Which countries are not eligible for DV Lottery 2025?
Countries in these regions whose natives are not eligible for this year’s (DV-2025) DV program are listed below. The list shows the countries and areas whose natives are not eligible for DV-2025, grouped by geographic region.
Africa
In Africa, natives of Nigeria are not eligible for this year’s (2025) Diversity Visa program.
Asia
Natives of the following Asia Region countries are not eligible for this year’s Diversity Visa program:
Bangladesh, China (including Hong Kong), India, Pakistan, South Korea, Philippines, and Vietnam.
NORTH AMERICA
In North America, natives of Canada and Mexico are not eligible for this year’s DV program.
SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN
Countries in this region whose natives are not eligible for this year’s DV program:
Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, and Venezuela.
LIST OF COUNTRIES/AREAS BY REGION WHOSE NATIVES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DV-2025
SEE DV LOTTERY 2025 ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES LIST>>>
When can I apply for DV Lottery 2025?
The U.S Department of State Web site for the 2025 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2025) is open for interested individuals who are eligible are encouraged to apply, including selectees who were unable to obtain a visa during a prior program year. The choice of winners of the U.S diversity visa lottery is completely random. The entry form will only be available for submission during this period and this period only.
Some frequently asked questions about Diversity Visa Lottery Eligibility
Question 1: Can I still apply if I was not born in a qualifying country?
Answer: There are two circumstances in which you still might be eligible to apply. First, if your derivative spouse was born in an eligible country, you may claim chargeability to that country.
As your eligibility is based on your spouse, you will only be issued an immigrant visa if your spouse is also eligible for and issued an immigrant visa. Both of you must enter the United States together, using your DVs.
Similarly, your minor dependent child can be “charged” to a parent’s country of birth.
Second, you can be “charged” to the country of birth of either of your parents as long as neither of your parents was born in or a resident of your country of birth at the time of your birth. People are not generally considered residents of a country in which they were not born or legally naturalized.
For example, persons simply visiting, studying, or temporarily working in a country are not generally considered residents.
If you claim alternate chargeability through either of the above, you must provide an explanation on the E-DV Entry Form, in question #6.
Listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability (i.e., one to which you cannot establish a valid claim) will make you ineligible for a DV.
Question 2: Why do natives of certain countries not qualify for the DV program?
Answer: DVs are intended to provide an immigration opportunity for persons who are not from “high admission” countries. U.S. law defines “high admission countries” as those from which a total of 50,000 persons in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based visa categories immigrated to the United States during the previous five years.
Each year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) counts the family and employment immigrant admission and adjustment of status numbers for the previous five years to identify the countries that are considered “high admission” and whose natives will therefore be ineligible for the annual Diversity Visa program.
Since DHS makes this calculation annually, the list of countries whose natives are eligible or not eligible may change from one year to the next.
Question 3: If I apply for a DV, but don’t qualify to receive one, can I get a refund of the visa fees I paid?
Answer: No. Visa application fees cannot be refunded. You must meet all qualifications for the visa as detailed in these instructions. If a consular officer determines you do not meet requirements for the visa, or you are otherwise ineligible for the DV under U.S. law, the officer cannot issue a visa and you will forfeit all fees paid.
DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.