Diversity Visa Program for UK Citizens: Eligibility & How to Apply
The US Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program (also called Green Card lottery) provides citizens from underrepresented countries with an opportunity to immigrate to the United States. As migration rate from the UK to the US dropped in recent years, UK-born persons became eligible to register for the US Diversity Visa Lottery for DV-2025 and DV-2026.
UK citizens and residents who were born in an ineligible country may also be eligible based on chargeability through their spouse or parents. Call our US office on +1 844 312 4979 or UK office on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 today to understand whether you are eligible and how to apply. Our US Green Card specialist lawyers can also help you identify an alternative route to a US Green Card if you cannot apply under the DV Program.
Page Contents
- Can UK Citizens Apply for the Diversity Visa Program?
- 2026 DV Program Update: Temporary Pause Lifted
- Countries Not Eligible for DV-2026
- Requirements of the Program for British Nationals
- How to Apply for the US Diversity Visa From the UK
- What Documents Do UK Citizens Need?
- How to Check Your Diversity Visa Status
- How Long Is a Diversity Visa Valid for?
- How Much Does the Green Card Lottery Cost?
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
2026 DV Program Update: Temporary Pause Lifted
The US Department of State (DOS) temporarily suspended issuing DV visas on December 23, 2025, to carry on a program review given the recent security concern over DV program entrants.
The goal was to tighten the screening and vetting process of DV applicants, to identify and refuse applicants who could pose a threat to national security and public safety in the US. Candidates could go on submitting their applications and attending interviews during this temporary suspension, but no visas were issued.
However, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order on August 28, 2026, in the Medani et al. v. Trump et al. case ending the December 2025 pause.
Note: US Department of State (DOS) has not yet announced the 2027 DV quota or registration dates as certain changes to the DV entry process are being implemented.
Can UK Citizens Apply for the US Diversity Visa Program? (Green Card Lottery)
Yes, UK citizens have recently become eligible to apply to the US Diversity Visa Program (also known as the green card lottery).
Previously, UK-born people were excluded from the DV lottery. However, as migration rate from the UK to the US dropped in the recent past, UK-born applicants became eligible to register for the US Diversity Visa Lottery in 2025, the first time since the program’s inception. UK is an eligible country for DV-2026 as well.
If you were born in an ineligible country but later obtained UK nationality, you will not be able to register (since the DV program considers the birth country of the applicants rather than their current citizenship status), unless any of the following applies to you:
- You have dual nationality with an eligible country, and you hold the passport for an eligible country
- Your spouse is a citizen of an eligible country
- Your parents were not born or legally resident in the country in which you hold citizenship (you may be eligible to apply if one or both of your parents were born in an eligible country)
Diversity Visa Program: An Overview
The US government offers a number of visas every fiscal year to citizens from such countries which historically have low rates of immigration to the United States. If you are granted a Diversity visa, you can apply for a US Green Card.
Approximately 55,000 visas become available every fiscal year. The advantage of the program is that it is free to submit your expression of interest in the program and there is a low barrier of entry.
The disadvantage is that it is a lottery program. Even if you are eligible to apply and submit a foolproof application, there is no way to guarantee your chances of success as the winners will be selected at random via automation.
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Countries Not Eligible for the DV-2026
The majority of countries in the world are eligible to apply for the Diversity Visa, with some exceptions.
To encourage greater diversity within the immigration population, diversity visas aim to encourage applicants from countries with lower levels of immigration.
The full list of countries not eligible for the Diversity Visa Program is as follows:
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Canada
- China (although natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible)
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong SAR
- India
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
However, as outlined above, there may be options for individuals born in these countries through the chargeability option.
Green Card Lottery Requirements for British Nationals
To be eligible to submit the initial application, there are only two criteria to meet. You must not apply for diversity visas unless you meet both requirements.
Born in an Eligible Country/Can Claim Chargeability to Spouse’s or Parent’s Place of Birth
Applicants for the Diversity Visa Program must be nationals of a country with a historically low rate of immigration to the United States.
Alternatively, if your spouse is a native of a qualifying country, you may be able to apply. This works by your spouse submitting their entry to the program, where you are listed as their named spouse.
As well as this, you must both be eligible at the visa application stage and enter the US at the same time.
If this situation does not apply to your circumstances, you may be able to apply on the basis of your parents’ place of birth.
If they were born or legally resident in a country other than the country of your birth (which is an ineligible country) when you were born, you may be able to claim the country of their birth (if the country is an eligible one).
Educational Qualification or Work Experience
The second requirement of the program states that you must have the appropriate level of education and/or work experience in order to be eligible.
This means that you should have at least one of the following:
- Minimum of high school level education or equivalent (successful completion of a 12-year course of formal education) OR
- Two years of experience working in a role that requires at least two years of training or work experience to perform (must be within the last five years)
To check whether a role is eligible, use the O*NET OnLine site to search your occupation.
How to Apply for Green Card Lottery (Diversity Visa) From the UK
You should be aware that it is not necessary to work with a third party to submit your application for the Diversity Visa program.
Every year, the US State Department issues warnings to applicants who may encounter scammers or illegitimate immigration agencies.
You do not need to pay any money to enter the visa lottery, and you do not someone else to act on your behalf.
US green card lottery application process
- Submit your entry form on the official U.S. Department of State Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) Program website. You must save your confirmation number
- Successful applicants will be chosen at random using the automated electronic system.
- Check the Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website to find out if your application was chosen. Note that you will not be contacted if you are selected, you must check yourself
- If chosen, complete online Form DS-260 immediately to schedule a visa interview in your country of residence.
- Confirm your eligibility by submitting evidence of your high school education qualifications or work experience.
- Ensure that your passport meets the eligibility requirements and submit your passport number.
- Complete and submit your immigrant visa entry form and apply to register as an alien.
- Gather and submit your supporting documents
- Schedule your visa interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Prepare for the visa interview by ensuring you are able to answer the questions and hold the correct documentation
- Pay the fee for the visa Diversity Visa ($330.00 per person).
- Attend the interview with your supporting documents and satisfy the immigration official that you meet the conditions of the program.
- Receive a decision on your interview stating whether you will be approved. Your visa may be approved or denied
A more detailed outline of each step in the process can be found on the US Department of State Website Diversity Visa Program page.
Only one entry per person is permitted. You must ensure that you apply within the registration period.
If you miss the short window for the registration period, you must wait until the following year to apply.
Documents UK Citizens Need for a US Diversity Visa (Green Card Lottery) Application
The supporting documents you may need to submit along with your DV application include (but are not limited to):
- Passport showing country of birth
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate
- Proof of any previous divorce certificates
- Birth certificate for you
- Birth certificate for your parents
- Parents’ marriage certificate
- Birth certificates for any dependants included on the application
- Court and prison records (where relevant)
- Military records (where relevant)
- Police certificates (required for all applicants aged over 16 years)
- Photocopy of passport biodata page for the main applicant and all dependents
- Passport-style photographs complying with US immigration rules
- Evidence of education or work experience
- Certificate of completion of studies
- Documentation proving your work experience (i.e., letter from your employer)
- Documents relating to a prior deportation or forced removal (where relevant)
- Custody documents for dependent children (where relevant)
- Adoption documents (where relevant)
- Proof of payment of fees
There may be additional documents required depending on your circumstances.
How to Check Your U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery Status (Green Card Application Status)
The State Department will not contact you if your application is successful. You are responsible for checking your status.
To track your Diversity Visa (green card lottery) status, you must wait until the date has been announced for individuals to check their status.
This date will be provided when you submit your application. You should follow these steps to check your Diversity Immigrant Visa status:
- On the date when the status becomes available, visit the official Department of State DV page
- Locate your unique confirmation number (given to you when you submitted your application)
- If your initial application was successful, you will be given instructions on how to submit your full visa application
It is extremely important to note that there are many scam organisations that may try to trick you into believing that they are a licensed government organisation who can assist with immigrant visas.
If you receive an offer that guarantees you access to immigrant visas or suggests that your application can be fast-tracked, you should treat it as a scam because neither is possible.
Similarly, if your lottery application is successful, that is not a guarantee that you will be granted a visa. That decision rests with the immigration officials at your visa interview, and those at the port when you arrive in the U.S. with your visa.
How Long Is a Diversity Visa Valid for UK Citizens?
If your Diversity Visa is approved, it will be inserted on a page in your passport. With this visa, you must travel to the United States before the stated visa expiry date.
In most cases, the immigrant visa will be valid for up to six months from the date of issue. In some circumstances, this date may be sooner, depending on when your medical examination certificate expires.
If you are the primary applicant and you have dependents travelling with you, you must enter either before or at the same time as those family members.
When your immigrant visa is issued and placed in your passport, you will also be given a sealed immigrant packet containing documents to be presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection when you arrive in the U.S. You are not permitted to open this packet.
Green Card Lottery Fees for U.K Citizens
The initial application for the green card lottery (diversity visa program) is free. Do not pay any organisations offering to obtain a faster or guaranteed decision.
The application can be done online at the State Department website.
If your application is approved, you may then proceed with your application. The cost of the immigrant visa application is $330.00.
There may be additional costs involved in the visa application process including:
- Cost of obtaining health insurance
- Cost of gathering required documents (e.g., marriage licenses, certificates, etc.)
- Cost of travelling to the US embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country for the visa interview
- Cost of obtaining the U.S. passport-style photographs required for the application
- Cost of flights or travel to the United States (if you are successful)
Depending on your circumstances, there may be further costs involved in the process.
How Can Total Law Help?
If you decide to work with an immigration lawyer on your application for the Diversity Visa Program, we provide the highest quality immigration services to all our clients. We work closely with you to understand your goals and how we can help you achieve them.
You may benefit from specialist immigration services and the advice we provide, but no law firm can guarantee a successful DV visa outcome given the random selection process. Instead, we can assess your circumstances and suggest alternative options suitable in your situation to move to the US from the UK.
We can outline the requirements for your chosen route and advise on how you can meet them, give you a detailed list of the documents you need to procure, complete the application form on your behalf, update you regarding the application deadline and costs, etc. In short, we provide end-to-end immigration support to our clients.
Call our friendly and professional client care team today to get started on +1 844 312 4979 (US office) or +44 (0) 333 305 9375 (UK office).
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are not eligible for the Diversity Visa program or don’t get selected at the lottery even after submitting a foolproof application, there are many other routes towards obtaining a US green card (or immigrant visas) from the UK.
There are employment-based green cards (e.g., the EB1 Visa, EB2 Visa, or EB3 Visa) and family-based green cards (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, or F4 Visas) available for eligible British citizens.
After holding a green card (lawful permanent residency) for five years, you may be eligible to apply for US citizenship.
Yes, you must include your spouse (unless you are legally separated) and all unmarried, minor children (including stepchildren and adopted children) in your initial DV entry, even if they are not going to move with you to the US.
Do not include a spouse or child who already holds a green card or is a US citizen.
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