U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery 2027 Delayed Amid New $1 Fee and System Updates
The U.S. State Department postpones the opening of the DV-2027 registration, introducing a new $1 online application fee to curb fraud and fund system improvements.
The opening of registration for the 2027 U.S. Diversity Visa (DV-2027)—commonly known as the Green Card Lottery—has been delayed beyond its usual start date in early October, sparking concern among millions of hopeful applicants worldwide.
While the U.S. Department of State has not provided an official reason for the delay, multiple sources suggest that the introduction of a new $1 electronic registration fee may be behind the postponement.
In previous years, the registration period typically ran from early October to early November, as seen with DV-2024, DV-2025, and DV-2026. This year, however, the department has not yet announced a start date, stating only that details will be “widely published in the coming months.”
New $1 Fee and System Update Delay U.S. Diversity Visa 2027 Registration
The new fee—officially approved on September 16, 2025—marks the first time a cost is imposed at the application stage. The goal is to cover operational expenses and reduce fraudulent entries. The department estimates the fee will generate around $25 million in revenue, but the final visa fee of $330 for selected applicants remains unchanged.
Immigration lawyers believe the delay may also be linked to the rollout of a new global electronic payment system, which could require additional time to ensure technical and legal compliance.
As for the passport requirement, the department confirmed that DV-2027 applicants will not need to submit a passport during registration. Although the Trump administration had proposed reinstating the rule in August, the short time frame before registration makes its implementation this year unlikely.
The Diversity Visa program faced a similar delay in 2017, when a technical glitch caused thousands of entries to be lost, forcing the department to reopen the application window.
With ongoing uncertainty this year, prospective applicants are advised to monitor the official State Department website for verified updates on the start date.
