Requirement 1: a native of an eligible country
“Native” ordinarily means born in the country, regardless of where you live today or your nationality. Natives of countries that sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the previous five years cannot enter, and the list changes every year. The latest published list is for DV-2026; no DV-2027 list has been published as of 21 October 2026.
Official sources: DV-2026 instructions and FAQs (latest published) ↗
Two exceptions: your spouse’s or a parent’s country
- Your spouse’s country of birth: you can be issued a visa only if your spouse is also eligible and issued a visa, and you must enter the United States together.
- A parent’s country of birth: allowed only if neither parent was born in, or a resident of, your country of birth when you were born. Visiting, studying or temporary work do not generally count as residence.
- If you use either exception, you must explain it on the entry form. Claiming a country you cannot prove makes you ineligible.
- Special cases: natives of Macau S.A.R. select Portugal, natives of Martinique select France, and Northern Ireland is treated as a separate state.
Official sources: DV-2026 instructions and FAQs (latest published) ↗ · 22 CFR 42.33 (current regulation) ↗
Requirement 2: education
You need at least a high school education or its equivalent: a formal 12-year course of elementary and secondary education comparable to a U.S. high school, sufficient to apply for college admission. Correspondence programs and equivalency certificates such as the G.E.D. are not accepted, and vocational degrees that are not a basis for further academic study do not count. You must prove it with documents at the interview.
Official sources: DV-2026 instructions and FAQs (latest published) ↗ · Prepare for the interview ↗
Or: qualifying work experience
Instead of education, you can qualify with two years of work experience within the past five years, in an occupation the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET database rates Job Zone 4 or 5 with a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) of 7.0 or higher. Only the principal entrant must qualify; your spouse and children do not.
Official sources: Confirm your qualifications ↗ · O*NET OnLine ↗
Age, location and passport
- There is no minimum age, but the education or work requirement disqualifies most people under 18.
- You may enter from any country, including the United States.
- From DV-2027 the entry asks for a valid, unexpired passport and a JPEG scan of its biographic and signature page, with limited legal exemptions.
- Visa restrictions under presidential proclamations follow nationality and are a separate question from DV eligibility.
Official sources: DV-2026 instructions and FAQs (latest published) ↗ · 22 CFR 42.33 (current regulation) ↗
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter if I live in an excluded country but was born elsewhere?
Yes. Eligibility follows your country of birth (or, under strict conditions, your spouse’s or a parent’s), not where you live or your nationality.
Does a G.E.D. count for the DV lottery?
No. Only a formal 12-year course of elementary and secondary education counts; equivalency certificates and correspondence programs are not accepted.
How do I know if my job qualifies?
Look up your occupation on O*NET OnLine. It must be Job Zone 4 or 5 with an SVP rating of 7.0 or higher, and you need two years of experience in it within the past five years.
Is there an age limit?
There is no minimum or maximum age, but the principal entrant must meet the education or work requirement.