By Rebecca Albert The Diversity Visa Lottery, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, offers a unique opportunity for individuals from various countries to gain permanent residency in the United States. However, not everyone is eligible to participate. The U.S. Department of State maintains a list of countries that are not eligible for the current lottery, which can be crucial for prospective applicants. Below, we’ll explore the countries that are ineligible and provide a comprehensive list of eligible nations.
Countries Not Eligible for the Green Card Lottery
If you are a native of any of the countries listed below, you cannot apply for the Green Card Lottery using that citizenship. However, there may be other avenues available for obtaining a visa, so it’s essential to explore your options.
| Ineligible Countries | Eligible Countries (DV-2024) | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Afghanistan | Natives of Macau, SAR, and Taiwan can participate. |
| Brazil | Bahrain | |
| Canada | Bhutan | |
| China (including Hong Kong SAR) | Brunei | |
| Colombia | Cambodia | |
| Cuba | Indonesia | |
| Dominican Republic | Iran | |
| El Salvador | Iraq | |
| Haiti | Israel | |
| Honduras | Japan | |
| India | Jordan | |
| Jamaica | Kuwait | |
| Mexico | Laos | |
| Nigeria | Lebanon | |
| Pakistan | Macao SAR | |
| Philippines | Malaysia | |
| South Korea | Maldives | |
| United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) | Mongolia | |
| Venezuela | Myanmar (Burma) | |
| Vietnam | Nepal | |
| North Korea | ||
| Oman | ||
| Qatar | ||
| Saudi Arabia | ||
| Singapore | ||
| Sri Lanka | ||
| Syria | ||
| Taiwan | ||
| Thailand | ||
| Timor-Leste | ||
| The United Arab Emirates | ||
| Yemen |
Complete List of Eligible Countries for the DV Lottery 2024
The following countries are eligible to participate in the DV-2024 lottery:
Asia
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Macao SAR
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nepal
- North Korea
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- The United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
Europe & Central Asia
- Albania
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- The Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Malta
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Northern Ireland
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tajikistan
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Vatican City
North America
- The Bahamas
Oceania
- Australia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- The Marshall Islands
- Micronesia
- The Federated States of Nauru
- New Zealand
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
South America, Central America, and the Caribbean
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- Ecuador
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
- Venezuela