Changes to the Registration Fee for the U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Program

On September 16, 2025, the U.S. Department of State published a final rule modifying the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, introducing an important change to the Diversity Visa (DV) program.

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What does the new rule establish?

• A registration fee of one dollar (US$1) is created to participate in the DV lottery, which is paid at the time of enrollment.
• The application fee of US$330 for those selected in the lottery does not change.
• The new fee goes into effect on September 16, 2025.

Why did they do it?

The Department of State explained that the measure seeks to: more fairly distribute the costs of administering the lottery, reduce fraudulent or speculative entries, and comply with the legal authority that allows fees to be set to recover consular costs.

Implications

• Participants must pay $1 at registration.
• The $330 fee remains, but now the lottery costs are clearly separated.
• The number of entries without real intent could be reduced.
• Greater transparency in the allocation of costs is achieved.

Criticism or challenges

Although $1 is low, it can be seen as a symbolic barrier, and it could also cause confusion if applicants are unaware of the new rule. This may also imply technical failures in the payment platform since registration could become more complicated.

Finally, although the economic impact seems minimal, the change has strong symbolic value: now all participants share the costs of the process from the beginning. It is essential that those planning to register for the DV lottery be informed of this new fee and prepare in advance.

From: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/16/2025-17851/schedule-of-fees-for-consular-services-department-of-state-and-overseas-embassies-and

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