How to Renew Permanent Resident Card

If your U.S. Permanent Resident Card is expired, about to expire, lost, or has incorrect information, you usually need to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. This is the form USCIS uses for both card renewals and many replacement requests.

The first decision is simple: are you replacing an old card, or are you reporting a problem with the card? The answer affects the reason you select on the form and the documents you may need. Before filing, check the current USCIS instructions, fees, and processing-time information. These details can change.

When you need to renew or replace a Permanent Resident Card

A Permanent Resident Card, often called a Green Card, may need attention for several reasons:

• The card is expired.
• The card will expire soon.
• The card was lost.
• The card was stolen or damaged.
• Your name or other information on the card is wrong.
• The card has another problem that requires a replacement.

People often say “renew my Green Card,” but USCIS generally treats the request as an application to replace the card. That is why the relevant form is called Form I-90.

An expired card does not mean you should ignore the issue. Start by checking the current USCIS instructions for your situation. If the card was lost or stolen, you may also need another way to show your identity while the application is being handled.

The reason you file matters. A person renewing an expiring card may have a different filing reason from someone replacing a card with an error. Read each option carefully instead of choosing the first one that sounds close.

Form I-90: the application used for Green Card renewal and replacement

Form I-90 is the standard application for replacing a Green Card or Permanent Resident Card. It is used for many common card problems, including an expired card, a lost card, or information that needs correction.

The form asks for personal and immigration information. It may also ask why you need a new card. Your answers should match your documents and your situation.

You may see the form described in different ways:

• Form I-90 application to replace Permanent Resident Card
• I-90 Form
• Application to renew a Green Card
• Application to replace a Permanent Resident Card

These names point to the same basic USCIS filing. The important step is using the current form and instructions from USCIS.

Form I-90 is not a general application to change your immigration status. It focuses on getting a new physical Permanent Resident Card. If your situation involves a different immigration problem, read the USCIS guidance carefully before using this form.

Submitting the I-90 through USCIS online services

USCIS allows applicants to file online for a new card in situations that include an expired or lost Permanent Resident Card. Online filing can make it easier to enter information, upload documents, pay the fee, and keep track of the case through an online account.

Before you start, gather the information you will need. You should have your current or previous card details if you still have the card, along with your personal information and the reason for the replacement.

A typical online filing process looks like this:

1. Go to the official USCIS website and open the current Form I-90 filing page.
2. Create or sign in to the USCIS online account used for the application.
3. Complete the form carefully.
4. Select the reason for replacing or renewing the card.
5. Upload any documents the form asks for.
6. Review every answer before submitting.
7. Pay the filing charges shown by USCIS.
8. Save the confirmation and any case number you receive.

Check names, dates, and numbers before you submit. A small typing mistake can create delays or make it harder to match the application with your immigration records.

Online filing is available for many applicants, but it should not be treated as a guarantee that every situation can be handled online. The online system will show the options available for your case. If your circumstances do not fit those options, read the current USCIS instructions for the paper route or another filing method.

Filing by paper

You can also prepare a paper I-90 application if that is the route that fits your case. Use the current version of the form, complete it as instructed, gather copies of the required documents, and follow the USCIS mailing instructions shown for that form.

Do not rely on an old mailing address or an older version of the application. USCIS filing locations and form instructions can change. Check the official I-90 page before sending anything.

Keep a full copy of the form and supporting documents for your records. Use a mailing method that lets you keep proof that the packet was sent and delivered.

Information and documents to prepare

The exact documents depend on why you are filing. Start with the information USCIS uses to identify you and your permanent resident record.

You will generally want to have:

• Your full legal name and any other names used
• Your date and place of birth
• Your current address
• Your Permanent Resident Card number, if you still have the card
• The date your card was issued or expires, if available
• Details about how and why the card needs to be replaced
• Your immigration information requested on the form

For identity, the available research specifically identifies a photo ID that shows your name and date of birth. Examples include:

• A passport
• A driver's license
• A state-issued ID

You may also need a copy of your current or expired Permanent Resident Card if you still have it. If the card contains incorrect information, prepare documents that support the correct information when USCIS asks for them.

For a lost card, you obviously may not be able to provide a copy of the card. Explain the situation accurately and follow the document instructions shown in the current I-90 application.

Upload clear scans for an online filing. For a paper filing, make readable copies unless USCIS specifically asks for an original. Keep your originals unless the instructions clearly require you to send one.

Do not add unrelated documents just to make the packet look larger. The goal is to give USCIS the information needed for the filing reason you selected.

Filing fees and the biometrics fee

The Green Card renewal fee 2026 should be checked directly with USCIS before you file. Fees can change, and the amount shown in older articles may no longer apply.

One available listing gives these amounts:

• $455 filing fee
• $85 biometrics fee

Treat those numbers as a reference, not as a promise of the current total. Confirm the amount in the USCIS fee information and in the payment screen or current paper instructions before submitting.

The biometrics fee relates to identity checks that USCIS may require as part of the application. USCIS will provide instructions if biometrics are needed in your case. Do not assume that an old fee list or a previous application tells you what you owe now.

For online filing, the payment steps appear during the electronic submission process. For a paper filing, use only the payment method and instructions accepted for the current application. A payment problem can stop or delay the filing.

Save your payment confirmation. It is useful if you later need to check what you paid and when.

What happens after you submit the application

After USCIS receives your I-90 filing, keep the confirmation, receipt information, and copies of everything you submitted. The case information is especially important if you filed online.

USCIS may contact you if it needs more information or if you need to complete a biometrics step. Read every notice carefully. A notice may give you a deadline, location, or specific action to take.

Your case may involve:

• A filing receipt or online case update
• A request for more evidence
• Biometrics instructions, if required
• A decision on the application
• Instructions connected to the new card

Watch the address connected with your application. If you move, check the current USCIS process for updating your address so notices do not go to the wrong place.

Do not throw away your old card or notices without checking the instructions. If your old card is damaged, expired, or replaced, USCIS may give specific directions about what to do with it.

Online renewal, automatic renewal, and expired cards

Can you renew a Permanent Resident Card online?

Yes, the available research shows that USCIS lets applicants use its online filing system to apply for a new card in situations such as an expired or lost Permanent Resident Card. The online option uses Form I-90.

That does not mean every filing reason or every unusual case will have the same online path. Start with the USCIS I-90 page and follow the options the system gives you.

Do Permanent Resident Cards renew automatically?

The available information does not establish that Permanent Resident Cards renew automatically. The process consistently points applicants toward filing Form I-90 to renew or replace the card.

Do not assume that an expired card will trigger a new one by itself. Check the current USCIS instructions and file if the instructions say you need to apply.

Can you file after the card expires?

USCIS allows online applications for a new card when the Permanent Resident Card is expired, according to the available research. An expired card is therefore not a reason to assume online filing is impossible.

Still, the correct filing reason and document list depend on your situation. Use the current I-90 instructions rather than copying answers from someone else's application.

What documents do you need to renew your Green Card?

You need Form I-90 and supporting information or documents that fit your reason for filing. A photo ID showing your name and date of birth may include a passport, driver's license, or state ID.

You may also need information from your current or expired card. If the card was lost, provide the information you have and follow the instructions for that situation.

How to check processing times and case updates

There is no current processing-time number established by the available research for every I-90 case. That matters because processing times can change, and different cases may not move at the same speed.

Before filing, use the current USCIS processing-time tool and check the information for Form I-90. After filing, use the case-status tools connected with your USCIS account or receipt information.

When checking your case, have the following ready:

• Your receipt or confirmation number
• The form type, which is Form I-90
• The filing date, if shown
• Any USCIS notice you received

A search result or old article that gives a fixed number of days may not match the current situation. USCIS is the place to check the current fee, filing instructions, case status, and processing-time information.

Before you submit, visit the official USCIS Form I-90 page and review its current fee and processing-time tools. That final check can help you choose the right filing route, pay the correct amount, and avoid relying on information that has changed.