DV Lottery 2027 Eligible Countries List: Country Names by Region

The DV Lottery 2027 eligible countries list is an important resource for people planning to apply for the United States Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery. The program provides an opportunity for eligible applicants from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States to seek permanent resident status.

However, not every country is eligible every year. The U.S. Department of State determines the eligible and ineligible countries for each program year, and the list can change.

Important update: The official DV-2027 country list has not been independently confirmed from the available government sources for this article. The country names below are based on the official DV-2026 regional eligibility list and are provided as a reference—not as a confirmed DV-2027 list. Applicants should check the latest official instructions before applying.

Key registration dates

What Is the DV Lottery 2027?

The Diversity Visa (DV) Program is an annual U.S. immigration program administered by the Department of State. It makes a limited number of immigrant visas available to eligible applicants who meet the program's requirements.

The program is commonly called the DV Lottery or Green Card Lottery. Selection in the lottery does not automatically guarantee a visa. Selected applicants must still meet the applicable eligibility requirements and complete the required immigration process.

According to the U.S. Department of State, the DV-2027 visa application period for selected applicants is scheduled to run from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. The department previously announced that the DV-2027 entry period and selection-result dates would be announced separately.

For official information, visit the U.S. Department of State's Diversity Visa instructions.

DV Lottery 2027 Eligible Countries List by Continent

The following regional lists are based on the published DV-2026 eligibility list. They should not be treated as the final DV-2027 list until the U.S. government publishes the relevant instructions.

1. Africa

The following African countries appeared on the DV-2026 eligible list:

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

DV-2026 exclusion: Nigeria was not eligible under the Africa region list. Its status for DV-2027 must be checked against the official instructions for that year.

2. Asia

The following countries and areas appeared on the DV-2026 eligible list for Asia:

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Important for Asian applicants: Bangladesh, China (including Hong Kong), India, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam were listed as ineligible for DV-2026. These exclusions must not automatically be assumed to be the final DV-2027 rules.

People born in an ineligible country may sometimes qualify through a spouse's country of birth or, in certain circumstances, a parent's country of birth. Such exceptions have specific legal conditions.

3. Europe

The following countries and areas appeared on the DV-2026 eligible list for Europe:

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia (Czech Republic), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Türkiye (Turkey), Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.

Macau Special Administrative Region also appeared in the official DV-2026 instructions under a special chargeability provision connected to Portugal.

The treatment of dependent territories and certain birthplaces may differ from ordinary country classification. Applicants should consult the official regional notes rather than relying solely on a country's name in a general list.

4. North America

The Bahamas appeared on the DV-2026 eligible list for the North America region.

Canada and Mexico were excluded from the DV-2026 program. Their eligibility for DV-2027 must be confirmed through the new year's official instructions.

5. Oceania

The following countries and areas appeared on the DV-2026 eligible list for Oceania:

Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Australia and New Zealand include certain components and dependent areas overseas under the program's regional rules. The official instructions should be consulted for specific territories and birthplaces.

6. South America, Central America, and the Caribbean

The following countries appeared on the DV-2026 eligible list for this combined region:

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.

DV-2026 exclusions: Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, and Venezuela were listed as ineligible for that program year. Mexico was identified in the North America regional exclusion as well.

Applicants should check the DV-2027 list for any changes before deciding whether they qualify.

DV Lottery 2027: Which Countries Are Not Eligible?

The Diversity Visa Program generally excludes countries whose natives have had relatively high levels of immigration to the United States under the program's statutory rules. The excluded countries can change between program years.

The following countries were among the DV-2026 exclusions:

• Africa: Nigeria

• Asia: Bangladesh, China (including Hong Kong), India, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam

• North America: Canada and Mexico

• South America, Central America, and the Caribbean: Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, and Venezuela

This is a historical reference for DV-2026, not a confirmed DV-2027 exclusion list.

The eligibility rules generally focus on the applicant's country of birth, rather than simply the applicant's current citizenship, nationality, or residence. Therefore, someone who holds a passport from an eligible country may not qualify based on that passport alone.

Can You Apply if Your Country Is Not Eligible?

In certain circumstances, an applicant born in a country that is not eligible may still qualify through an alternative country of chargeability.

Two important exceptions may apply:

1. Through a spouse: An applicant may be able to claim the spouse's country of birth if both spouses are included on the selected entry and meet the relevant requirements, including the conditions concerning visa issuance and entry into the United States.

2. Through a parent: In certain circumstances, an applicant may be able to claim the country of birth of a parent if neither parent was born in or legally resident in the applicant's country of birth at the relevant time.

These exceptions are subject to specific rules. Applicants should read the official DV instructions carefully before relying on either option.

Other DV Lottery Eligibility Requirements

Being born in an eligible country is only one part of the application requirements. Applicants must also meet the applicable education or work-experience criteria.

Generally, an applicant must have either:

• A high school education or its equivalent, meeting the program's definition; or

• Qualifying work experience in an occupation that meets the program's requirements.

Meeting the basic criteria does not guarantee selection or visa approval. Applicants who are selected must complete the subsequent application process and satisfy all applicable requirements.

How to Check the Official DV Lottery 2027 Country List

To confirm whether your country is eligible, follow these steps:

1. Visit the official U.S. Department of State Diversity Visa instructions page.

2. Look for the instructions specifically labelled DV-2027.

3. Find the section titled “List of Countries/Areas by Region Whose Natives Are Eligible.”

4. Locate your country under its designated region.

5. Read the notes and exclusions for that region, including any special chargeability provisions.

Use official government sources for eligibility decisions. Third-party websites may be helpful for general explanations, but their lists may be outdated or may refer to a different DV program year.

Is DV Lottery 2027 Registration Open?

The registration schedule for DV-2027 should be checked on the official Department of State website. In its announcement dated November 5, 2025, the department stated that it would announce the registration start date and the date for checking selection results separately.

Do not assume that registration is open just because a website advertises DV-2027 applications. The official entry website becomes active for submissions only during the designated registration period.

The official registration portal is dvprogram.state.gov. Applicants should never submit multiple entries for the same person during one registration period, as this can result in disqualification. Follow the current official instructions for any applicable fees, entry requirements, and submission procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Bangladesh eligible for the DV Lottery 2027?

Bangladesh was ineligible for DV-2026. Its status for DV-2027 should be verified against the official DV-2027 country list before applying. Applicants should also review whether any lawful alternative chargeability exception applies to their circumstances.

Which countries are eligible for the DV Lottery 2027?

The final answer depends on the official DV-2027 list published by the U.S. Department of State. The regional lists in this article are based on DV-2026 and are provided only as a reference until the DV-2027 list can be verified.

Does citizenship determine DV Lottery eligibility?

Not necessarily. Eligibility is generally based on the applicant's country of birth, also called the country of chargeability. Certain exceptions involving a spouse's or parent's country of birth may apply.

Can a person from an ineligible country apply through a spouse?

Potentially, yes. The program allows a qualifying applicant to claim a spouse's country of birth under specified conditions. Both spouses must satisfy the applicable requirements, and the official instructions should be reviewed before applying.

Does winning the DV Lottery guarantee a Green Card?

No. Selection only allows an applicant to continue to the next stage. The applicant must still meet the requirements, submit the necessary documentation, complete the required process, and be eligible for a visa.

Where can I find the official DV Lottery 2027 list?

Visit the U.S. Department of State's Diversity Visa instructions page and look for the DV-2027 instructions.

The DV Lottery 2027 eligible countries list is an essential starting point for people interested in the U.S. Green Card Lottery. However, eligibility can change from one year to the next, and a country that appeared on the previous year's list may not necessarily qualify for the next program.

The regional country lists in this article are based on the published DV-2026 instructions and should not be treated as the confirmed DV-2027 list. Always verify the latest official instructions, check the relevant regional exclusions, and review the education or work-experience requirements before submitting an entry.