US Green Card Lottery Now Costs $1: New DV Lottery Registration Fee Starts October 2025
The United States just changed its green card lottery system. Starting October 16, 2025, everyone must pay $1 to register for the Diversity Visa lottery program.
All participants must pay $1 when submitting their electronic entry on the official U.S. government website. This marks the first time the DV lottery charges a registration fee.
What Is the Diversity Visa Lottery
The Diversity Visa lottery gives 55,000 green cards each year. People from countries with low US immigration rates can apply. This program helps maintain diversity in American immigration.
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program) makes up to 50,000 immigrant visas available annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to individuals who are from countries with low US immigration levels.
About 25 million people apply for this lottery every year. Winners get the chance to live and work permanently in America.
New Fee Details Starting October 2025
Effective October 16, 2025, there is a non-refundable and non-transferrable $1 registration fee to enter the U.S. Diversity Visa lottery. You cannot get this money back, even if you don’t win.
The $1 registration fee is separate from other costs. Winners still pay the $330 application fee if they get selected. This new fee only covers the cost of entering the lottery.
Why America Added This Fee
This $1 fee reflects the operational costs of running the annual DV lottery. These include the annual review and update of the systems required to collect the lottery form submissions, data storage, automated randomized selection of lottery winners, and associated security reviews.
The US government expects to collect about $25 million annually from this fee. This money helps pay for:
System Updates: Keeping the lottery website working properly.
Data Storage: Saving millions of applications securely.
Security Reviews: Protecting against fraud and fake applications.
Technical Support: Maintaining the selection process.
How the New Payment System Works
Payment is made exclusively through the official US government portal. You cannot pay through any other website or service.
The payment happens during registration. You must pay the $1 fee when you submit your lottery entry online. The system will not accept entries without payment.
Impact on Lottery Applications
This fee might reduce the number of people applying. Some experts think fewer people from poor countries will participate because of the cost.
The US State Department believes the fee will reduce fraud. Fake applications cost money now, so scammers might try less often.
Currently, only those selected through the program pay a fee. The new system makes everyone pay something, even if they don’t win.
Important Guidelines for Applicants
Use Official Websites Only: Only register through the US government’s official DV lottery website. Avoid third-party services that charge extra fees.
Prepare Payment Method: Have your payment ready before the registration period opens. The fee must be paid online during application.
Gather Documents Early: Collect all required photos and documents before registration starts. This prevents delays when paying the fee.
Avoid Scam Services: Many fake websites offer to help with DV lottery applications. These sites often charge much more than $1.
Timeline for DV Lottery 2027
The new $1 fee starts with the DV-2027 lottery registration. This registration period typically opens in October each year and closes in November.
The DV-2026 registration period opens on October 2, 2024, and closes on November 7, 2024. The DV-2027 period will likely follow a similar schedule with the new fee requirement.
What This Means for Future Applicants
The $1 fee represents a major change in US immigration policy. This small cost might seem insignificant to some people, but it affects millions of applicants worldwide.
Countries with limited economic opportunities might see fewer applications. The fee could prevent some people from trying for American green cards.
However, $1 remains much cheaper than other immigration processes. Most visa applications cost hundreds of dollars. The DV lottery fee stays relatively affordable for most people.
Preparing for the New System
Make sure you understand the official payment process before registration opens. Practice navigating the government website and prepare your payment method.
Keep all confirmation numbers and receipts from your application. The $1 fee payment creates a digital record of your lottery entry.
Remember that winning the lottery is just the first step. Selected applicants still must complete the full immigration process and pay additional fees.
The Diversity Visa lottery remains one of the most accessible paths to US permanent residence. The new $1 fee shows America’s commitment to maintaining this program while covering operational costs.
