US Diversity Visa Lottery eligibility: who can apply?

Requirement 1: your country of birth

The program looks at where you were born, not your citizenship or where you live. Someone born in an eligible country can apply even if they live elsewhere today or hold another passport.

The list of ineligible countries changes every year, because countries with high immigration to the US over the last five years are excluded. Always check the current list on the official site, dvprogram.state.gov, before you start.

What if your birth country is not eligible?

In some cases you can apply through your spouse's country of birth if it is eligible, as long as you list them and they immigrate with you. Sometimes you can also apply through a parent's country of birth under specific conditions explained in the official instructions.

These cases need a careful reading of the instructions, because a wrong "eligibility country" is one of the most common reasons entries are disqualified.

Requirement 2: education or work experience

You must meet at least one of these:

• A high school education or equivalent, meaning 12 years of formal schooling.
• Or at least two years of work experience within the last five years in a qualifying occupation on the US Department of Labor list.

Is there an age limit or a degree requirement?

There is no minimum age to register and no university degree is required. What matters is that you can show one of the two education requirements above if you are selected.

Remember that being selected does not give you the visa automatically; you will have to prove these conditions with documents at the interview.

Questions and answers