The U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone has announced the launch of the 2026 Diversity Visa Lottery, offering citizens a chance to apply for a green card to live and work in the United States. The Diversity Visa (DV) program, which aims to promote immigration from countries with historically low migration rates to the U.S., is open for applications from October 3, 2024, to November 8, 2024.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the official DV program website at dvprogram.state.gov to submit their entries. Importantly, there is no cost to apply, and the Embassy has issued a strong warning about fraudulent websites or individuals seeking to charge a fee for registration. The U.S. government has emphasized that only one entry per person is allowed, and multiple submissions will result in disqualification.

To be eligible for the 2026 Diversity Visa Lottery, applicants must meet two basic criteria: they must have been born in a country that qualifies for the program and must have completed the equivalent of a U.S. high school education. Winners will be selected in a random draw and, if successful, will receive their green cards, granting them permanent residency in the U.S. by 2026.

The Diversity Visa program, which annually grants 50,000 green cards, is designed to provide opportunities for individuals from countries with lower immigration numbers. Those who have submitted their entries will receive confirmation via email and can track the progress of their application using the confirmation number provided.

For further information on the application process and to avoid scams, applicants are encouraged to visit the official State Department website at travel.state.gov/dv.