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DV-2027 Green Card Lottery: Latest Updates on Delays, New Fees, and Eligibility (2026)

What is happening with the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery? If you have been refreshing the official Diversity Visa website waiting for the DV-2027 lottery to open, you aren’t alone. Usually, the registration window is long closed by January, but 2026 has brought unprecedented changes to the program.

From technical delays to new executive orders, here is everything you need to know about the current state of the U.S. Green Card Lottery.

Table of Contents

Why is the DV-2027 Registration Delayed?

Typically, the registration period for the Diversity Visa (DV) program runs from early October to early November. However, as of January 2026, the official portal has not yet opened for the DV-2027 cycle.

There are two primary reasons for this historic delay:

New $1 Registration Fee: For the first time in history, the lottery is no longer free to enter. The U.S. Department of State has introduced a $1 electronic registration fee to help cover administrative costs and reduce fraudulent duplicate entries.
System Updates: Integrating a secure payment gateway into the dvprogram.state.gov portal has required extensive technical overhauls, pushing the launch date back.

The New “Travel Ban” & Its Impact on Eligibility

The biggest news for 2026 is the expansion of U.S. travel restrictions. On January 1, 2026, a new Executive Proclamation took effect, significantly impacting who can actually receive a visa.

Full vs. Partial Restrictions

While the “standard” list of excluded countries (like India, China, and Mexico) remains based on high immigration numbers, a second list of 39 countries now faces security-related restrictions.

Restriction Level	Impact on DV Applicants	Included Countries (Partial List)
Full Suspension	Immigrant visas are fully suspended.	Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen.
Partial Suspension	Immigrant visas are suspended; non-immigrant visas are restricted.	Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Critical Note: Even if you are “eligible” to enter the lottery because your country of birth is usually included, if your country is on the Full Suspension list, you may be barred from receiving the visa even if you win—unless you qualify for a rare national interest waiver.

Core Eligibility Requirements

To enter the DV-2027 lottery once it opens, you must still meet these two foundational criteria:

1. The Education or Work Requirement

You must have either:

High School Education: A formal 12-year course of elementary and secondary education.
Work Experience: Two years of experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training (Job Zone 4 or 5).

2. Country of Chargeability

Eligibility is based on your country of birth, not your current citizenship. If your country is excluded (e.g., India, Pakistan, Brazil), you may still apply if:

Your spouse was born in an eligible country.
Neither of your parents was born in your country of birth and they were not legal residents there at the time of your birth.

3 Tips to Avoid Scams in 2026

With the confusion of the delay, scammers are more active than ever. Follow these rules to stay safe:

Check the URL: The only official website is dvprogram.state.gov. Any site ending in .com, .net, or .org is a private service and not the government.
The Fee is Only $1: If a website asks for $50, $100, or more to “register” you, it is a scam. The official $1 fee is paid only through the government portal during registration.
No Emails: The U.S. government will never email you to tell you that you won. You must check your status yourself using your confirmation number.

What Should You Do Now?

While we wait for the State Department to announce the official dates (which could be at any moment), you should:

Prepare your photo: Ensure it meets the strict 600×600 pixel requirements.
Ensure payment readiness: Have a valid debit/credit card ready for the $1 fee.
Check the “Full Suspension” list: Monitor whether your country is currently under the travel ban, as this may affect your ability to actually use a win.

As of early January 2026, the situation regarding the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery remains complex. Following recent U.S. executive actions and policy shifts, here is the detailed breakdown of the 39 restricted countries and the strict photo requirements you need to follow.

1. The “Restricted 39”: New Country Suspensions

On January 1, 2026, an expanded executive proclamation took effect. While the Diversity Visa program is legally active, nationals from these 39 countries currently face severe limitations on receiving visas.

Full Suspension (19 Countries)

Applicants born in these countries are currently fully barred from receiving immigrant visas (including the Diversity Visa).

Original 12: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen.
Added Jan 2026: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos, Sierra Leone.
Special Category: Individuals holding Palestinian Authority travel documents are also fully restricted.

Partial Suspension (20 Countries)

Applicants from these countries face a suspension of immigrant visas and significant restrictions on non-immigrant visas (tourist, student, etc.).

Original 5: Burundi, Cuba, Togo, Venezuela, Turkmenistan (Note: Turkmenistan is now immigrant-ban only).
Added Jan 2026: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Key Takeaway: If you were born in one of these countries, you can technically still enter the lottery (if the country isn’t on the “standard” high-immigration exclusion list), but you would likely need a National Interest Waiver to actually receive the visa if you win.

2. Official Photo Checklist (600×600 px)

The photo is the #1 reason for disqualification. Even a small error can lead to your entry being rejected by the computer before the draw even happens.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions: Exactly 600 x 600 pixels (square aspect ratio).
File Format: JPEG (.jpg).
File Size: Maximum 240 KB.
Color Space: sRGB (standard for most digital cameras).

Composition & Quality

Recency: Must be taken within the last 6 months. If you use the same photo as last year, you will be disqualified.
Background: Plain white or off-white. No patterns or shadows.
Expression: Neutral face, both eyes open, looking directly at the camera. No smiling.
Glasses: STRICTLY FORBIDDEN. Even if you wear them daily, you must take them off for the photo (unless you have a signed medical certificate for recent surgery).
Head Coverings: Only allowed for religious reasons. They must not cast shadows or obscure any part of your face.
Attire: Wear normal daily clothes. No uniforms (except religious).

3. Preparing for the $1 Registration Fee

The delay in the DV-2027 launch is tied to the implementation of this new fee. When the portal finally opens at dvprogram.state.gov, be ready for the following:

Electronic Payment Only: You will need a credit or debit card capable of international transactions.
Timing: The fee must be paid at the moment of registration.
Non-Refundable: The $1 is not refundable, even if you are not selected.