NAIROBI, Kenya — The United States Department of State has yet to announce the registration dates for the Diversity Visa 2027 programme, advising prospective applicants, including Kenyans, to wait for official confirmation before attempting to enter the annual immigration lottery.
The department says the dates for the DV-2027 registration period will be widely publicised in the coming months and has directed prospective applicants to monitor its official Diversity Visa webpage for further announcements.
“Dates for the DV-2027 program registration period will be widely publicised in the coming months,” the department said, adding that those interested should check its Diversity Visa webpage for updates.
The notice means there is currently no official DV-2027 registration opening date announced by the State Department.
Prospective applicants are therefore being advised to rely on official U.S. government information rather than registration dates circulated by unofficial websites, social media accounts or agents.
DV-2027 registration dates remain unannounced
The State Department announced in November 2025 that it was making changes to the DV entry process and would announce the opening date for DV-2027 registration “as soon as practicable.”
It also said the changes would not affect the visa application period for people selected for DV-2027, which is scheduled to run from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
The department has not subsequently published a registration opening date.
The Diversity Visa entry process is conducted electronically during a specific registration period. The State Department does not accept late or paper entries, and applicants are permitted only one entry per registration period.
Registration itself is free.
The department strongly encourages applicants to complete the entry form themselves and warns against relying unnecessarily on visa consultants, agents or other intermediaries. Applicants who receive assistance are advised to remain present when their entry is prepared and to retain their confirmation number.
What is the US Green Card Lottery?
The Diversity Immigrant Visa programme, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, is an annual U.S. immigration programme for people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.
The programme allows up to 55,000 Diversity Visas to be made available each year, although the effective number can be lower because of statutory adjustments.
The programme is administered by the U.S. Department of State, which selects prospective applicants through a computerised random drawing.
For the principal applicant, eligibility generally requires either a high school education or its equivalent, or qualifying work experience meeting the requirements set by U.S. immigration law.
Being selected, however, does not automatically guarantee a visa. Selected applicants must still meet the programme’s eligibility and admissibility requirements and complete the required immigration process.
What Kenyans should know about DV-2027
Kenyans interested in DV-2027 should wait for the State Department to announce the official registration period before submitting an entry.
There is no legitimate need to pay an agent simply to register for the lottery. The State Department says registration is free and advises applicants to complete the process themselves where possible.
Also Read: US court ruling gives Kenyan Green Card Lottery applicants temporary relief
Applicants should also retain their confirmation information after submitting an entry because it is needed to check the status of the application and, if selected, obtain further instructions.
Trump administration puts programme under scrutiny
The Diversity Visa programme has faced increased scrutiny under President Donald Trump.
The administration has cited national security and public safety concerns in taking action affecting the programme.
Most recently, the State Department said on August 31, 2026, that it had paused all Diversity Visa issuances while it reviews screening and vetting procedures. The department said applicants may continue to submit visa applications and attend interviews, but no Diversity Visas will be issued during the pause.
The issuance pause is separate from the question of when the DV-2027 entry period will open.
For now, prospective applicants in Kenya and elsewhere should treat any website or social-media post claiming to have the official DV-2027 opening date with caution unless the information has been published by the U.S. Department of State.
The official registration dates will be announced by the department when they are ready.
