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Beginning in mid-October 2025, the U.S. Department of State will introduce a $1 registration fee for entering the Green Card Lottery, according to timelottery.ru.
Until now, submitting an entry was free of charge. The newly implemented fee is intended to cover administrative expenses such as upgrading computer systems, storing applicant data, and enhancing security checks.
U.S. authorities estimate that the new fee will generate approximately $25 million per year for the federal budget. The fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether an applicant is selected.
Previously, applicants only paid a fee of $330 after winning the lottery. Now, everyone who submits an application must pay $1 upfront.
The immigration platform Boundless has noted that this change may pose difficulties for individuals who lack access to digital payment methods.
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The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan has officially approved the work and rest schedule for 2026. In Turkmenistan, there will be a total of 12 official public holidays across all regions.
Workweek formats are as follows:
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Five-day workweek — 40 hours
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Six-day workweek (7 hours/day) — 40 hours
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Six-day workweek (6 hours/day) — 36 hours
The public holidays in Turkmenistan in 2026 are:
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January 1 — New Year
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March 8 — International Women’s Day
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March 20 — Oraza Bayram
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March 21–22 — National Spring Holiday
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May 18 — Constitution and State Flag Day of Turkmenistan
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May 27–29 — Gurban Bayram
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September 27 — Independence Day
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October 6 — Day of Remembrance
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December 12 — International Neutrality Day
On the workday preceding a public holiday, working hours are reduced by one hour. The same applies to night shifts, and in continuous production, the schedule is equivalent to a normal day. The average monthly working time is 166.9 hours for a 40-hour workweek and 150.5 hours for a 36-hour workweek. This ensures a balanced labor schedule throughout Turkmenistan in 2026.
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