In the United States, the two most common types of permanent ID are the federal Permanent Resident Card, better known as the Green Card, and a state-issued non-driver identification card. The Green Card identifies foreign nationals who have lawful permanent residence and the right to live and work in the country. A state non-driver ID serves the parallel role for people who need government photo identification but do not drive. A separate federal standard, REAL ID, sits on top of state-issued cards and controls whether you can use one to board a domestic flight or enter certain federal facilities.
Both cards are widely accepted by employers, banks, government agencies, and law enforcement as proof of who you are, and in the Green Card’s case, proof of your right to work. They follow different application processes and different rules for renewal, replacement, and expiration.
The Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
The Permanent Resident Card is formally designated Form I-551. It is the primary identification document for foreign nationals authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. Each card carries the holder’s photograph, name, USCIS number, date of birth, and card expiration date, along with holographic images and other security features. USCIS redesigns the card every three to five years to combat counterfeiting.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. List A Documents That Establish Identity and Employment Authorization
A standard Green Card is valid for ten years. Renewal is handled through Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, which is also the form you file if your card is lost, stolen, or damaged.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Replace Your Green Card Renewing the card does not renew your immigration status itself; permanent residence continues regardless of whether the plastic card in your wallet is current.
Conditional Green Cards
Not every Green Card is a ten-year card. If your marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident is less than two years old on the day USCIS approves your case, you receive a conditional Green Card valid for only two years. The card looks the same except for the shorter expiration date, but the legal stakes are very different. You cannot simply renew a conditional card. You must file Form I-751 during the 90-day window immediately before the card expires to ask USCIS to remove the conditions on your residence.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence Miss that window or fail to file, and you lose your permanent resident status and become removable from the country.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Conditional Permanent Residence
The I-751 is normally filed jointly with your spouse. If the marriage has ended in divorce, or if you experienced domestic violence during the marriage, you can request a waiver of the joint filing requirement and file on your own at any time before the card expires.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence EB-5 immigrant investors who receive conditional cards follow a separate process using Form I-829 to show their investment was sustained and created the required jobs.
Temporary Proof While You Wait
If you are waiting for a replacement or renewal card and need immediate proof of your status for a job or travel, USCIS can place an I-551 ADIT stamp in your foreign passport or on a Form I-94. Request it by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 or by scheduling an in-person appointment at your local USCIS field office. If USCIS denies an I-90, there is no appeal, but you may file a motion to reopen or reconsider with the same office.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Replace Your Green Card
State-Issued Non-Driver Identification Cards
For U.S. citizens and lawfully present residents who do not drive, a state-issued non-driver ID is the most practical form of permanent identification for daily life. Every state offers one through its motor vehicle agency, and the cards share the same security standards as driver’s licenses. They typically remain valid for four to eight years, depending on the state, before renewal.
Eligibility rules are simpler than for a Green Card. You generally need to prove legal presence in the United States with a document like a birth certificate, valid passport, or unexpired Green Card. Most states also require proof that you physically reside within the state, most often shown with utility bills, lease agreements, or bank statements, plus your Social Security number.
Fees vary widely. In most states they run somewhere between roughly $7 and $35, with some states offering free or reduced-fee cards for seniors and people with certain disabilities. When you apply, decide upfront whether you want a REAL ID-compliant card, because that choice affects what you can use it for.
REAL ID: A Federal Standard on Top of State IDs
Since May 7, 2025, the federal government requires a REAL ID-compliant identification card, or another acceptable document, to board domestic flights and to enter certain federal facilities. A REAL ID card is visually marked with a gold star, usually in the upper-right corner. If you arrive at a TSA checkpoint without a compliant ID, you face a $45 fee and additional screening that can add significant time to your trip.5Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
A valid Permanent Resident Card is itself an acceptable document for these purposes, so Green Card holders already meet the requirement without any state-issued card. If you rely on a state ID instead, check for the gold star. A state card without it will not get you through airport security on its own.
Legal Duty to Carry Your Green Card
The Green Card carries a legal obligation that state IDs do not. Federal law requires every permanent resident age 18 or older to carry their card at all times. Failing to have it in your personal possession is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $100, up to 30 days in jail, or both.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1304 – Forms for Registration and Fingerprinting Prosecutions under this provision have historically been uncommon, but the statute is on the books and can be enforced. Keeping the card accessible, rather than in a safe deposit box, is the safer approach.
Choosing Between Them
The two documents are not really alternatives. A Green Card is available only to people USCIS has approved for lawful permanent residence, and it doubles as proof of work authorization under Form I-9. A state non-driver ID is available to citizens and lawful residents alike and proves identity and address but says nothing about immigration status or the right to work.
Many permanent residents hold both: the Green Card for federal identity and work-authorization purposes, and a state ID for everyday transactions where handing over a Green Card feels excessive. Whichever card you are applying for, make sure the name on your application matches exactly what appears on your supporting documents. Even a missing middle name or a misplaced hyphen can slow things down.