The Green Card Lottery provides a unique opportunity for Ukrainians to obtain the right to live and work in the United States. Find out how to apply and what the eligibility requirements are

Legal counselling on migration issues for Ukrainians

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The annual Green Card lottery, also known as the Diversity Visa (DV) Programme, offers Ukrainian citizens a chance to become permanent residents of the United States. The 2026 Green Card Lottery has already started, and here's what you need to know to apply.

What is the Green Card lottery?

The Green Card lottery is conducted by the US Department of State and is aimed at diversifying the flow of immigrants. Every year, 55,000 people from countries with low immigration rates to the US, including Ukraine, are selected. The winners are given the opportunity to move to the US and become permanent residents (Green Card holders).

Who can participate?

There are several basic requirements to participate in the lottery:

Citizenship: You must be a native of a country admitted to the programme. Ukraine is included in the list of participating countries.

Education or professional experience: You must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. An alternative is to have two years of work experience within the last five years in a profession requiring qualifications.

Foreign passport: You will need a valid passport to apply.

How to apply for a Green Card?

The application for the Green Card lottery is conducted exclusively through the official website of the US Department of State programme. Applications for 2026 can be submitted from October to 5 November 2024. Participation in the programme is free of charge, and be careful of scammers who offer ‘paid assistance’ in applying.

1. Go to dvprogram.state.gov and follow the instructions to fill out the form. You will be asked to provide personal information such as name, date of birth, country of birth, marital status, passport information, and upload a photo that meets the requirements.

2. The photo must be taken within the last six months, with a clear image of the face against a neutral background. It is important that the photo meets all technical parameters, otherwise your application may be rejected.

3. After submitting your application, you will receive a unique confirmation number. You will need it to check the status of your application next year. 

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When and how to check the results?

The results of the Green Card 2026 lottery will be available in May 2025. To find out if you have won, you need to go to the official website and enter your confirmation number.

What should I do if I win?

If you win, you will have to go through an interview at the US consulate. You will have to provide documents confirming your education or qualifications, the results of a medical examination, and pay a visa fee.

It is important to remember that the Green Card is issued only for a limited period of time, and if you do not complete all the necessary steps within the set time, your victory may be cancelled.

Tips for successful participation

❗️Participation in the Green Card lottery is free. The U.S. Department of State never sends email notifications about winning and does not require a fee to participate.

❗️Prepare your documents in advance. Make sure that you have a valid passport and that you meet the requirements for education or work experience.

❗️Do not postpone your application until the last days to avoid technical problems due to high traffic on the website.

If you win and have a successful interview, do not forget that moving to another country is a process that requires careful preparation. To ensure a successful move, we advise you to collect documents and take out health insurance to help you access medical services if necessary. You can take out an insurance policy on the Visit Ukraine portal in a cost-effective and fast way.

We remind you! The United States continues to accept Ukrainians and provide them with protection under the Uniting for Ukraine programme. However, there are other opportunities to enter and stay in the United States. Read all about the current rules for entering the United States in 2024 and how to stay in the United States for a long time here.