Green card lottery applicants still do not have an official registration date for the Diversity Visa 2027 program, while the State Department prepares a revised entry process with new identity and fraud-prevention requirements.
The Department announced on November 5, 2025, that it would publish the opening date for DV-2027 registration and the date for selection results through the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Status Check system as soon as practicable.
As of October 15, 2026, the department’s official announcement remains the controlling guidance for people waiting to enter the green card lottery.
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DV-2027 registration date remains unannounced
The annual green card lottery normally has a short registration period during the fall, but the State Department changed the timetable for DV-2027 while it implemented changes to the entry system.
The department has not authorized applicants to submit entries outside the announced registration period.
The official Electronic Diversity Visa website does not become active for new entries until the State Department publishes the specific opening and closing dates in the program instructions.
Applicants should not treat a website claiming to accept DV-2027 applications as official unless it is the government’s designated electronic entry system.
The department has also not announced when DV-2027 selection results will become available through Entry Status Check.
That means applicants should be cautious about social media posts, emails or private websites claiming that registration has opened or that a person has already been selected.
What the State Department changed for the green card lottery
The delayed entry period is tied to changes intended to strengthen the integrity of the Diversity Visa program.
A final State Department rule published in the Federal Register requires most DV entrants to provide information from a valid, unexpired passport and upload a scan of the passport’s biographic and signature page with the electronic entry form.
The rule includes limited exemptions, but applicants should wait for the official DV-2027 instructions to determine whether an exemption applies to their specific circumstances.
The department said the passport requirement is designed to help confirm applicants’ identities earlier, improve screening and reduce fraudulent entries.
In the final rule, the department cited millions of fraudulent entries over time and said it identified approximately 2.5 million fraudulent entries connected to the DV-2025 program.
The rule was published on March 11, 2026, and states that it becomes effective 30 days after publication.
Because the DV-2027 entry period was delayed while the department implemented changes, the passport requirement is expected to be relevant to the next registration cycle.
A $1 registration fee will apply
The State Department’s current visa-fee schedule lists a $1 Diversity Visa registration fee payable by the principal applicant at the time of registration.
This is separate from the immigrant visa application fee that selected applicants may later pay if they continue through the visa process.
The current schedule lists the Diversity Visa application fee at $330 per person applying for a DV immigrant visa.
The $1 registration fee does not guarantee selection, an interview or visa approval.
Applicants should be suspicious of websites or agents demanding large payments to submit a basic green card lottery entry.
The State Department encourages entrants to complete the form themselves and to keep control of the confirmation number issued after submission.
How the DV-2027 entry process is expected to work
When registration opens, eligible applicants must submit an electronic entry through the official E-DV website during the dates listed in the DV-2027 instructions.
The department does not accept late entries or paper entries.
The law permits only one entry by or for each person during the registration period.
Submitting more than one entry can lead to disqualification, even if the entries were submitted with the help of different people or services.
Applicants will need to provide accurate personal information, qualifying family information and a compliant photograph.
Under the new rule, most applicants will also need the required passport information and passport-page scan before completing the entry.
After submission, applicants should save and print the confirmation page and unique confirmation number.
The confirmation number is needed to check whether the applicant was selected and may later be required for interview-related steps.
Selection does not guarantee a green card
Being selected in the green card lottery does not automatically result in a visa or lawful permanent residence.
Selected applicants must still establish that they meet the program’s eligibility rules and are admissible under U.S. immigration law.
The principal applicant generally must have a high school education or its equivalent, or two years of qualifying work experience in an eligible occupation during the required period.
A spouse and qualifying unmarried children may be eligible for derivative visas if the principal applicant qualifies and properly includes them in the process.
Selected applicants outside the United States generally complete the immigrant visa process through a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Some selectees already in the United States may be eligible to apply for adjustment of status through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services if they meet the applicable requirements.
The State Department has repeatedly warned that selection only means an applicant may continue processing and does not guarantee an interview or visa.
DV-2027 visa period remains October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027
The delayed registration schedule does not change the visa application period announced for people selected in DV-2027.
The State Department says the DV-2027 visa application period will remain from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
Under the program’s rules, diversity visas for a fiscal year generally must be issued by September 30 of that year.
Applicants who wait too long to complete required forms, submit documents or attend interviews can lose the opportunity to receive a visa even after selection.
The program is limited by law to an annual allocation of up to 55,000 diversity visas, subject to statutory adjustments and other limits.
Separate visa-issuance pause affects current DV applicants
The State Department also announced on August 31, 2026, that it had paused all visa issuances to diversity immigrant visa applicants while it reviewed screening and vetting protocols.
The department said applicants may continue submitting visa applications and attending interviews, but no diversity visas will be issued during the pause.
The announcement concerns visa issuance and should not be confused with the separate delay in opening DV-2027 registration.
The department’s notice also says that no exceptions apply to the issuance pause and that existing diversity visa appointments generally will not be rescheduled or canceled.
Future DV-2027 applicants should rely on later State Department announcements for information about how any issuance policy affects selected applicants.
What applicants should do before registration opens
People considering the green card lottery should check whether their country of chargeability is eligible under the official DV-2027 instructions when those instructions are released.
Applicants should also verify that they have a valid passport if the new requirement applies to them and prepare a clear scan of the biographic and signature page.
They should gather accurate information about a spouse and all qualifying children before submitting an entry.
Applicants should use a recent photograph that meets the department’s technical requirements and should avoid submitting multiple entries.
After completing the form, entrants should keep the confirmation number themselves rather than surrendering it to an agent.
The safest source for the opening date, fee instructions and technical requirements will be the State Department’s Diversity Visa website and the official E-DV system.
Until the government announces the dates, no person can legitimately submit a DV-2027 entry or guarantee selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the DV-2027 green card lottery registration opened?
No official DV-2027 registration date has been announced in the State Department’s current notice. Applicants should wait for the department’s official instructions before submitting an entry.
How much does it cost to enter the DV-2027 program?
The State Department’s current fee schedule lists a $1 Diversity Visa registration fee paid by the principal applicant at registration. Selected applicants face separate visa-processing fees.
Will DV-2027 applicants need a passport?
A final State Department rule requires most entrants to provide valid, unexpired passport information and upload a scan of the passport’s biographic and signature page, subject to limited exemptions.
When can DV-2027 selectees apply for visas?
The State Department says the DV-2027 visa application period will remain October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, although the registration and selection-result dates have not been announced.
Fact-Checked: Reported from current U.S. Department of State notices, its fee schedule, Diversity Visa guidance and the Federal Register final rule reviewed October 15, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Applicants should follow the latest instructions from the U.S. Department of State.
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