The cost to renew a green card is $465, paid to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services when you file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.1eCFR. 8 CFR 106.2 – USCIS Fee Schedule That one fee covers the whole application, including biometrics. In a few specific situations the fee is $0, and applicants who cannot afford $465 can apply to have it waived.
What the $465 Covers
Federal regulations set the I-90 filing fee at $465, and there is nothing else to pay to USCIS for a standard renewal.1eCFR. 8 CFR 106.2 – USCIS Fee Schedule Before April 2024, USCIS collected a separate $30 biometric services charge on top of the filing fee. That extra charge is gone for I-90 renewals because fingerprinting and photograph costs are now folded into the $465.2Federal Register. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Fees
The fee is the same whether you file online through a USCIS account or mail a paper application to a USCIS Lockbox.
When the Fee Is $0
Three situations let you file Form I-90 with no fee at all. These exemptions are written into the fee regulation itself, so you do not need to submit a separate waiver request to use them.1eCFR. 8 CFR 106.2 – USCIS Fee Schedule
- You never received your card. If USCIS mailed your card and it never arrived, the replacement is free.
- USCIS printed your card with wrong information because of a Department of Homeland Security error.
- You have turned 14 and your current card will not expire until after your 16th birthday. The updated card with adult biometrics carries no fee.
Fee Waivers for Low Income or Hardship
If paying $465 would be a real hardship, you can ask USCIS to waive the fee by filing Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, together with your I-90.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver A granted waiver covers the entire filing fee, dropping your cost to zero. USCIS approves waivers on three grounds:
- You, your spouse, or the head of your household currently receives a means-tested benefit such as Medicaid or SNAP.
- Your household income is at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- You can show that paying the fee would cause significant financial hardship, even if your income is above the 150 percent line.
You have to document whichever ground you claim. Tax returns, benefit award letters, bank statements, or a detailed hardship statement are the usual evidence, depending on your basis.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Form I-912 – Request for Fee Waiver
Attorney Fees Are Separate
The I-90 is one of the simpler immigration forms, and many people fill it out themselves. If you do hire an attorney or an accredited representative, expect somewhere between $150 and $700 in legal fees depending on your location and how complicated your situation is. That amount is on top of the $465 government fee, and it is entirely optional.
How You Pay Matters
Online filers pay with a credit or debit card at the end of the application, and the payment is confirmed immediately.
Paper filers face a rule that changed on October 28, 2025: USCIS no longer accepts personal checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks for paper-filed applications.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS to Modernize Fee Payments with Electronic Funds Your only options with a paper I-90 are now a credit or debit card charge, authorized on Form G-1450, or a direct debit from a U.S. bank account, authorized on Form G-1650. Include the completed payment form inside your I-90 package. If you send a check, USCIS will reject the entire application and return it, which means you will have paid nothing but also gotten nowhere.
Conditional Green Cards Do Not Use This Fee
If your card is a two-year conditional green card, usually issued through marriage or certain investor categories, none of this applies. You cannot use Form I-90, and the $465 fee is not the fee you owe. Conditional residents file Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence, in the 90-day window before the card expires, and the I-751 has its own fee of $595 and its own evidence requirements.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Conditional Permanent Residence Missing the I-751 deadline can cost you your permanent resident status, so confirm which form you actually need before paying anything.