Winning the Diversity lottery?

[plt22]

Hello, If I win the Diversity lottery and get a green card, how long I have to live in the US to become a citizen?

Thanks.

[vinny]

If you are at least 18 years old and:
Have been a Permanent Resident for the past 5 years and have no special circumstances.

[plt22]

Thank you.
Another question if I may. I've finished highschool (12 years of education) but I didn't got my GED, I can participate in the Diversity lottery or a GED is neccecery?

[vinny]

13. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATION OR WORK EXPERIENCE?

The law and regulations require that every entrant must have at least a high school education or its equivalent or, within the past five years, have two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years training or experience. A "high school education or equivalent" is defined as successful completion of a twelve-year course of elementary and secondary education in the United States or successful completion in another country of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to a high school education in the United States. Documentary proof of education or work experience must be presented to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview. To determine eligibility based on work experience, definitions from the Department of Labor’s O*Net OnLine database will be used.

Applicants must have a high school education (or its equivalent - not a GED) or two years of experience in an occupation requiring two years of training, with such experience being attained within the past five years.

It appears that a General Educational Development certificate (GED) or its foreign equivalent may not satisfy this requirement. See: American Immigration Lawyers Association. Practice Pointer, Immigration Nationality Law Handbook 2001-02 Edition, v. 1. p. 174.

See also DV-2009 Green Card Lottery

[plt22]

So I understand that I can participate in the DV lottery.
Thank you very much Vinny!