How to Apply for a Green Card Renewal

September 29, 2026

Your Green Card is expiring, or you need a replacement for another reason. The usual form for this process is Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. You can submit it online or by mail.

The hard part is often deciding which option fits your situation, gathering the right papers, and checking details that can change—especially the fee, filing rules, and processing information. This guide walks through those choices without guessing at current USCIS requirements.

When you need to renew or replace a Green Card

Form I-90 is used when you need a new Permanent Resident Card. That includes a card that is:

Expiring
Already expired
Lost or damaged
Being replaced for another reason listed in the current Form I-90 instructions

For an expiring card, start by checking the expiration date printed on the card. Do not wait until the last minute if you need proof of permanent resident status for work, travel, identification, or another important matter.

A Green Card renewal and a Green Card replacement use the same basic form, but the reason for filing can differ. You will need to select the reason that matches your situation on Form I-90. Read the form instructions carefully before submitting it.

One search result says a renewal application can be filed within six months of the card’s expiration date. Because filing rules can change and may depend on the reason for the application, confirm the current filing window in the USCIS Form I-90 instructions before you apply.

Use Form I-90 for a Green Card renewal

The official name of the form is Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. Despite that name, it is the form commonly used for an expiring or expired Green Card.

Before starting, make sure Form I-90 is the right application for your case. The supplied search information supports Form I-90 for Green Card renewal and replacement. It does not give a full list of every situation that may require a different form or process.

You should also check whether the information on your card is still correct. If your name, personal details, or other information has changed, review the current USCIS instructions to see what evidence is needed. Do not assume that a standard renewal checklist covers every change.

The application asks for personal and immigration information. Have your Green Card nearby so you can enter the details as they appear on the card. A mistake in a card number, name, date, or address can create avoidable problems.

Choose between filing online and filing by mail

USCIS offers two ways to submit Form I-90:

Online through a USCIS online account
By mail using a paper application

Neither option is automatically best for everyone. Choose the one that lets you prepare a complete, accurate application and keep proof of what you submitted.

Filing Form I-90 online

To use the Green Card renewal application form online, you must create a USCIS online account. The account lets you complete the electronic form and manage the application through the online system.

Before you begin, prepare digital copies or scans of the documents you plan to submit. Make sure the files are clear and readable. Keep the original documents in a safe place unless the current instructions tell you otherwise.

The online process will ask you to:

Create or sign in to your USCIS online account
Enter the information requested on Form I-90
Upload supporting documents when the system asks for them
Review your answers before submitting
Follow the current payment and submission instructions shown by USCIS

Read each screen before moving on. Online forms can save time, but they also make it easy to click through with an incorrect answer.

Save or download a copy of the completed application and any submission confirmation. You should also keep a record of the date you filed and the account used to submit the form.

Sending a paper application

If you do not want to file online, you can submit the paper version of Form I-90 by mail. Use the current form and instructions. Do not rely on an old copy you saved from a previous application.

Prepare copies of the documents that support your application. Arrange the package in the order requested by the current USCIS instructions. Keep a complete copy of everything you send.

Before mailing the package, check:

The form is complete and signed where required
Your reason for filing is accurate
Your card copy is readable
Your identification copy is included if required for your situation
The fee or fee-waiver request follows the current instructions
You have kept a copy of the whole package

Use a mailing method that gives you proof of delivery or tracking. Keep that proof with your application records. It can help show when USCIS received the package if you need to follow up later.

Documents to prepare before applying

A basic checklist from the search results includes:

Form I-90
A copy of your expired or expiring Green Card
Valid government-issued identification

These documents may not be the complete list for every applicant. Your required evidence can depend on why you are filing and what information has changed.

Your Green Card copy

Make a clear copy of the front and back of your current card. If the card is expiring, check that the name and card number are easy to read.

If your card is already expired, include a copy of it if you still have it. If you are filing because the card is lost or unavailable, follow the current Form I-90 instructions for the evidence that applies to that situation. Do not send the only original document you have unless the instructions specifically require it.

Government-issued identification

Prepare a copy of valid government-issued identification. The search results identify this as part of the document checklist, but they do not specify one single document that works for every case.

Check the current USCIS instructions for the acceptable type of identification and whether it must be valid on the date you file. If your identification has a different name or other information from your Green Card, review the instructions for extra evidence.

How to complete and submit the Form I-90 application

Set aside enough time to review the application in one sitting if possible. Having your Green Card, identification, address details, and supporting documents ready makes the process easier.

Follow these steps:

Confirm that Form I-90 fits your situation.

Make sure you are applying for a Green Card renewal or replacement covered by the form.

Choose online filing or paper filing.

Online filing requires a USCIS online account. Paper filing requires the current printed form and mailing instructions.

Enter your information carefully.

Use the information from your Green Card and other records. Check spelling, dates, numbers, and your mailing address.

Select the correct filing reason.

An expiring card and a lost or damaged card may involve different choices. Read the available options closely.

Attach or upload your documents.

Include the card copy, valid government-issued identification, and any other evidence required for your reason for filing.

Review the full application.

Look for blank answers, typing errors, missing pages, unclear scans, and mismatched information.

Follow the current fee instructions.

The amount and payment rules are not confirmed in the supplied research. Check the current USCIS instructions before submitting.

Submit the application and save proof.

Keep a copy of the application, your documents, payment record, confirmation page, and mailing or delivery information.

Do not guess if an answer does not fit your situation. Check the current Form I-90 instructions or get qualified immigration advice before filing.

Filing window, expiration dates, and receipt notices

A Green Card expiration date matters, but the exact filing window should be checked against the current USCIS instructions. One search result says Form I-90 can be filed within six months of the expiration date. Treat that as a detail to verify before you submit rather than as a rule to apply blindly to every case.

If your card is close to expiring, gather your documents early. That gives you time to fix a missing signature, unclear copy, incorrect fee, or other problem before filing.

After USCIS receives and accepts the application for processing, it may send a receipt notice. Keep this notice with your expired or expiring Green Card.

One search result says the receipt notice can be used together with an expired Green Card. The exact way this evidence can be used depends on the current USCIS instructions and the situation where you need to show proof of status. If an employer, airline, government office, or another organization asks for proof, check what it currently accepts.

A receipt notice is not a substitute for reading the instructions that come with it. Check the name, receipt number, address, and other details. Save a digital copy as well as the paper notice.

Green Card renewal fees and possible fee waivers

Form I-90 has a filing fee, but the supplied research does not verify the current amount. Fees can change, and the amount may depend on the filing method or the details of the application.

For that reason, do not rely on an old fee amount from a previous application or from a third-party checklist. Check the current USCIS Form I-90 fee instructions immediately before filing.

The search results also mention a possible Green Card renewal fee waiver. They do not provide enough information to confirm who qualifies, which form is needed, or what evidence must be submitted.

If paying the fee would be difficult, look at the current USCIS fee-waiver guidance before sending Form I-90. A fee-waiver request may have its own requirements. Sending an incomplete request or the wrong payment can delay or disrupt the filing.

How much does a Green Card renewal cost every 10 years?

The supplied search information does not provide a verified current fee amount. The correct answer for the Green Card renewal fee 2026 is the amount shown in the current USCIS Form I-90 instructions and fee information when you file.

Check the fee immediately before submitting. Confirm that the payment method, amount, and any separate biometric or related instructions still apply. Do not add a fee that the current instructions do not request.

Renewing a Green Card or seeking citizenship

Renewing your Green Card and applying for citizenship are different processes. Form I-90 handles the Green Card renewal or replacement process. It does not decide whether you qualify for naturalization.

Is it better to renew your Green Card or apply for citizenship? There is no answer that fits every permanent resident. The supplied research explains the Form I-90 process but does not provide a full comparison of citizenship eligibility, timing, travel history, English or civics rules, or other naturalization requirements.

If you may qualify for citizenship, review your individual situation and the current official guidance before choosing what to do. Do not let a Green Card expire while assuming that a citizenship application automatically solves every proof-of-status or travel issue. Get qualified advice if your case includes long trips outside the United States, criminal records, tax concerns, or other complications.

What the current research says about processing times and requirements

The search information does not provide a verified current processing time for Green Card renewal. That means it would be misleading to promise that a replacement card will arrive within a set number of weeks or months.

After filing, use the receipt information and current USCIS status tools to check your case. Processing information can change, and the time shown for one case may not match another.

What are the new requirements to renew a Green Card?

The supplied research identifies Form I-90 as the renewal application and confirms two filing choices: online or by mail. It does not identify a specific new requirement.

Before filing, check the current Form I-90 instructions for the document list, filing reason, fee, account instructions, and any updated evidence rules. Avoid relying on social media posts or an old checklist for a rule that may have changed.

How long is a Green Card renewal taking right now?

The supplied research does not confirm a current processing time. Check the current USCIS processing information after you receive your receipt notice, and use the receipt number when checking your case.

What should you do before submitting?

Make sure your application matches your reason for filing. Include a readable copy of the expired or expiring Green Card, valid government-issued identification, and any extra evidence required for your situation. Save the full application and proof of submission.

Then check the current USCIS Form I-90 instructions for the applicable fee, requirements, filing-status information, and any details that may have changed before you send the application.

Written by Ryan Mitchell

Ryan Mitchell is a U.S. visa consultant who helps individuals and families better understand the U.S. visa application process. He provides practical guidance on visa requirements, documentation, interview preparation, and common application questions, with a focus on making the process easier to understand.