Each year, the U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, commonly called the Green Card Lottery, updates its eligibility rules. Knowing whether your country qualifies is the first and most crucial step if you plan to apply. This post covers the Green Card Lottery Eligibility for DV-2026, including which countries are excluded, which are eligible, and everything you need to know to ensure your application qualifies.
Table of Contents
What Are the Requirements for Green Card Lottery Eligibility?
Before we dive into the list of eligible and ineligible countries, let’s recap the key eligibility criteria, based on the official DV-2026 instructions:
- You must be born in an eligible country (i.e., one that has historically low immigration to the U.S.) or meet a cross-chargeability exception (e.g., your spouse’s government, or parents’ country) if your own is excluded.
- You must have at least a high school education (or its equivalent) OR two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training/experience.
- Only one entry per person per year; submitting more than one disqualifies you.
Countries Not Eligible for DV-2026
According to the U.S. State Department’s DV-2026 Instructions, the following countries are not eligible to apply for the Green Card Lottery (DV-2026) because they have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past five years.
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Canada
- China (including Hong Kong SAR)
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Republic of Korea (South Korea)
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
Note: Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible in DV-2026.
Countries (Regions) Eligible for DV-2026
If your country is not on the excluded list above, then it is eligible for DV-2026 under the nationality criterion. That includes the majority of countries in:
- Africa
- Asia (except the excluded ones)
- Europe
- Oceania
- Some countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
Because the complete list of eligible countries is very long, here are some examples of eligible countries by region:
- Africa: Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Egypt, South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, etc.
- Asia: Nepal, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Laos, Taiwan, etc.
- Europe: All European countries except, in some cases, specific dependent territories of excluded countries.
- Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Pacific island nations are generally eligible.
- Latin America / Caribbean: Many islands and smaller nations are eligible (excluding those listed in the ineligible list above).
To check precisely whether your country qualifies, you should refer to the official DV-2026 instructions published by the U.S. Department of State.
Cross-Chargeability & Special Exceptions
If you were born in an ineligible country, you might still qualify through cross‐chargeability:
- If your spouse was born in an eligible country, you can use their country of birth.
- In some cases, if neither parent was a resident of your birth country at your birth and your parent was born in an eligible country, you might claim that parent’s country.
Why Some Countries Are Excluded
Countries are excluded from DV-2026 eligibility if more than 50,000 immigrants from that country have come to the U.S. in specific visa categories over the past five years. The aim is to maintain diversity by restricting high-admission countries, thereby giving underrepresented countries a better chance to be represented.
How Green Card Lottery Eligibility Applies to DV-2025 & DV-2026
- DV Lottery 2025 excluded the same countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, etc.) as for DV-2026, per the State Department.
- In DV-2026, there were no significant changes in eligibility except for the note that Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.
Most of what was true for DV-2025 remains true for DV-2026 regarding which countries are ineligible.
Conclusion
Understanding Green Card Lottery Eligibility is the very first step toward successfully applying for the Diversity Visa Program. Each year, the U.S. State Department updates the list of eligible and ineligible countries to ensure immigration diversity. For DV-2026, most countries remain eligible, while high-immigration nations such as India, China, Mexico, and Nigeria are excluded.
If your country qualifies, make sure you also meet the education or work requirements before applying. And if your country is ineligible, don’t lose hope; you may still qualify through cross-chargeability using your spouse’s or parents’ country of birth.
By carefully checking the updated eligibility list and following the official guidelines, you maximize your chances of success. Staying informed is key—because even a small detail, like country eligibility, can make the difference between acceptance and disqualification.
For more guidance and step-by-step help, you can explore professional support through the US Green Card Office, where applicants receive expert assistance throughout the DV Lottery process.