How to Apply for Lost Green Card

When a lost or stolen Green Card requires a replacement

If your Green Card is lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged, the usual replacement step is to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, with USCIS.

The same form may also be used when a card is expiring. That does not mean every I-90 filing is a routine renewal. If your card disappeared yesterday, your situation is different from someone whose card is reaching its expiration date. Start with the reason that matches what happened to your card.

You may need a replacement if:

• You lost your Green Card.
• Someone stole it.
• The card was destroyed.
• The card is damaged and no longer usable.
• The card is expiring or has expired.

For a lost card, the main task is to request a new physical card through the I-90 process. You should not wait for the card to turn up before checking the current USCIS instructions. If you later find it, follow any instructions USCIS gives you about the old card.

If the card was stolen, keep any details you have about the theft. The I-90 instructions may tell you what information to provide. Avoid guessing or adding information that you cannot support.

Use Form I-90 to replace your Green Card

The form for a lost Green Card is Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. USCIS accepts this application through two filing routes: online and by mail.

The basic path looks like this:

1. Find the current USCIS Form I-90 instructions.
2. Choose whether to submit the application online or by mail.
3. Select the reason for replacing the card that fits your situation.
4. Complete the form carefully.
5. Pay the required replacement fee, unless USCIS confirms that a fee waiver applies to your case.
6. Submit the application to USCIS.
7. Save your confirmation and any records connected to the filing.

A lost-card case is not a request for a completely different immigration document. It is a Green Card replacement request handled through Form I-90.

Read each question before answering. A small error in your name, address, card information, or reason for filing can create problems later. If you are unsure how a question applies to you, check the current USCIS instructions instead of relying on an old article or a form copy saved on your computer.

The form and filing rules can change. Before you submit anything, use the current USCIS version of Form I-90 and its instructions.

Choose how to send your Form I-90

USCIS allows Form I-90 to be submitted online or by mail. Both routes are official options, so the better choice depends on what you can complete accurately and what the current instructions allow for your situation.

Submit the application through the USCIS online system

Online filing may be useful if you can create or access the required USCIS online account and want to complete the form electronically. The system can also give you a digital record of the submission.

Before choosing this route, check:

• Whether your reason for filing can be submitted online.
• How the online system asks you to provide information.
• How payment must be made.
• What confirmation appears after submission.
• How USCIS will send later notices.

Save the confirmation page or receipt information after you file. Keep copies of what you submitted, including any details you entered and any payment record.

Online filing does not remove the need to read the instructions. It also does not mean your application will be approved automatically. You still need to answer the questions fully and follow the directions shown by USCIS.

Send a paper application by mail

You can also complete Form I-90 on paper and mail it to the USCIS address listed in the current instructions. Do not use an address from an old form or a random mailing guide. USCIS filing addresses can depend on the form and filing method.

Before mailing the packet, review:

• The current edition of Form I-90.
• The address for your filing method.
• The payment instructions.
• Any instructions about copies or other items that must be included.
• Whether you should keep a complete copy for your records.

Use a mailing method that gives you a record of delivery if that is available and suitable for you. Keep the delivery record with your copy of the application. USCIS may send a notice after it receives and accepts the filing, but your own mailing record is still useful.

If you are mailing the form, make sure the payment method follows the current USCIS instructions. A payment mistake can delay or interrupt the filing process.

What to prepare before submitting the application

The safest way to prepare is to work from the current Form I-90 instructions, not from a general Green Card checklist. The exact information or supporting material USCIS asks for can depend on the reason for the replacement and the way you file.

Start by writing down what happened while the details are fresh. For a lost or stolen card, note when you noticed it was missing and any facts you may need to report. Do not make up an exact date if you do not know it. Follow the form's instructions for handling information you cannot provide precisely.

You should also be ready to provide the personal and permanent-resident information requested on the current form. Check every spelling, date, and number against your records before submitting the application.

Then review the payment section carefully. A replacement fee is required unless a fee waiver is available and approved under the current USCIS rules. The amount and payment instructions are details you must verify before filing.

A simple pre-submission check can prevent avoidable trouble:

• Are you using the current Form I-90?
• Did you choose the reason that matches a lost, stolen, destroyed, damaged, or expiring card?
• Did you review every answer?
• Did you follow the current payment instructions?
• Did you save a copy of the application?
• Do you know how USCIS will contact you after filing?

This is also the point to decide whether timing matters because of upcoming travel, work, identification needs, or another deadline. A lost card can become more urgent when you need to prove your status or travel outside the United States.

Costs, payment, and possible fee waivers

Form I-90 has a required replacement fee. The available information does not confirm one fee amount for every case, so check the current USCIS Form I-90 fee information before you file.

Do not rely on a fee amount printed in an old blog post, a saved form, or a message from someone who filed years ago. USCIS can update fees and payment rules. The amount that applies to your case may also depend on the filing details shown in the current instructions.

A fee waiver may be possible in some situations, but you should not assume that losing the card automatically qualifies you. A Green Card replacement fee waiver has its own USCIS rules and filing instructions. Check the current requirements before deciding how to handle the fee.

If you request a fee waiver, follow the instructions for that request exactly. Do not simply leave out the required payment unless the current USCIS instructions tell you to submit a waiver request instead. An incomplete payment or waiver submission can affect whether USCIS accepts the application.

Before submitting, confirm all of the following:

• The current fee amount.
• The accepted payment method for your filing route.
• Whether your situation may qualify for a fee waiver.
• Whether a waiver request needs separate information or forms.
• Where payment or waiver materials belong in a mailed application.

If the fee rules are unclear, check USCIS's current Form I-90 information before sending the application. It is better to pause and verify than to guess.

What to expect after filing and how long it may take

After you submit Form I-90, keep your filing confirmation, payment record, copy of the form, and any USCIS notices in one place. If you file online, save the electronic confirmation. If you file by mail, keep your mailing and delivery records.

USCIS may send notices as it handles the application. Read each notice carefully. It may contain a receipt number, instructions, or a request for something connected to your case. Use the current USCIS case-status tools and processing information to check for updates.

There is no confirmed processing time in the information available for this guide. That means you should not plan around a promised number of weeks or months. Processing can depend on the current USCIS workload and the details of the filing.

If you ask, “How long does a replacement Green Card take after I lose it?” the honest answer is: check the current USCIS processing information for Form I-90. The estimate shown there is the most useful current reference, but it is still not a personal promise about your case.

Watch for problems such as:

• A notice saying USCIS could not accept the filing.
• A request for more information.
• A payment issue.
• A message you do not understand.
• A need to update contact or mailing information.

Do not ignore a USCIS notice. Follow the deadline and instructions stated in that notice. If the issue is complicated or you are worried that your permanent-resident status itself is affected, consider getting advice from a qualified immigration professional.

If you lost your Green Card and need to travel

“I lost my Green Card and need to travel” is a more urgent situation than a normal replacement request. Filing Form I-90 starts the replacement process, but you should not assume that the filing confirmation alone will work for every trip or every travel document check.

Before making travel plans, check the current USCIS guidance for people who have lost their permanent resident card. Also check the requirements of the countries involved, your carrier, and any other authority that may review your documents. Requirements can change, and they may depend on your specific circumstances.

Gather the records connected to your I-90 filing, including your confirmation or receipt information. Keep them available while you ask USCIS what documentation may be accepted in your situation. USCIS may provide instructions about evidence of your status or other steps. Follow the current instructions rather than relying on advice from a past traveler.

Be careful about leaving on a tight schedule before you know what documents you can use. A replacement application does not give you a guaranteed travel timetable, and the available information does not confirm one universal travel rule for every lost-card case.

If travel is soon, check the official USCIS information as early as possible. If you have an unusual issue—such as a complicated immigration history, a notice from USCIS, or a problem showing your status—professional immigration advice may be helpful.

How a lost card replacement differs from renewal or other card corrections

A lost-card request and a routine renewal can use the same form, but the reason for filing is different.

A routine renewal usually concerns a card that is expiring or has expired. A lost-card replacement concerns a card that you no longer have. The I-90 form asks you to identify why you are filing, so choose the reason that accurately describes your situation.

Other filing reasons may involve a card that was damaged, destroyed, or issued with an error. Those cases may have different instructions or fee questions. Do not choose a reason simply because it sounds close to “lost.” Use the option that matches what actually happened and then read the instructions for that option.

Here are the practical answers to the questions most lost-card applicants ask:

What should I do if I lost my Green Card?

File Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, with USCIS. You can submit it online or by mail. A required replacement fee applies unless a fee waiver is available and approved under the current rules.

How much does a replacement cost?

A replacement fee is required, but the supplied information does not confirm the current amount. Check the latest USCIS Form I-90 fee information before submitting payment.

How long will the replacement take?

No confirmed timeline is available here. Check current USCIS processing information for Form I-90, and do not make travel or other major plans based on an unofficial estimate.

Can I get a fee waiver?

Possibly, depending on the current USCIS rules and your circumstances. Losing a card by itself does not confirm eligibility. Review the current fee-waiver instructions before filing.

Before you submit, return to the current USCIS Form I-90 instructions and fee information. Check both the form and the payment rules on the same day you file so your Green Card replacement request uses the details USCIS currently requires.