Yes, a standard green card must be renewed. It is valid for 10 years, and USCIS expects you to file for a new one within the six months before it expires, or promptly after. Your lawful permanent resident status does not end when the card does, but without a valid card you lose the everyday proof of that status that employers, airlines, and government agencies rely on. Green card renewal is handled through Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, filed either online or by mail.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
When to File Form I-90
File Form I-90 if your card has expired or will expire within the next six months.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Replace Your Green Card The same form covers several other situations that require a new card even when the 10-year clock has not run out:
- The card was lost, stolen, or damaged. Include an explanation of what happened, and if you cannot provide a copy of the card, submit another government-issued ID such as a passport.
- The card was issued before you turned 14. You need to replace it after your 14th birthday, unless the card itself expires before you turn 16.
- Your legal name, date of birth, or other biographical information on the card is wrong or has changed.
- You still hold an older-version card such as Form I-151, AR-3, or AR-103. USCIS no longer accepts these as valid proof of status, and replacement is not optional.
Conditional Green Cards Are Not Renewed With I-90
If your green card came through marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or through certain investor categories, your first card is a two-year conditional card. You do not file Form I-90 when it nears expiration. Marriage-based conditional residents file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-751 – Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence Investor conditional residents file Form I-829. Both must be filed in the 90-day window immediately before the conditional card expires; filing too early can lead to rejection.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. When to File Your Petition to Remove Conditions Once USCIS approves the petition, you receive a standard 10-year card, and normal I-90 renewal applies from then on.
When You Do Not Need to Renew
Renewal is not always the right next step. If you are eligible to naturalize and your card is close to expiring, filing Form N-400 may make more sense than paying to renew a card you will not need much longer. After you naturalize, your certificate of naturalization and U.S. passport take the place of the green card.
If you have already filed Form N-400, USCIS automatically extends your green card’s validity by 24 months from the expiration date printed on the card. Your N-400 receipt notice is the proof of that extension, and you can present it with the expired card for employment verification and other purposes.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Updates Policy to Automatically Extend Green Cards for Naturalization Applicants A separate I-90 is not required during that window. If the naturalization case is still pending after 24 months, contact the USCIS Contact Center to schedule an appointment for an ADIT stamp at a local field office.
How to File Form I-90
You can file online through a USCIS account at uscis.gov or by mail. Online filing is generally faster: you complete the form electronically, upload supporting documents, pay the fee, and track the case, notices, and any requests for evidence in the same account.
To file on paper, print and complete Form I-90 and mail it with your supporting documents to the correct USCIS Lockbox. The address depends on where you live, so check the USCIS website before sending, and use a trackable shipping method. USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, business checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks for paper I-90 filings unless you qualify for an exemption. Pay by credit, debit, or prepaid card using Form G-1450, or directly from a U.S. bank account using Form G-1650.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
The form asks for your full legal name, address, date of birth, country of birth, and Alien Registration Number (the A-Number on your current or most recent card). You will indicate the reason you need a new card. Include a photocopy of the front and back of your current green card. If it was lost or stolen, submit a copy of another government-issued photo ID.
Fees and Fee Waivers
The filing fee is $415 online and $465 on paper. Both amounts include biometrics.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Fee Schedule You will also need two passport-style color photos (2×2 inches), which usually run between $8 and $18 at retail photo centers.
If you cannot afford the fee, you can request a fee waiver by filing Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, and showing that you are unable to pay. One common way to qualify is by showing that you currently receive a means-tested government benefit such as Medicaid, SNAP, or Supplemental Security Income. Include documentation with the recipient’s name, the granting agency, the type of benefit, and proof that it is currently active.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Request for Fee Waiver
What Happens After You File
USCIS sends a receipt notice, Form I-797C, once your application is in the system.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-797C, Notice of Action Keep it. Filing Form I-90 automatically extends your green card’s validity for 36 months from the expiration date printed on the card, and the receipt notice is your proof of that extension. Presented alongside the expired card, it serves as evidence of continued status and work authorization while USCIS processes the renewal.9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Extends Green Card Validity Extension to 36 Months for Green Card Renewals
You may also receive a biometrics appointment notice for fingerprints, a photograph, and a signature at a USCIS Application Support Center, typically within a few weeks of filing. You can check case status online using the receipt number on your I-797C.
Working and Traveling While Your Renewal Is Pending
For Form I-9 employment verification, an expired green card combined with the I-90 receipt notice is acceptable proof of both identity and work authorization for the length of the automatic extension stated on the notice.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Handbook for Employers M-274 – Lawful Permanent Residents
International travel is less predictable. Airlines and border officers may not treat an expired card plus a receipt notice as enough for reentry. If you need to travel while your renewal is pending, contact the USCIS Contact Center to request an ADIT stamp (also called an I-551 stamp) in your passport, which serves as temporary proof of permanent resident status. The stamp’s validity is set at USCIS’s discretion and cannot exceed one year. In some cases USCIS can mail the stamped document; in others, especially urgent travel, you will need to appear in person at a field office.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Announces Additional Mail Delivery Process for Receiving ADIT Stamp