Green Card lottery participation fee unveiled, prized award to follow
The U.S. Department of State has announced a new regulation that will require a $1 electronic entry fee for the Green Card Lottery. This fee, if implemented, will not affect the $330 fee that selected applicants are required to pay.
The Green Card Lottery, which has been in operation since 1990, randomly allocates 50,000 U.S. residency permits to foreigners each year, with an additional 5,000 reserved for Central American countries. Over 22 million people participated in the Green Card Lottery in 2023 alone, offering a chance to obtain U.S. residency.
Officials believe that this registration fee will fairly distribute the registration burden among all participants, not just the winners. In previous years, registration for the Green Card Lottery was free. The proposed amendments will be added to the consular fees schedule of the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the Department of State.
The implementation of this fee will take effect at the start of the new program season in early October, although the exact dates have not been announced yet. It is important to note that the $330 fee for selected Green Card Lottery applicants remains unchanged.
This registration fee is intended to help fairly distribute the costs associated with the lottery. Unlike the Green Card Lottery, which does not currently charge a registration fee for initial applicants, the proposed fee will be paid by all participants in the Green Card lottery.
In recent years, there have been changes in U.S. visa rules for various countries, including reports about changes for Belarusians. However, this new registration fee is specific to the Green Card Lottery.
The U.S. Department of State (U.S. Foreign Ministry) issued this new regulation effective October 16, 2025. The Green Card lottery registration fee will be added to the consular fees schedule.
This news may impact the number of participants in the Green Card Lottery, as some may choose to reconsider their application due to the addition of the registration fee. However, for those who are still interested in applying, the Green Card Lottery remains a valuable opportunity to secure U.S. residency.
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