US DV Lottery for Nigerians - Complete Guide 2026
How to enter the Diversity Visa Lottery, eligibility requirements, and tips for Nigerian applicants
Free Entry: The DV Lottery is completely FREE to enter. It provides 50,000 immigrant visas (green cards) annually to people from countries with low immigration rates to the US. Nigeria is an eligible country. Never pay anyone to submit your entry.
What is the DV Lottery?
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Programme (DV Lottery or "Green Card Lottery") is a US government programme that randomly selects approximately 50,000 applicants from eligible countries to receive permanent resident visas (green cards).
| Website | dvprogram.state.gov (ONLY official site) |
| Cost | FREE to enter (never pay for entry) |
| Entry Period | Usually October-November each year |
| Results | May of the following year |
| Visas Available | ~50,000 per year worldwide |
| Selection | Random computer lottery |
Eligibility Requirements
Country Requirement
Nigeria is eligible. You must be born in Nigeria (or an eligible country). If born in an ineligible country, you may claim eligibility through your spouse's country of birth.
Education/Work Requirement (one of these)
- Education: Completed secondary school education (WAEC/NECO with at least 5 credits including English and Maths) - equivalent to US high school diploma
- Work experience: 2 years of qualifying work experience in the last 5 years in an occupation requiring at least 2 years of training
Photo Requirements
- 600x600 pixels, JPEG format, less than 240KB
- Taken within last 6 months
- White or off-white background
- Full face visible, both eyes open
- No glasses (even prescription)
- No head coverings (except religious)
DV Lottery Timeline
| When | What Happens |
|---|---|
| October-November | Registration period opens at dvprogram.state.gov |
| May (next year) | Results announced - check with your confirmation number |
| May-September | If selected: submit DS-260 immigration form online |
| Varies | Medical examination at approved clinic in Nigeria |
| Varies | Interview at US Embassy Lagos or Abuja |
| After approval | Receive immigrant visa; must enter US before expiry |
| After entry | Green card mailed to your US address |
Scam Warning
- Entry is FREE. Never pay anyone to submit your DV Lottery application
- The ONLY official website is dvprogram.state.gov
- The US government will NEVER email, text, or call you about winning
- Check results ONLY at dvprogram.state.gov using your confirmation number
- Agents/consultants who charge for "guaranteed selection" are scammers
- Multiple entries will DISQUALIFY you
FAQ
With approximately 15-20 million entries globally and 50,000 visas available, the selection rate is roughly 0.3-1%. However, more selectees are chosen than visas available (about 100,000-120,000) since many don't complete the process. Your odds improve slightly by entering every year - after 10 years of annual entries, your cumulative chance is approximately 5-10%.
Yes! Both husband and wife should enter separately. This doubles your household's chances. If either spouse is selected, the other and any children under 21 are included as derivative beneficiaries. Each person can only submit ONE entry - multiple entries by the same person results in disqualification.
If selected, you'll pay: DS-260 processing fee ($330 per person), medical examination (~NGN 200,000-300,000), and the USCIS immigrant fee ($220 per person) after approval. Total for one person: approximately $550 + medical costs. You'll also need to show proof of financial support (Affidavit of Support) and funds for initial settlement in the US.
Official Site ONLY
dvprogram.state.gov is the ONLY legitimate website. Entry is FREE. Never pay for DV Lottery entry. Report scams to the US Embassy.