The US Department of State has released details of the DV-2026 Diversity Visa programme, revealing that citizens of 19 countries were not eligible to participate in the Green Card lottery.
The Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky, handled the selection process, registering approximately 129,516 prospective applicants, including selected applicants and their accompanying spouses and children.
The applicants were selected from 20,822,624 qualified entries submitted during the 37-day registration period, which ran from October 2, 2024, to November 7, 2024.
19 Countries Barred From DV-2026
According to the US Department of State, citizens of the following 19 countries were ineligible for the DV-2026 programme:
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Canada
- China, including Hong Kong SAR
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
The Diversity Visa programme is designed to provide immigration opportunities to nationals of countries with historically low levels of immigration to the United States.
As a result, countries that have sent relatively large numbers of immigrants to the US in recent years are excluded from the programme.
How the DV-2026 Programme Works
Under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Diversity Visa programme provides for up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually.
However, deductions required under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) and the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 reduced the number available for DV-2026 to approximately 51,850 visas.
The 2026 fiscal year runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
The visas are divided among six geographic regions, with a restriction preventing any single country from receiving more than seven per cent of the total allocation.
Requirements for DV-2026 Selectees
To qualify, the principal applicant must have completed a high school education or its equivalent.
Applicants may alternatively qualify by having at least two years of work experience within the previous five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience.
Those selected who are already legally present in the United States may apply to adjust their immigration status through US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Applicants outside the US are required to complete the necessary visa processing steps before the September 30, 2026 deadline.
After that date, DV-2026 selectees will no longer receive any benefit from their selection, even if they have not completed the process.
The Department of State also said the registration dates for the DV-2027 programme will be announced in the coming months.
