Green Card Lottery Fee Introduced
Starting October 16, 2025, Kenyans who want to register for the United States Diversity Visa, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, will need to pay a new registration fee of $1 (which is roughly Ksh129 at today’s exchange rates).
This marks a significant change, as it’s the first time in the lottery’s history that applicants will have to pay just to enter, since registration has always been free in the past.
The US Department of State (DOS) announced that this fee will be in addition to the $330 (Ksh42,619) application fee that those selected for interviews must pay.
According to the DOS, this new policy aims to distribute the administrative costs more equitably among all registrants, rather than placing the financial burden solely on those who are chosen to move forward with their visa applications.
The new fee structure means that around 25 million people who register each year will now help cover the program’s costs, instead of just the 55,000 lottery winners who actually move forward with their applications.
This change is projected to bring in about $25 million each year to support the DV lottery’s operational expenses, which include system upgrades, better data collection, and security assessments.
This new policy will affect applicants for the 2027 DV lottery, which is scheduled to open in early October, as well as future lotteries.
The Department of State has made it clear that registration fees will not be refunded, no matter the lottery outcome or whether applicants proceed with a visa application. Additionally, fees cannot be transferred from one lottery year to another.
Out of the millions who apply, only 55,000 will be granted green card opportunities through the program.
If you’re looking to apply, make sure to register online through the US State Department’s website. Generally, you’ll need a passport-sized photo, your birth certificate, or some form of ID, and you’ll submit everything electronically on the DV website. Just a heads up: if you submit multiple or incomplete entries, you could be automatically disqualified.
As for the requirements, you’ll need a valid passport, and it’s important to write your name exactly as it appears on it. Typically, you should list your name in this order: last/family name, first name, and then middle name.
Additionally, applicants should have at least two years of work experience within the last five years.
All applicants must have completed at least 12 years of primary and secondary education, which is comparable to a 12-year schooling system in the United States.
There’s no minimum age for applying, but keep in mind that the requirement for a high school education or relevant work experience will likely disqualify anyone under 18.
On another note, the State Department has mentioned that they expect a slight decline in overall demand for the DV lottery due to the new fee. However, fewer entries might actually improve the chances for applicants and help lighten the load of processing millions of registrations.
Green Card Lottery Fee Introduced
