Chances to Win the Green Card in the DV Lottery for South Africans

The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery provides a pathway to permanent residency in the United States each year, but the odds of winning can differ depending on your country of origin.

This article looks at the chances of winning the Green Card Lottery for South Africans, and provides tips on submitting a strong application with the correct photo.

Table of contents

• How the DV Program works
• Are South African citizens eligible for the DV Lottery?
• Chances of winning the DV Lottery for South Africans
• What increases your chances of success
• Factors that do not affect your chances
• DV Lottery photo specifications
• Online Green Card Lottery Photo Editor
• DV Lottery Photo App
• Steps to take part in the DV Program

How the DV Program works

The Diversity Visa (DV) Program is essentially a lottery that annually grants up to 55,000 immigrant visas to individuals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S.

These diversity visas are divided across six global regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America (including Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean), North America (limited to Canada and the Bahamas), and Oceania. The U.S. Department of State allocates the visas such that no single country receives more than 7% (approximately 3,850 visas) of the total available visas each year. Generally, the number of applications submitted is much higher, ranging from 10 to 15 million, which translates to an approximate winning chance of 1-2% per entry.

The application process is conducted online and free of charge during a set registration window, typically from early October to early November. Applicants need to submit exact personal information and passport-style photos for themselves, their spouse, and any children. The winners are selected at random by a computer from all eligible entries, with selection results usually announced in May the following year.

Note: Being selected allows you to apply for an immigrant visa, but it does not assure that you will receive one.

Are South African citizens eligible for the DV Lottery?

Yes, South African citizens can participate in the US Visa Lottery, as South Africa is part of the list of countries with historically low U.S. immigration rates. This eligibility list is revised annually, so it's crucial to verify your eligibility before every entry period opens.

To be eligible for the DV Lottery, applicants must satisfy one of the following conditions:

• Educational requirement: have completed a high school education or its equivalent, which means finishing a 12-year course of primary and secondary schooling.
• Work experience: alternatively, have two years of work experience in the past five years in a job that necessitates at least two years of training or experience.

Chances of winning the DV Lottery for South Africans

For South Africans, the odds of winning the DV Lottery generally range from 0.6% to 1.4% per entry, aligning with the global average for the Africa region. These odds can fluctuate each year depending on the number of South African entrants and the visa distribution for Africa.

How many South Africans win the DV Lottery? The South Africa Green Card winners list shows that, for example, in 2021, there were 37,319 participants from South Africa, out of which 510 emerged as winners, yielding a success rate of about 1.37%. For the DV-2025 edition, 163 South Africans were selected, while DV-2023 saw 222 South African winners.

To view a breakdown of Diversity Visa Lottery statistics by country and calculate your own chances of success, visit the DVLottery.me website.

What increases your chances of success

Here are some key strategies to consider boosting your odds in the DV Lottery:

• Apply consistently
  You can apply once every year, which increases your overall opportunities to be selected over time.

• Married couples
  If you're married, both you and your spouse can apply separately as primary applicants, listing each other as a derivative. This effectively doubles your family's chances of success.

• Accurate submission
  Ensure you submit a recent photo (taken within the last six months), list all your children and spouses (even if they aren't immigrating), and strictly adhere to application guidelines to avoid disqualification.

• Use the official portal
  Apply through dvprogram.state.gov to guarantee your entry is valid and to protect against scams or problems with duplicate entries.

• Single entry rule
  Only one primary entry is allowed per person per lottery year. Submitting more than one will lead to disqualification.

Factors that do not affect your chances

Several factors have no effect on your likelihood of winning the DV Lottery:

• Current country of residence. Your chance is tied to your birth country, regardless of where you currently live.
• Nationality or citizenship. The country of birth is the sole factor for eligibility and selection, not the passport you possess or your citizenship status.
• Educational or work experience beyond requirements. As long as you meet the baseline criteria of a high school education or two years of qualifying work experience, having more education or experience doesn't enhance your chances.
• Personal wealth or connections. The DV Lottery selection is random and computerized, independent of economic status or personal networks.
• Multiple entries by the same individual. Entering more than once per lottery year is cause for disqualification, so it does not boost your chances, but rather eliminates you from the pool.

DV Lottery photo specifications

Submitting a detailed and precise application, including a proper photo, is just as crucial as understanding the odds of winning. Applications are examined using special software to analyze photos, rather than by people. If your photo doesn't meet all the specific guidelines, it might lead to disqualification because the system won't be able to adequately identify your facial features.

When participating in the Green Card lottery, your photo needs to adhere to the same rules as those for U.S. passport photos.

Main photo requirements for the DV Lottery:

• Your digital image should be:
  • in JPEG (.jpg) format;
  • no larger than 240 KB;
  • a perfect square, with equal height and width;
  • exactly 600×600 pixels;
  • in the sRGB color space.
• If using a scanned photo:
  • it should measure 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm);
  • scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per mm).
• The background should be plain white or a light color, devoid of patterns or objects.
• The photograph must reflect your current appearance, taken within the past six months.
• Your head, from the top to the chin, should cover between 50% and 69% of the photo's height.
• Your eyes should be positioned between 56% and 69% of the way from the bottom of the image.
• Maintain a neutral expression — avoid smiles or frowns — and ensure your eyes are both open and visible.
• Head coverings for religious or medical reasons are acceptable, provided they do not obscure your face.
• Glasses should be worn only if medically necessary, with a doctor’s note to support this.
• Opt for everyday attire. Uniforms are not recommended unless they are part of everyday religious wear.
• For photos of children or infants, ensure no toys, pacifiers, or other people’s hands are visible. The child’s face must be completely clear, with their eyes open.
• Lastly, the photo must be in full color.

Here's a sample photo:

Online Green Card Lottery Photo Editor

To boost your chances of winning the Green Card Lottery, it's crucial to ensure every part of your application is perfect, especially the photos you submit. Using tools like Visafoto can be incredibly helpful. Since 2013, Visafoto has been helping people worldwide create passport, visa, and ID photos that meet various official requirements.

Here’s how to use Visafoto: simply take a picture against a plain white background using your phone or camera, then upload it to Visafoto.com. The tool will automatically adjust the background, tweak the resolution, correct colors, and crop the photo to fit the necessary dimensions.

Example of a photo you can upload:

You'll receive a digital copy ready for online submission, plus a version suitable for printing. If you're unsatisfied with the result, you can request a free replacement. In the event that the photo is rejected by the authorities, a full refund will be provided.

DV Lottery Photo App

Creating the ideal photo for the Green Card Lottery is now easier with the 7ID DV Lottery Photo App, available for both iPhone and Android devices. Powered by Visafoto.com, this app ensures your photo meets the DV program's strict standards.

Simply upload your image and select the country and document type — US Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery in this case. The 7ID DV Lottery Photo App takes care of the rest. Here’s what it offers:

• Automatic resizing: the app crops your photo to meet DV Lottery size requirements, ensuring your head and eyes are perfectly positioned while maintaining the correct file size.
• Background adjustments: it efficiently changes any complex background to a plain white one.
• 24/7 support: if you're not happy with how your photo turns out, you can contact our customer support directly through the app for a free replacement.

Moreover, the app provides a free photo check to make sure your pictures comply with DV Lottery rules.

The 7ID app also features a new option to secure your DV Program confirmation code. By tapping the “DV Program Sidekick” feature, you can enter your verification number and click “Save”. This makes it easy to track your DV Lottery status and keeps all necessary information within one convenient application.

Steps to take part in the DV Program

To apply for the Diversity Visa as a South Africa citizen, follow these steps:

1. Register online within the specified period. The DV Lottery registration is exclusively online via the official Electronic Diversity Visa website. For instance, the registration period for DV-2025 was between October 4 and November 7, 2023, and similar timelines are expected for future lotteries. Remember, each person is allowed only one entry. Submitting multiple entries will result in disqualification. Paper entries or submissions made after the deadline are not accepted.
2. Complete the entry form. You will have to fill in personal details such as your full name, birthdate, country of birth, and current country of eligibility, as well as your mailing address. If you have a spouse and children, their details need to be included too. A recent photo that meets the specific criteria must also be uploaded.
3. Secure your confirmation number. After submitting your application, you will receive a unique confirmation number. Keep this number safe, as it is essential for checking your selection status and for future application procedures.
4. Check if you've been selected. Around six months after the registration closes, you can check your selection status using your confirmation number on the DV website.
5. If selected, fill out the DS-260 Form. Those who are selected will need to complete the DS-260 immigrant visa application form online and prepare essential documents like birth certificates, police records, and passports.
6. Attend an interview. You will be required to attend a visa interview at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy. Be sure to bring all necessary documents to the interview, where a consular officer will evaluate your eligibility for the visa.
7. Visa approval or denial. If your visa application is approved, instructions on how to collect your visa and passport will be provided. If denied, you will be informed of the reasons for the denial.
8. Travel and obtain your Green Card. Upon entering the U.S. with the visa, you will become a lawful permanent resident and receive your Green Card.

Note: US Diversity Visa results for South Africa and other countries are only available online through the official U.S. Department of State website, where applicants can check their individual status using their unique confirmation number. There are no email or mailed notifications from the government.

Best of luck with the Lottery!