State Department Lists 19 Countries Ineligible for DV-2026
The U.S. State Department has published a list of 19 countries excluded from the DV-2026 Diversity Visa Program as visa issuance resumes.
The U.S. Department of State has released a list of 19 countries whose nationals are ineligible to apply for the DV-2026 Diversity Visa Program. Visa issuance for eligible lottery selectees has now resumed following a federal court order.
A total of 129,516 selectees were registered for the program across six global regions. However, the total number of visas available for the entire DV-2026 cycle is capped at just 52,101. This reduction results from adjustments made under the NACARA and NDAA laws.
The 19 countries on the ineligibility list are Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Nationals from these countries are excluded from the current program cycle. Nigeria is also absent from the published selectee figures due to its ineligibility.
A federal court order on August 28, 2026, ended a pause on Diversity Visa issuance that had been in place since December 2025. The September 2026 Visa Bulletin has now made visa numbers available again to qualified applicants, though they remain subject to regional and per-country limits.
Regional Cutoffs Dictate Processing
The September Visa Bulletin establishes the highest case numbers that can proceed with visa processing in each region. These figures will apply through the end of the program's lifecycle on September 30, 2026. Certain countries, including Algeria, Egypt, and Nepal, have their own separate numerical limits.
African Selectee Figures Highlight Demand
State Department data reveals significant demand from African nations. The published figures show the number of prospective applicants, not guaranteed visa issuances, across 49 African countries and territories.
| Country | Prospective Applicants |
|---|---|
| Egypt | 5,527 |
| Algeria | 5,457 |
| Sudan | 5,226 |
Other country totals range down to as few as two prospective applicants. These numbers determine the pool of candidates who may move forward, contingent on the overall visa cap and country-specific limits.
Final Deadline Applies to All Family Members
The absolute deadline for the entire DV-2026 process is September 30, 2026. This date applies to principal applicants as well as their derivative spouses and children. The State Department cannot issue any DV-2026 visas after that date. The Visa Bulletin will keep numbers available for qualified applicants until the cycle expires, but all processing must be completed within the published regional and country cutoffs.
