible countries who meet all the requirements can apply for the 2026 Visa Lottery.
If you are from one of these countries, you can participate in the 2026 visa lottery
According to the Department of State’s official website, applications for the visa lottery will be open until Tuesday, November 5 of this year closing at 12:00 p.m. ET, so eligible individuals have about a month to submit the necessary documentation.
The first requirement is to be a citizen of one of the countries that the U.S. government considers to have a low migration rate. Each year, the State Department shares a list of ineligible countries. This list includes countries that registered more than 50,000 natives who immigrated to the United States in the previous five years.
Citizens of countries that do NOT appear on the list are those who can apply to the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program or visa lottery.
The list of countries ineligible for the 2026 visa lottery includes: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, People's Republic of China (including those born in mainland China and Hong Kong), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Venezuela, and Vietnam. The State Department clarifies that natives of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Taiwan are eligible.
On the other hand, the countries of North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America that ARE eligible to participate in the 2026 visa lottery are:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- Ecuador
- Granada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- The Bahamas
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- San Cristobal and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
Here you can see the complete list of countries around the world participating in the 2026 visa lottery.
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In addition to being a citizen of a country with a low rate of immigration to the United States, individuals wishing to participate in the visa lottery must have 12 years of primary and secondary education or its equivalent; and have at least two years of work experience within the last five years in an eligible occupation.
The lottery will be held in 2025, when the winners will be announced. The following year, they can begin the process of obtaining permanent residency. There is no cost to register for the program, but those selected and scheduled for an interview will be required to pay a visa application fee before submitting their formal visa application, where a consular officer will determine if they qualify for the visa.
For more details on how to register and what is required, the Department of State has shared a guide (in English) on the matter. For more information, visit the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website.