DV Lottery 2027 Registration — Dates, New Rules & How to Enter
The Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery for 2027 has had an unusual year. Registration did not open on the normal October schedule because the program was paused — but on October 14, 2026, a US federal judge ordered the State Department to reopen it. This page tracks what is known, what is new, and how to be ready the day entry opens.
The expected timeline
- By October 29, 2026: official announcement expected from the US State Department
- By November 1, 2026: registration opens, for at least 30 days (court order)
- By December 3, 2026: selectees to be notified, per the court order
Important: the government can appeal or seek a stay, so dates may shift. This page is updated as official news lands — the final word is always the official site, dvprogram.state.gov.
What is new for DV-2027
- $1 entry fee — previous lotteries were free to enter; reporting indicates a small fee is being introduced
- Passport scan required — entrants are expected to upload a scan of a valid, unexpired passport, a major change aimed at duplicate/fraudulent entries
- Same photo rules — the strict 600×600 photo specification still applies, and a bad photo is still the most common reason entries fail
The photo requirements (unchanged)
- 600 × 600 pixels, JPEG format, 240 KB or smaller
- Taken within the last 6 months, plain white or off-white background
- Head height 50–69% of the image; eyes at 56–69% of the height from the bottom
- Full face, neutral expression, no glasses, no head coverings except religious/medical
Do not wait for opening day to sort your photo out — check it now, free, in your browser: DV Lottery Photo Checker (your photo is never uploaded anywhere).
Two ways to get your DV photo
With Watermark — FREE
Check and fix your photo yourself in the free DV Lottery Photo Checker; the fixed download carries a MakeHumanAI watermark.
Check my photo free →Without Watermark — $11
On the checker page you can also get the same fixed photo with no watermark at all for $11 — pay, and the clean file is yours.
Get the clean file — $11 →How to enter (when registration opens)
- Go to the official site only: dvprogram.state.gov
- Complete the entry form exactly as on your passport — names, date of birth, country of eligibility
- Upload your passport scan and your compliant 600×600 photo
- Pay the official fee if charged, submit, and save your confirmation number — it is the only way to check results later
Never pay an agent or a look-alike website to "enter for you" or to "increase your chances" — nobody can do either, and the only official entry point is the State Department site above.
Too busy to do it yourself?
We can prepare your photo for you — from $11. Email us your photo and we check and fix it to the official specs, then deliver it by email.
See the done-for-you photo service →Questions
When does DV Lottery 2027 registration open?
A US federal court has ordered the State Department to open DV-2027 registration by November 1, 2026, for at least 30 days, with an official announcement expected by October 29, 2026. Always confirm the final dates on the official dvprogram.state.gov website before entering.
Is there a fee for DV Lottery 2027?
Reporting on the new rules indicates a $1 entry fee and a passport scan requirement for DV-2027 — a change from previous free, passport-free entries. Confirm the exact requirements in the official instructions when registration opens.
What photo do I need for the DV Lottery?
A recent (last 6 months) 600×600 pixel JPEG photo, 240 KB or smaller, on a plain white background, with your head taking up 50–69% of the height and eyes at 56–69%. You can check and fix your photo free with our DV Lottery Photo Checker.
Where do I enter the DV Lottery?
Only on the official website, dvprogram.state.gov. Entry is never through agents or paid websites — any site charging more than the official fee is not the US government.
Ready your photo today: Check my DV photo free →