Residency lotteries
Citizenship and immigrant-visa lotteries require certification. We get your account compliant and reduce disapproval risk.
If you help people enter residency or immigration lotteries — from the US Diversity Visa (Green Card Lottery) to the UK Youth Mobility ballot — you have likely watched your Google Ads get disapproved without a clear reason. Google treats residency lottery promotions as a restricted category, which means most advertisers cannot run these ads until they clear an approval process most businesses have never heard of.
Under Google's Government Documents and Services (GODOS) policy, only certified governments and their authorized providers may advertise the direct acquisition of restricted government services like lottery entries. Everyone else must apply for Google certification and complete Google's advertiser verification program before their campaigns can serve. On top of that, Google automatically attaches a "Not a government website" disclosure to Search ads in this category unless you are a certified government provider.
The good news: agencies, consultancies and legitimate assistance services that guide applicants through residency lotteries can become certified to advertise. Once you hold GODOS certification and complete verification, you can run compliant campaigns, reach applicants at the moment they are searching, and compete without the constant threat of disapprovals or suspension.
What’s restricted
- Citizenship lottery entry
- Immigrant visa lottery entry
Why Google restricts residency lotteries ads
Residency and immigration lotteries attract a high volume of fraud precisely because the stakes for applicants are so high. Many people mistakenly believe paying a third party improves their chances in programs like the US Diversity Visa, when official entry is typically free and outcomes are random. Bad actors have long exploited this confusion with fake "official" sites, hidden fees and phishing schemes that harvest passport and identity data.
Google restricts the category to protect users from being misled into thinking a commercial service is the government, or that a paid entry guarantees selection. The mandatory "Not a government website" disclosure and the certification requirement exist so that only vetted advertisers can promote these services, and so applicants can clearly distinguish official channels from paid assistance.
Who needs GODOS certification
- Immigration law firms and licensed consultants that assist clients with Diversity Visa or Green Card Lottery entries
- Visa and relocation agencies offering paid help completing residency lottery or ballot applications
- Youth mobility and working-holiday services that guide applicants through ballot-based schemes such as the UK Youth Mobility route
- Online platforms and form-filling services that charge for lottery entry preparation or eligibility checks
- Any business whose Google Ads reference entering, applying for, or improving access to a government residency lottery
How to get certified: step by step
- 1
Confirm your category and eligibility
Verify that your offering falls under residency lotteries — for example assisting with Diversity Visa entries or Youth Mobility ballots — and confirm you operate as a legitimate, transparent service rather than one claiming government status.
- 2
Prepare compliant landing pages and disclaimers
Ensure your website clearly states you are not affiliated with any government, that official entry may be free, and that you provide a paid assistance service. Pricing, refunds and the nature of your service must be unambiguous.
- 3
Submit the GODOS certification application
Complete Google's certification form for the Government Documents and Services category, accurately describing the residency lottery services you promote and the regions you serve.
- 4
Complete Google advertiser verification
Finish Google's advertiser identity and business verification program, providing the legal documentation Google requests about your organization and its representatives.
- 5
Align ad copy with policy requirements
Build ad creative that avoids implying government affiliation or guaranteed selection, and that works correctly with the automatic "Not a government website" disclosure applied to your Search ads.
- 6
Launch, monitor and maintain compliance
Once certified, activate campaigns and monitor them closely. Keep documentation current and address any policy notices promptly, since Google issues at least a 7-day warning before suspending non-compliant accounts.
Common mistakes that get ads disapproved
- Using official-sounding names, government seals, or domains that imply you are the issuing authority for the lottery
- Claiming or implying that paying your service increases the odds of selection in a random draw
- Failing to disclose that official entry to programs like the Diversity Visa is typically free
- Running ads before completing both GODOS certification and advertiser verification, leading to immediate disapprovals
- Vague or missing pricing, refund and service-scope information on landing pages
- Ignoring Google's warning notices instead of correcting issues within the 7-day window before suspension
How we help
We guide residency lottery advertisers through every stage of the GODOS certification and verification process. That means reviewing your website and ad copy against Google's requirements, identifying the disclosures and disclaimers your Diversity Visa or Youth Mobility ballot service needs, and helping you assemble the documentation Google's verification program expects. Because the details differ by region and business model, we tailor our guidance to the specific lotteries you promote and the markets you target.
We work with clients worldwide and focus on getting your application right the first time to reduce avoidable delays. We are an independent consultancy and are not affiliated with Google, and no one can guarantee approval — final decisions rest solely with Google. What we can do is make sure your business is presented accurately, transparently and in line with the policy, so your certified-to-advertise status stands on solid ground.
Region-specific examples
Related services
Google Ads Policy Audit
A full review of your account, ads, and landing pages against the GODOS policy, with a prioritized fix list.
Ad Copy Compliance
We rewrite ad copy and extensions to meet policy requirements without losing performance.
Landing Page Optimization
Compliant, high-converting landing pages with the correct disclaimers and disclosures.
Google & Government Verification
Guidance through Google certification and the advertiser verification program, step by step.
Frequently asked questions
Can I advertise Green Card Lottery assistance services on Google? +
Yes, but only after you obtain GODOS certification and complete Google's advertiser verification. Because Diversity Visa (Green Card Lottery) entry is restricted, uncertified advertisers will see their ads disapproved. Your ads and site must also clearly state you are not the government and that official entry is free.
Why does my ad show a "Not a government website" label? +
Google automatically adds this disclosure to Search ads in the residency lottery category unless you are a certified government provider. It is intended to prevent applicants from mistaking a commercial assistance service for an official government channel. As a private service, you should expect this label and design your campaigns around it.
Do I need certification if I only help with the UK Youth Mobility ballot? +
If your Google Ads promote entering, applying for, or assisting with the Youth Mobility ballot or any similar residency lottery, the category restriction applies. You will need GODOS certification and advertiser verification before your ads can run, regardless of which country's program you support.
Can I say my service improves the applicant's chances of winning? +
No. Residency lotteries are random draws, and claiming that a paid service increases the odds of selection is both misleading and a likely policy violation. You may advertise legitimate assistance with preparing and submitting a correct entry, but not guaranteed or improved outcomes.
What happens if I run these ads without being certified? +
Your ads will typically be disapproved, and continued violations can lead to account suspension. Google generally issues a warning at least 7 days before suspending an account, giving you a window to correct the issue — but relying on that is risky. It is far better to get certified before launching.
Can you guarantee my residency lottery ads will be approved? +
No. We are an independent consultancy and are not affiliated with Google, so we cannot guarantee approval — all decisions rest with Google. Our role is to prepare your application, website and ads to meet the policy requirements as accurately as possible, which gives you the strongest position for a smooth review.