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The U.S. Department of State introduced a significant change to the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery registration process. Starting September 16, 2025, applicants will be required to pay a $1 fee to register for the DV lottery. This new fee aims to shift the cost burden from successful applicants to all registrants.

What Does the Fee Cover?

The Department of State will use this fee to cover the operational costs of running the annual DV lottery, including:

• System Maintenance: Reviewing and updating systems for lottery form submissions
• Data Storage: Storing data for all registrants
• Security Reviews: Conducting security reviews to ensure the integrity of the lottery process
• Randomized Selection: Automating the random selection of lottery winners

Key Points to Consider

• The $1 fee is in addition to the existing $330 Diversity Visa application fee, which will still be required for successful applicants.
• The Department of State anticipates that demand for the DV lottery may decrease due to the new fee.
• The fee is expected to generate $25 million annually, based on 25 million registrations.

Rationale Behind the Fee

The Department of State believes that this fee will more fairly distribute the cost burden of the lottery registration process. By charging all registrants a small fee, the Department aims to reduce the financial burden on successful applicants who currently bear the cost of the lottery through the $330 application fee.

What This Means for Applicants

If you’re planning to apply for the DV lottery, make sure to factor in the additional $1 fee. While it’s a small amount, it’s essential to be aware of the change to avoid any unexpected costs.

Stay informed, and good luck with your application!

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Apply for DV lottery using this link