The United States is introducing a new $1 fee for all participants in the Diversity Visa lottery starting October 16, 2025. Learn why it was introduced, how it will affect applicants, and what to consider before participating in DV-2027

The US Department of State recently announced that it will change the rules for participating in the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV) starting October 16, 2025. For the first time in the history of the program, a mandatory electronic registration fee of $1 has been introduced, which all participants must pay when submitting an application.

This decision is intended to make the financing of the program more equitable, because before that, all costs were actually covered only by lottery winners.

Read about the changes for participants in the Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery in this article.

Read about why applications for immigrant visas are being massively rejected in the USA starting August 21, 2025 at the link.

Why did the USA introduce a registration fee for participants in the Diversity Visa Lottery?

The green card lottery attracts a huge number of applicants every year - on average, more than 25 million applications. At the same time, the number of visas is limited - a maximum of 55,000 per year.

Processing such a large number of applications requires significant financial and technical resources. Previously, administrative costs were covered mainly by a $330 fee, which was paid only by those selected for further visa procedures.

Now these costs will be shared among all participants. According to the US government, the new fee will annually bring in about $25 million in additional revenue, which will go to:

- modernization of electronic registration systems;

- improvement of security checks;

- collection and storage of data;

- combating fraud and duplication of applications.

The new rules for interviews for non-immigrant visas to the US in 2025 were written in this material.

What exactly is changing for participants in the Green Card lottery in the US?

Starting October 16, 2025, Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery applications must:

- Pay a new fee of $1

All applicants must pay $1 online during registration. Payment is made exclusively through the official US government portal.

- In case of winning, the old fee of $330 remains

For those who have won the lottery and are moving on to the visa application stage, the fee of $330 remains unchanged.

Important! The fee is non-refundable - if you do not win or decide not to continue participating, the money will not be refunded. Also, the fee cannot be used for future lotteries.

Read about the new rules for obtaining US citizenship in 2025 here.

Where do you need to pay the new fee for participants in the US Green Card Lottery?

The US government warns of the risk of fraud. Due to the new payment requirement, third-party sites offering “assistance services” may become more active. Therefore, you need to register only through the State Department website.

We will tell you about the new expedited Green Card system in this article.

What impact will the new fee have on Diversity Visa (DV) lottery participants?

- A symbolic barrier for most

One dollar is unlikely to be an obstacle for those who are serious about participating.

- Reduction in fake applications

The Department expects that the number of participants will decrease slightly, as it will become less profitable for fraudsters to submit hundreds of fake applications. This may even increase the chances for real applicants.

- Additional burden for people from poorer countries

For some participants from low-income countries or with limited access to international payment systems, even a small amount can be a problem. Additional difficulties will be created by bank fees and currency conversion.

What should you consider before participating in DV-2027?

1. Prepare your payment instruments

Make sure your card supports international transactions. Check with your bank for possible additional fees.

2. Keep an eye on the dates

The DV-2027 registration period starts in early October 2025. The exact dates will be published in the Federal Register and on the official website of the State Department.

3. Apply only officially

Be careful: the new payment terms may be an excuse for scammers to create fake websites.

4. Prepare documents

The application requires personal data and a digital photo of the established format. It is recommended to prepare everything in advance.

5. Budget expenses

Plan for both the registration fee of $1 and the main fee of $330 in case of victory.

The introduction of a new contribution of $1 in the USA is a small but significant step. On the one hand, it makes the DV program more financially sustainable and helps fight fraud. On the other hand, it creates a new barrier for some categories of participants, for whom even symbolic costs can be significant.

For those who are serious about participating in the green card lottery, this change is unlikely to become a significant obstacle. The main thing is to remember about the official registration channels, prepare payment in a timely manner and carefully follow the updates of the US Department of State.

Need help with immigration to the USA?

Our migration lawyers will help you prepare documents correctly, avoid mistakes when filling out the application, and will accompany you through all stages of obtaining a visa or green card.

Seek advice to increase your chances of success and go through the process calmly and without risks.

Reminder! Starting in the fall of 2025, the cost of obtaining an ESTA to enter the USA will almost double. We have already told you what ESTA is, why the fee is increasing, which countries are subject to the new rules, how you can save money, and what other fees in the USA will increase in 2025.

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