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When Will the DV Lottery 2027 Open?
Last updated: October 16, 2026
When will the DV Lottery 2027 open? Under a U.S. federal court order issued on October 14, 2026, the State Department must open online registration for the DV-2027 Diversity Visa Lottery no later than November 1, 2026, keep it open for 30 days, and announce the details of the registration period by October 29, 2026. As of today, registration is not open yet.
The DV-2027 program, also known as the Green Card Lottery, has had an unusual year. Registration normally opens in the first week of October, but for DV-2027 it was delayed, the program was paused, and in the end a lawsuit set the new schedule. This page explains what happened, which dates now matter, what the court order does and does not mean, and how to prepare before registration opens.
When Will the DV Lottery 2027 Open? Key Dates
| Date | What it means |
|---|---|
| October 29, 2026 | Latest date for the State Department to announce the details of the registration period |
| November 1, 2026 | Latest date for online registration to open, for a 30-day period |
| December 3, 2026 | Latest date to notify selected entrants |
| Until September 30, 2027 | Selected applicants’ cases are processed under the usual procedures until DV-2027 visas run out or until this date, whichever comes first |
These are court-ordered deadlines, so the State Department may act earlier. The exact opening and closing times will be in the official announcement.
When Was the DV Lottery 2027 Supposed to Open?
The Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) registration usually opens in early October. The previous program, DV-2026, opened on October 2, 2024, so most applicants expected DV-2027 to open around the same time in October 2025.
That did not happen. By mid-October 2025 registration still had not started and the State Department had not given a reason. Around the same time, a final rule published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2025 introduced a new $1 registration fee for DV entries. See our DV Lottery fees 2027 guide for details.
Timeline: What Happened to DV-2027
November 5, 2025: State Department announces changes
On November 5, 2025 the U.S. Department of State announced that it was making changes to the DV-2027 entry process, and that it would announce the registration period and the date for results later. The announcement is on travel.state.gov.
December 2025: the program is paused
In December 2025, media reports said the president had ordered a review of the Diversity Visa Program. The U.S. administration then announced a pause of the program after a shooting at Brown University; reports said the suspect had entered the United States on a diversity visa. At that point no decision had been published to end the program, which was created by Congress, and official channels remained the only reliable source.
August 2026: the lawsuit
In August 2026 a law firm filed Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, challenging the delay of DV-2027.
August 31, 2026: update on visa issuance
On August 31, 2026 the State Department published an update about a temporary pause in issuing diversity visas. This concerns visas for selected applicants. It is a different issue from opening registration for new entries.
October 14, 2026: preliminary injunction
On October 14, 2026, Judge Jinsook Ohta issued a preliminary injunction requiring the State Department to conduct the DV-2027 lottery. The schedule was then adjusted at the request of both parties, which produced the deadlines above: details by October 29, registration open by November 1 for 30 days, and selectees notified by December 3, 2026. If you see older posts quoting an earlier date, rely on the revised schedule and the official announcement.
What the Court Order Means and Does Not Mean
What it means
- The State Department has firm deadlines to announce, open and complete DV-2027 registration and to notify selectees.
- Registration should open for 30 days, by November 1, 2026 at the latest.
- Selected applicants will be processed under the normal procedures until visas run out or until September 30, 2027.
What it does not mean
- Registration is not open yet. Until the State Department opens the official form, no one can submit an entry.
- No one has early access. Websites or agents that claim a special link or an early submission are not official.
- Selection is not a visa. Selected entrants still have to qualify, pass the interview and finish before visas run out. Visa issuance is a separate stage, and the State Department’s August 31, 2026 update on it still needs to be followed.
- It is not the last word. Court cases can develop further, so treat dvprogram.state.gov and travel.state.gov as the final reference.
Where Will Registration Happen?
Once it opens, registration will take place only on the official website, dvprogram.state.gov. Entries are submitted online during the announced period. Paper entries and late entries are not accepted. After you submit, you get a confirmation number straight away. You need it to check your result on the same website, because the State Department does not send emails or letters to people who are selected.
What to Prepare Before Registration Opens
- Check your eligibility: you must be a native of an eligible country (or qualify through your spouse or, in some cases, a parent) and have a high school education or qualifying work experience. See our guide to DV Lottery eligible countries.
- Get a valid passport: the new rules require valid passport details with the entry, with limited exceptions. Check the official DV-2027 instructions when they are published.
- Prepare compliant photos: you need one recent photo for each person on the entry. Follow our DV Lottery photo requirements guide.
- Collect family details: your spouse and all unmarried children under 21 must be listed, even if they will not immigrate.
- Have a payment method ready: the $1 registration fee is paid online when you submit.
- Plan to save your confirmation number in several places as soon as you submit.
For the full entry process, read our step-by-step DV Lottery 2027 application guide.
How to Follow Official Announcements
- The official entry website: dvprogram.state.gov
- The State Department’s DV-2027 entry period announcement on travel.state.gov
- The State Department’s Diversity Visa Program entry page
For news about the lawsuit, compare what you read with the court record and with what the State Department actually announces. Do not rely on social media posts alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DV Lottery 2027 open now?
No. As of October 16, 2026, registration has not opened. The court order requires it to open by November 1, 2026.
How long will DV-2027 registration stay open?
The court-ordered schedule calls for a 30-day registration period. The exact start and end times will be in the official announcement, due by October 29, 2026.
When will DV-2027 results be available?
Under the revised schedule, selected entrants must be notified by December 3, 2026. You check your result only on dvprogram.state.gov with your confirmation number.
Why was the DV Lottery 2027 delayed?
On November 5, 2025 the State Department said it was changing the DV-2027 entry process and would announce dates later. In December 2025 the program was paused after a shooting at Brown University. The new schedule comes from a court order issued on October 14, 2026.
What is the “Diversity Visa Lottery Program DV1”?
It is the same program as the DV Lottery or Green Card Lottery, whose official name is the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. “DV1” is the visa category code for the principal selected applicant. A spouse is DV2 and children are DV3. The dates on this page apply to the whole program.
Does the court order mean diversity visas are being issued again?
Not necessarily. The order covers running the DV-2027 lottery. Visa issuance for selected applicants is a separate stage, and the State Department published an update on a temporary pause on August 31, 2026. Follow travel.state.gov for the latest position.
How much does it cost to enter?
The registration fee is $1, paid online when you submit. Selected applicants later pay $330 per person at the visa stage.
Conclusion
When will the DV Lottery 2027 open? The court-ordered answer is by November 1, 2026 at the latest, for 30 days, with details announced by October 29 and selectees notified by December 3, 2026. Until the State Department publishes the official announcement, use the time to prepare your passport, photos and family details, and apply only on dvprogram.state.gov once registration opens. We will update this page as official information is released.
Need Help with Your DV Lottery 2027 Entry?
Our team can help you get ready for the opening: we review your eligibility and family details, check that your photos meet the requirements, help you complete the form accurately, and send you your confirmation number as a PDF after submission.
Get help with your DV Lottery application
Disclaimer: DVLotteryUS is a private service that helps you prepare your entry. It is not a U.S. government agency. Official registration takes place only on the U.S. Department of State website, and no one can guarantee selection or the issuance of a visa.