How Long Does It Take to Replace Permanent Resident Card

Replacing a permanent resident card can take about 4 to 12 months in many cases, but some applicants may wait 20 months or even 23 months. One reported estimate says 80% of Form I-90 cases finish within six months, while another September 2026 estimate puts the current renewal wait at about 10.5 months.

Those numbers seem contradictory because they describe different cases, time periods, and estimates. None should be treated as a promise for your application.

The form used for most replacements and renewals is Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. Before filing, check the current USCIS processing estimate, filing instructions, fee, and eligibility rules. USCIS estimates can change.

Typical timeline to replace a permanent resident card

The available estimates show a wide spread:

• About 4 to 8 months for some replacement cases
• About 4 to 12 months as a broader typical range
• About 7 to 12 months from USCIS receiving Form I-90 to the new card arriving
• About 10.5 months in a September 2026 estimate for green card renewals
• Up to 20 months in some longer cases
• Up to 23 months for applications involving a lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged card in one reported estimate

Another result says that 80% of Form I-90 cases are completed within six months. That figure may sound more encouraging, but it still doesn't tell you exactly when your card will arrive. “Completed” may not mean the new card is already in your hands.

So, how long does it take to replace a permanent resident card? A practical answer is: plan for several months, often somewhere between 4 and 12 months, while preparing for a longer wait if your case needs extra review or falls under a slower estimate.

The best number to use is the current estimate for the USCIS office handling your case. Online articles and search-result snippets can become outdated quickly.

Why Form I-90 processing estimates vary

Processing estimates aren't fixed delivery times. They are broad forecasts based on the cases USCIS is handling at a particular time.

Several things can make one estimate look different from another:

Different types of Form I-90 cases

A routine renewal may move at a different pace from a replacement for a lost, stolen, destroyed, or badly damaged card. Some pages group all Form I-90 applications together. Others focus on a specific reason for filing.

That helps explain why one result gives a 4-to-8-month range while another mentions up to 23 months for certain replacement cases.

Estimates change over time

An estimate published earlier may no longer match the current USCIS workload. The September 2026 figure of about 10.5 months is a time-specific estimate, not a guarantee that every application filed then will take that long.

A newer estimate can also move up or down after you submit your application. Check the current USCIS page rather than relying on a number saved in an old article or social media post.

Some cases need more work

An application can take longer if USCIS needs clarification, finds a problem with the information submitted, or asks for more evidence. An incorrect fee, missing information, or filing at the wrong location can also create trouble.

USCIS specifically warns that applications sent to the wrong filing location may face processing delays.

The Form I-90 replacement process from filing to card delivery

The basic path looks like this:

1. Check whether Form I-90 is the right form.

The reason for replacing the card matters. Review the current Form I-90 instructions and Green Card renewal requirements before you begin.

1. Prepare the application.

Give your current information and select the reason you need a new card. Read each section carefully. A mistake can lead to a notice or delay.

1. Choose online filing or the required paper process.

USCIS may offer a green card renewal online option for eligible applicants. If you use paper, download the current Green Card renewal Form PDF from the official USCIS website. Don't use a copy from an unofficial site unless you have confirmed that it is the current version.

1. Pay the current fee, if one applies.

The green card replacement fee can change. Confirm the amount and payment instructions just before filing.

1. File with the correct location or online system.

Paper applications must go to the filing address listed in the current instructions. Sending the form elsewhere may slow the case.

1. Wait for USCIS notices.

USCIS may send a receipt notice and may ask for more information or evidence. Read every notice carefully and respond by the deadline shown.

1. Wait for the decision and card delivery.

If the application is approved, USCIS sends the replacement or renewed card. The total wait can run from several months to much longer, depending on the case and the current processing pace.

The time generally starts with USCIS receiving a properly filed application, not with the day you first download the form. Keep copies of what you submit and save every USCIS notice.

Replacing a card that was lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged

A lost or damaged physical card does not automatically answer every question about your permanent resident status. Replacing the document and proving or keeping your status are separate issues.

Form I-90 is identified as the application used to replace a permanent resident card that was lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged. The reason for filing should match what happened to the card. Be accurate and follow the current instructions.

If the card was stolen, keep any records that may help explain the situation. If it was damaged, keep the damaged card if you still have it. Don't send extra documents unless the current instructions call for them or USCIS requests them.

A replacement case may take longer than a routine renewal. One available estimate puts these cases at up to 23 months. That doesn't mean every lost-card application will take 23 months. It does show why you shouldn't plan an important trip around the shortest estimate you see online.

Losing the card also does not, by itself, provide an answer to questions about deportation, immigration enforcement, or whether someone still has permanent resident status. The supplied information does not establish rules about those issues. If your concern is your status rather than the physical card, seek advice from a qualified immigration professional.

How incorrect filing details or filing location can cause delays

Small filing mistakes can turn a months-long wait into a longer one.

Before submitting Form I-90, check:

• Your name and other personal details
• The reason you are replacing the card
• The current filing fee and payment method
• Whether you are filing online or by mail
• The correct paper filing address
• Whether the form version is current
• Any extra instructions tied to your reason for filing

USCIS warns that mailing an application to the wrong filing location may cause processing delays. Don't guess the address based on an old form or a previous application. Use the filing instructions that apply when you submit.

A receipt notice confirms that USCIS received the application. It doesn't guarantee approval or give you a guaranteed card-delivery date. If USCIS sends a request for more information, the case may remain incomplete until you respond.

What to consider if you lost your green card and need to travel

“I lost my green card and need to travel” is an urgent situation, but the available information here doesn't establish who may travel, what documents a particular person needs, or whether entry back into the United States will be allowed.

That means you shouldn't assume that filing Form I-90 solves the travel problem. An application receipt and a replacement card are not necessarily the same thing, and the right next step may depend on your individual documents and circumstances.

Before making travel plans:

• Check current USCIS guidance about lost or missing permanent resident cards.
• Review the latest instructions for Form I-90.
• Check whether you have a current receipt or another document from USCIS.
• Allow time for questions about your documents to be answered before traveling.
• Get qualified immigration advice if the trip is urgent or the situation is complicated.

Don't use the shortest online estimate as a travel plan. A card that some applicants receive in 4 to 8 months may take much longer in another case.

Travel questions are also different from questions about permanent resident status. A missing card is a missing document. It does not, based on the information available here, tell us whether someone has lost lawful permanent resident status or faces removal. Those are separate questions that need current, case-specific guidance.

Current processing-time estimates and how to check for updates

The most useful estimate is the one USCIS provides for your filing type and case circumstances at the time you check.

Look for the current USCIS processing-time tool and enter the requested information. Check that you are viewing the estimate for Form I-90, rather than a different immigration form. The displayed time may change after you file.

You should also confirm:

• The date the estimate was updated
• The case type covered by the estimate
• Whether the estimate refers to typical cases or a longer range
• What USCIS says to do if your case is outside the posted time
• Any current filing or document instructions

The conflicting figures—4 to 8 months, 4 to 12 months, 7 to 12 months, 10.5 months, 20 months, and 23 months—are useful as a warning. They show that there isn't one reliable answer for every applicant. Use them to set a realistic range, then rely on the latest USCIS information for your filing.

Green card replacement fees, online filing, and basic requirements

The green card replacement fee is not something to guess. USCIS can change fees and payment rules, so check the current Form I-90 page before sending your application.

The same check applies to the filing method. Eligible applicants may be able to complete a green card renewal online. Others may need to file by mail. The current USCIS instructions should tell you which option fits your situation.

For a paper filing, use the current Green Card renewal Form PDF from USCIS. Confirm that the form is still accepted and that you are sending it to the correct location. For online filing, follow the account and upload instructions shown by USCIS.

Basic requirements depend on why you need the new card. Renewal, loss, theft, destruction, and damage can involve different instructions. Read the section that matches your situation instead of copying someone else's filing checklist.

Before applying, check the latest USCIS Form I-90 instructions, processing-time estimate, filing location, and fee. If travel is urgent or you're worried about your permanent resident status, get advice from a qualified immigration professional who can review your specific facts.