Visa Lottery 2025: when does the application process open and which countries participate?

Each year, the US government grants up to 55,000 diversity visas to allow permanent residency to people from countries with low immigration rates to the United States. This Immigrant Diversity Visa Program is commonly known as the “visa lottery”.

The State Department annually publishes a list of eligible countries, as well as the dates on which the application process is opened. Generally, it is opened almost two years before the results are released. For example, it is currently 2023 but citizens of eligible countries will be applying for the 2025 Visa Lottery.

The process for the Diversity Visa Program for Immigrants 2025 begins this year and the draw will take place in 2024. Then the following year, once the winners are announced, they can start their permanent residence process.

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Visa Lottery 2025: when does the application process open?

The State Department has yet to announce official dates, but based on previous years, online registrations for the 2025 visa lottery could be available between 5 October 2023 and 8 November 2023.

Once this year’s dates have been announced, you’ll need to wait for the process to start and register online. Registration in the visa lottery program is free.

Visa Lottery 2025: Who can participate?

According to the usa.gov portal, these are the eligibility requirements to participate in the visa lottery:

The people who are chosen to be able to start the process must submit the immigration forms required by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Subsequently, they must attend an interview at the embassy closest to their place of residence.

Which countries can participate in the 2025 Visa Lottery?

Since more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years, by the year 2025, natives of the following countries and areas are NOT eligible to apply for the visa lottery:

If your country is not on this list, you can apply to win one of 55,000 diversity visas.

For more information, visit the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website.