Here we go! DV Lottery 2026 (Registration 2024): Times, Start and End Dates, and Official Website

It's here, the moment that many wait for every year is finally here! The DV Lottery 2026 is launched, and it's your chance to try your luck and maybe get the famous United States of America Green Card. Are you wondering how it works, what are the dates to remember and where to register? I will explain everything to you in this article, in a simple way. Besides, if you are curious to know what you are not often told about the DV Lottery, I highly recommend you to take a look at this other article that I wrote: What They Don't Tell You Before Entering the DV Lottery.

Registration period (start and end of registrations)

The registration period for the 2026 DV Lottery has opened on October 2, 2024 at noon (Eastern Time) and will end on November 5, 2024 at noon (Eastern Time). Applications are accepted exclusively online on the official website dvprogram.state.gov. Do not wait until the last minute to register, as no applications will be accepted after the deadline.

Local dates and times for French-speaking countries

To help you, here is the list of registration start and end dates and times, converted to local time for each French-speaking country:

• France (Paris)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Belgium (Brussels)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Switzerland (Geneva)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Luxembourg
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Canada (Montreal)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.
• Haiti
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.
• Senegal (Dakar)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Ivory Coast (Abidjan)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Cameroon (Yaounde)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Madagascar (Antananarivo)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
• Morocco (Rabat)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Algeria (Algiers)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Tunisia (Tunis)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Mali (Bamako)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Niger (Niamey)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Togo (Lome)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Benin (Porto-Novo)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Rwanda (Kigali)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
• Burundi (Bujumbura)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
• Guinea (Conakry)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Gabon (Libreville)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
• Seychelles (Victoria)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 8:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
• Mauritius (Port-Louis)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 8:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
• Djibouti
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
• Lebanon (Beirut)
  • Beginning : October 2, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
  • END : November 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

The DV Lottery online registration procedure and the different sections of the form

Participating in the DV Lottery 2026 is a free and simple process, but you must fill out the form carefully to avoid disqualification. Here is a detailed guide on the procedure and the different sections of the online form.

Step 1: Go to the official website

Visit the official website of the program: dvprogram.state.gov. Make sure the URL starts with “https://” and ends with “.gov” to avoid fraudulent sites.

Step 2: Start Registration

Click the link to begin a new registration (“Begin Entry”). You will need to enter a verification code to confirm that you are not a robot.

Step 3: Complete the registration form

The form consists of several sections where you will need to provide specific personal information:

1. Name

• Last name (Last/Family Name)
• First name (First Name)
• Middle name (Middle Name)
• If you do not have a middle name, check the corresponding box.

2. Sex

• Male (Male)
• Female (Female)

3. Date of birth

• Day
• Month
• Year

4. City of birth

Indicate the city where you were born. If the city is not known, check the appropriate box.

5. Country of birth

Select your current country of birth, even if it no longer exists under the same name.

6. Country of eligibility

Typically, this is the same as your country of birth. If you are claiming eligibility from another country (for example, your spouse's country of birth), indicate it here.

7. Digital photo

Upload a recent photo that meets the program requirements:

• JPEG format
• Maximum size 240 KB
• Dimensions of 600×600 pixels
• Neutral background, face centered and looking at the lens
• No glasses or accessories covering the face

8. Postal address

• Recipient Name (In Care Of)
• Address Line 1 (Address Line 1)
• Address Line 2 (Address Line 2) – if necessary
• City (City/Town)
• District/Province/State
• Postal code
• Country

9. Current country of residence

Select the country where you currently live.

10. Telephone number

This field is optional.

11. Email address

• E-mail address : Enter a valid address that you check regularly.
• Confirm email address : Re-enter the same address for confirmation.

12. Highest level of education attained

Select the option that matches your education level:

• Primary school only
• High school diploma without qualifications
• High school diploma with qualification
• Vocational training
• Some university courses
• University degree
• Some master's level courses
• Master's degree
• Some doctoral level courses
• Doctorate

13. Current marital status

• Bachelor
• Married and my spouse is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Married and my spouse is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (your spouse will not need a visa)
• Divorcee)
• Widower
• Legally separated

14. Spouse Information

If you are married, you will need to provide:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Sex
• City and country of birth
• Digital photo of spouse (meets the same requirements)

15. Number of children

Indicate the number of unmarried children under 21 years of age. For each, you will need to provide:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Sex
• City and country of birth
• Digital photo of each child

Step 4: Verification and submission

After completing all sections, carefully review your information to ensure it is accurate. Once satisfied, submit the form.

Step 5: Confirmation

After submission, you will receive a confirmation page containing your unique confirmation number. Print this page or save it carefully. This number is essential to check the status of your registration when the results are announced.

Now, let's move on to the eligibility criteria:

The country of origin

First thing to check: your country of birth. If you're from a country that sends a lot of immigrants to the United States, like India, China, Mexico, or the Philippines, sorry but you're not eligible. The exact list changes every year, so keep an eye on it!

Note : Contrary to popular belief, people born in Canada are generally eligible to the DV Lottery. Be sure to check the official list of ineligible countries each year on the U.S. government website.

The level of education

You don't have to be a genius, but you still need to have a minimum of background. You must have at least one high school diploma (the equivalent of the baccalaureate) or two years of professional experience in a profession that requires at least two years of training. Don't panic if you haven't studied much!

A clean criminal record

This is non-negotiable. The US doesn't want criminals, so if you have a criminal record, forget about the DV Lottery.

Health

You will have to pass a medical visit if you are selected. Nothing too bad, they just want to make sure you don't have a serious contagious disease.

And there you have it, the basics! Remember, participation is free and is done only on the official website of the US government. Beware of scams!

I advise you to prepare all your information in advance and especially your Identity photos, everything must be perfect to maximize your chances.

So, ready to try the American adventure? Who knows, maybe 2026 will be your year! Cross your fingers, and good luck!