DV Lottery 2027 Nepal: Latest Updates, Opening Date and Requirements

DV Lottery 2027 registration is not open yet. Although a US federal court initially ordered the State Department to open DV-2027 registration by 1 November 2026, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals paused that order on 29 October 2026 while the government’s appeal continues.

As of 30 October 2026, the official Electronic Diversity Visa website, dvprogram.state.gov, states that entries are not being accepted. Nepali applicants should not pay anyone who claims the EDV form is open or promises guaranteed selection.

Quick update for Nepali applicants

Question	Latest status
Is DV-2027 registration open?	No. Entries are not being accepted.
Has an opening date been announced?	No official date has been announced.
What happened on 1 November 2026?	The court-ordered opening was paused by the Ninth Circuit’s stay.
How much is the entry fee?	US$1, payable during official registration.
Is a passport required?	Yes, for most entrants, including a scan of the biographic and signature page.
Where should Nepalis apply?	Only on `dvprogram.state.gov`.
Can anyone guarantee selection?	No. The Diversity Visa lottery is random.

What is DV Lottery 2027?

DV Lottery 2027, also called EDV 2027 in Nepal, is the US Diversity Visa Programme for fiscal year 2027. It offers up to 55,000 immigrant visas each year to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.

Nepal is eligible for the Diversity Visa Programme. Each year, thousands of Nepali applicants enter the lottery, but selection is random and entry does not guarantee a visa.

Latest court update

The DV-2027 process was delayed after the US State Department said in November 2025 that it was revising the entry process and would announce registration dates later.

A US immigration law firm, Red Eagle Law, filed a case against the State Department to force the delayed lottery to proceed. On 14 October 2026, a federal court in San Diego ordered the State Department to announce a registration period by 29 October, open registration by 1 November, and notify selected entrants by 3 December 2026.

However, on 29 October 2026, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the government’s emergency request to stay—that is, pause—the lower court’s order while the appeal continues. This means the State Department is not currently required to open DV-2027 registration on 1 November.

What this means

DV-2027 has not been cancelled.
DV-2027 registration is not open.
No official opening date has been announced.
The 1 November date is on hold while the appeal continues.
Applicants should wait for an official announcement on dvprogram.state.gov.

When will EDV 2027 open in Nepal?

No official DV-2027 opening date has been announced. The appeals court’s stay does not set a new registration date.

In a normal year, the DV lottery entry period opens in early October and closes in early November. For example, the DV-2026 entry period ran from 2 October to 7 November 2024. However, DV-2027 is following a different timeline because of the delay and court case.

Nepali applicants should monitor:

The official DV instructions page
The official entry site: dvprogram.state.gov
The US Embassy in Nepal’s official announcements

Avoid relying on Facebook posts, YouTube videos, Telegram groups, or agents claiming that the form has opened. If the official site does not accept entries, the form is not open.

New DV-2027 requirements

Two major changes apply to DV-2027 when registration eventually opens.

1. US$1 entry fee

A US$1 registration fee applies to DV-2027 entries. It is paid online at the time of registration under a Federal Register rule in force since 16 September 2025.

This is different from the visa application fee. People who are later selected and proceed to a visa interview pay a separate US$330 immigrant visa application fee.

2. Valid passport requirement

For DV-2027, the main applicant must provide details from a valid, unexpired passport and upload a scan of the passport’s biographic and signature page. This rule has been in force since 10 April 2026.

Limited exemptions may apply, including for stateless people, nationals of certain countries unable to obtain a passport, and people granted an individual waiver. Most Nepali applicants will need a valid passport.

If your passport has expired or is close to expiry, renew it before the EDV form opens.

EDV 2027 eligibility for Nepal

To enter the Diversity Visa lottery, an applicant must generally meet two requirements:

Be born in an eligible country, such as Nepal.
Have at least a high school education or two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years.

For Nepali applicants, high school education generally means successful completion of Class 12 or an equivalent qualification. Applicants do not upload education documents during entry, but selected applicants must provide proof at the visa interview stage.

Family members

When filling the EDV form, applicants must include:

Legal spouse, if married
All unmarried children under 21

This applies even if the spouse or children will not travel to the United States. Failing to include an eligible family member can create serious problems later in the visa process.

Documents to prepare now

Even though registration is not open, Nepali applicants can prepare the following:

A valid passport for the main applicant
A clear colour scan of the passport’s biographic and signature page
Recent digital photos of the applicant, spouse, and each unmarried child under 21
Education certificates or work-experience evidence for later use
Family details, including exact names, dates of birth, and places of birth
An international payment method capable of paying the US$1 fee online
A safe email address that the applicant can access long term

Preparing these documents early is important because the entry period may be short once it opens.

EDV photo requirements

Each family member included in the entry needs a separate digital photo.

The photo must meet US visa photo standards:

Recent colour photograph
Plain white or light-coloured background
Neutral facial expression
Full face visible
No glasses
No head covering, unless worn for religious reasons
No shadows on the face or background
JPEG format
Square image
At least 600×600 pixels
Maximum file size of 240 KB

Photo mistakes are one of the most common reasons DV entries are rejected, so use a photo studio familiar with US visa photo requirements.

How to avoid EDV scams in Nepal

The DV-2027 delay has created opportunities for fake agents and fraudulent websites. Be careful if anyone says the form is open before the official announcement.

Avoid anyone who:

Claims DV-2027 is already open
Promises guaranteed selection
Asks for money before the official form opens
Keeps your confirmation page or confirmation number
Says they can increase your chances for a fee
Contacts you by phone or email to say you have won
Asks you to apply through a non-official website

The US State Department does not email or call winners. Results are available only through the official Entrant Status Check using your confirmation number.

The official entry website is:

https://dvprogram.state.gov/

What to do if you were selected in DV-2026

The current court case concerns DV-2027 registration only. It does not directly change DV-2026 visa processing, interview scheduling, or document submission requirements.

If you were selected in DV-2026, continue to follow the instructions in your official selection notice and monitor updates from the US Embassy or consulate handling your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is EDV 2027 open in Nepal?

No. As of 30 October 2026, DV-2027 registration is not open. The official E-DV website says entries are not being accepted.

When will DV Lottery 2027 open?

No official date has been announced. A lower court initially ordered registration to open by 1 November 2026, but the Ninth Circuit paused that order on 29 October 2026.

Has DV Lottery 2027 been cancelled?

No. The appeals court’s stay pauses the lower court’s order while the appeal continues. It does not cancel the Diversity Visa Programme.

How much does EDV 2027 cost?

The official entry fee is US$1, paid online during registration. Selected applicants who proceed to the visa stage pay a separate US$330 visa application fee.

Do I need a passport for EDV 2027?

Yes. Most applicants must provide details from a valid, unexpired passport and upload a scan of the biographic and signature page.

When will EDV 2027 results be published?

No official result date has been announced because registration has not opened. The earlier court order had required selected entrants to be notified by 3 December 2026, but that timeline is now on hold.

Can an agent guarantee EDV selection?

No. The Diversity Visa lottery is random. No agent, consultancy, or website can guarantee selection.

Where can Nepali applicants apply for EDV 2027?

Only through the official US Department of State website: dvprogram.state.gov.

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DV Lottery 2027 Nepal: Latest Updates, Opening Date and Requirements