The Department of State (DOS) is implementing a new $1 registration fee for the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program (also known as the green card lottery), effective October 16, 2025.
The main reason for this change is to shift the cost burden of running the lottery from only the small percentage of successful applicants to all individuals who register for the program.
Historically, the cost of managing the lottery was included in the DV Application fee, meaning only successful applicants paid for it. The DOS believes the new $1 registration fee will more fairly place the cost of administration on everyone seeking to benefit from the lottery.
This fee applies to everyone submitting an entry, not just those selected. To learn more, visit What is the Diversity Visa Lottery?.
What is Changing in 2025 and Takes Effect for DV 2027?
The DV 2027 lottery entry will no longer be free. The core change for the DV 2027, which opens for registration in early October 2025, is introduction of a new, $1 mandatory fee.
Starting with the DV 2027 lottery registration period (opening in early October 2025), all entrants must pay a $1 fee when they register. The $1 fee must be paid by every individual at the time of entry.
How Much Is the Green Card Visa Lottery Fee?
A $1 fee is being added for registering for the DV lottery, which is separate from the existing $330 Diversity Visa Application fee.
Currently, only applicants who have been selected in the Diversity Visa Lottery and invited for an interview pay the $330 Diversity Visa Application fee. This means that you do not need to pay the $330 Diversity Visa Application fee to enter the lottery. Instead, you only pay this fee at the time of your visa interview if you’re one of the lucky winners who have been selected in the diversity visa green card lottery.
Generally, there are about 20 to 25 million entries each year in the Diversity Visa Lottery for only 55,000 visas available. Until now, registering for the visa lottery was free and you only paid the $330 Diversity Visa Application fee if you were selected.
However, under the new regulations, everyone registering for the Diversity Visa Lottery must pay a new $1 registration fee. The $1 fee is intended to cover the operational costs of the annual lottery, such as system maintenance, data storage, automated selection, and security reviews.
How to Pay Diversity Visa Lottery Fee?
You can pay the $1 Diversity Visa Registration Fee electronically at the time of registration, prior to submission. In other words, before you submit your entry in the lottery, the system will prompt you to pay $1 registration fee electronically on the government’s website.
You must pay the $1 fee per entry through the official Electronic Diversity Visa Entry system (E-DV). There are no refunds, regardless of lottery outcome.
The $330 DV application fee (only for those selected through the lottery) remains the same and is paid as part of the dv application process at the time of interview.
Your 6-Step Guide to a Successful DV Lottery Entry
To successfully register for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, follow these steps:
- Confirm Eligibility: Verify that you are a native of a qualifying country (the list changes yearly—check the official instructions for your lottery cycle, for example DV 2027).
- Gather Information & Photo: Collect your valid passport information, accurate biographical details, and a recent digital photo that meets all official specifications.
- Secure $1 Payment: Since a $1 fee is now mandatory to enter, ensure you have an accepted electronic payment method ready for immediate submission.
- Go Official: Submit your entry ONLY on the U.S. government’s official website: https://dvprogram.state.gov.
- Submit Before Rush Hour: Complete and pay for your entry early in the registration window to avoid technical errors or payment system failures.
- Save Your Number: Immediately save and keep your Confirmation Number. This is the only way to check your selection status later.
Please note that visa holders (including E-2, E-2 Employee Visa, E-2 for Australians, E-2 for Canadians, E-2 for UK Citizens, L-1, L-1 for Canadians, L-1 New Office, E-1, H-1B, H-2B, E-3, TN, US Visa for Canadians, US Visa for Australians, US Visa for German citizens, US Visa for Mexican citizens, US Visa for Portuguese Citizens, US Visa for UK citizens, and others) are eligible to apply for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery.
Malescu Law can assist
Do you have any questions about the current DV lottery process or the application fee structure? Contact us or schedule a consultation.
If you are a DV lottery winner, our immigration lawyers can assist you with obtaining the green card through the DV lottery program. We have successfully obtained green card approvals for DV lottery winners.
Contact us or schedule a consultation.
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