How to Renew Residence Card

Before you file anything, decide what happened to your Green Card. Are you renewing a card that is about to expire? Replacing one that was lost or damaged? Or fixing a mistake printed on the card?

For most of these situations, you use Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. You can usually submit it online or by mail. The right documents, fee, and filing reason depend on your situation, so start with that decision before filling out the form.

Start by identifying the card problem

Your first step is to match your situation with the correct reason for filing.

Your card is expiring or has expired

You generally file Form I-90 to renew a Green Card that is expiring or has already expired. Keep a copy of the card before sending your application, if possible.

An expired card does not mean you should simply ignore the problem. You may need current evidence of your permanent resident status for work, travel, or other official matters. After filing, the Form I-90 receipt notice may be used together with your expired Green Card as evidence of status. Check the latest USCIS instructions to confirm how this evidence applies to your situation.

Your card was lost, stolen, or damaged

Form I-90 is also used to replace a card that you can no longer use. This includes a card that was lost, stolen, or damaged.

If you still have the damaged card, make a copy of it. If it was lost or stolen, prepare the details you know about the card and explain the situation as requested on the form.

Your card has incorrect information

You may also use Form I-90 when the card contains an error or when information needs to be corrected. The filing reason matters here. A correction may require different supporting evidence from a routine renewal.

Read each question carefully. Do not choose “renewal” simply because you need a new physical card. The reason for replacement should match what actually happened.

The form used for most Green Card changes

The main form for this process is Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. This is the form used for many Green Card renewal and replacement requests.

Before you begin, gather:

• Your current or expired Green Card, if you still have it
• A copy of the card
• A valid government-issued ID
• Any other records that explain a loss, damage, correction, or change
• A way to pay the filing and biometrics charges, if required

Your form must match your records. Check names, dates, card numbers, addresses, and other identifying details before submitting it. A mistake can lead to a request for more information or delay the application.

Also check whether your situation belongs in a different immigration process. This guide covers the usual Form I-90 route for renewing or replacing a permanent resident card. It is not a decision about your individual immigration case.

Choose online filing or paper filing

There are two main ways to submit Form I-90: Green Card renewal online or by mail. Neither option removes the need to provide accurate information and supporting documents.

Filing Form I-90 online

Online filing can be useful if you want to enter your information electronically and keep your application in an online account.

A typical online process looks like this:

1. Create or sign in to the appropriate USCIS online account.
2. Select Form I-90.
3. Choose the reason for replacing or renewing your card.
4. Enter your personal and immigration information.
5. Upload copies of required documents.
6. Review every answer before submitting.
7. Pay the required fee shown during filing.
8. Save the confirmation and copies of everything you submitted.

An online account can make it easier to check messages or notices connected with the application. Still, do not assume every Form I-90 situation can be filed online. Confirm that your specific case qualifies for online submission under the current USCIS instructions.

Use clear scans or photos of your documents. Make sure the full page is visible and that names, dates, and numbers can be read. Keep the original documents unless the instructions tell you to send them.

Sending Form I-90 by mail

Paper filing may be useful if you prefer a printed application or your situation is not eligible for online filing.

For a mail application:

1. Download the current Form I-90 and its filing instructions.
2. Complete the form in the way the instructions require.
3. Make a copy of your expiring, expired, damaged, or incorrect card when available.
4. Add a copy of valid government-issued ID if requested for your filing.
5. Include other evidence that supports the reason you selected.
6. Pay the correct fee in the accepted form.
7. Make a complete copy of the package.
8. Mail it to the address listed in the current USCIS instructions.

Do not use an old mailing address just because it appears in a saved document or an earlier application. Filing addresses and payment rules can change. Check the current instructions on the day you prepare the package.

Use a delivery method that lets you keep proof of mailing and delivery. Store that proof with your copy of the application.

Documents to gather before you start

If you are asking, What documents do I need to renew my green card?, begin with the basic checklist below.

Basic filing checklist

Prepare:

• Form I-90
• A copy of your expired or expiring Green Card
• A valid government-issued ID
• Payment for the required filing costs
• Any additional evidence required for your filing reason

The card copy helps show the information on the card and supports a standard renewal request. If you do not have the card because it was lost or stolen, follow the form instructions for that situation instead.

Extra documents for special cases

Your supporting documents may change if you are:

• Replacing a lost or stolen card
• Replacing a damaged card
• Correcting an error
• Updating information
• Filing for a reason other than a normal expiration

For a correction, include records that support the correct information when the instructions call for them. For a damaged card, keep a copy or image of the card if you can. For a lost card, provide the information you have rather than guessing.

Do not send documents that are unrelated just to make the package larger. Use the current filing instructions to decide what supports your specific reason.

Costs, payment, and biometrics

The Green Card renewal fee in 2026 must be checked against the current USCIS fee information before you file. The figures shown in some search results include a $455 filing fee and an $85 biometrics fee, but those amounts are not confirmed here as the current 2026 schedule.

The amount you owe may depend on the filing method, your reason for filing, or whether a biometrics charge applies. The fee shown in older information may not be the fee USCIS currently requires.

Before submitting:

• Check the latest Form I-90 fee instructions.
• Confirm whether a biometrics fee applies.
• Confirm the accepted payment method.
• Make sure the payment amount matches the current instructions.
• Keep proof of payment.

Biometrics appointments

USCIS may require biometrics. This means collecting identity information such as fingerprints, a photograph, or a signature.

If USCIS schedules you for a biometrics appointment, the notice should tell you where and when to appear and what to bring. Read the notice closely. Do not skip the appointment without checking the instructions for changing the date or responding to the notice.

A biometrics request is part of processing. It does not by itself guarantee approval.

The next steps after filing

After USCIS receives the application, look for a receipt notice. Keep the notice with your copy of Form I-90 and your payment record.

That receipt notice can matter if your card expires while the application is pending. One listed use is presenting the receipt notice together with the expired Green Card as evidence of status. You should still review the latest USCIS guidance to confirm what documents are accepted for the specific purpose you have in mind.

You may later receive:

• A biometrics appointment notice
• A request for more evidence
• A notice about a correction or missing item
• A decision or further case notice

Read every notice from USCIS and follow its deadline. If USCIS asks for evidence, send the requested material in the format and time listed in the notice. Keep a copy of your response and proof that you sent it.

How long does it take to renew a green card?

Processing time can vary. The information available for this guide does not establish a guaranteed timeline, and no filing method can promise a particular decision date.

You can check the status using the information on your receipt notice and follow the current USCIS case-status instructions. Avoid making travel, work, or other plans based on an assumed completion date.

If the card expires while you wait

An expired Green Card can create practical problems, especially if someone asks you to show proof of permanent resident status. Filing Form I-90 does not mean you should throw away the old card. Keep it.

The receipt notice may be used with the expired card as evidence of status, as described above. Whether that combination is enough can depend on the situation and the current USCIS rules. For example, an employer, airline, government office, or other agency may have its own process for reviewing documents.

If you need proof for a specific purpose, check the latest USCIS instructions before relying on the receipt notice. If your card was lost, you may not have the expired card to show, so your options may differ.

Do not confuse a pending renewal with a change in your underlying immigration status. This guide only explains the Form I-90 renewal or replacement process.

Quick decision checklist

Use this order before you file:

1. Identify the problem: expiration, loss, theft, damage, or incorrect information.
2. Check that Form I-90 is the right form.
3. Choose online filing or paper filing.
4. Gather the card copy and valid government-issued ID when available.
5. Add evidence tied to your specific filing reason.
6. Verify the current fee and payment method.
7. Submit the form and save a complete copy.
8. Watch for the receipt notice and any biometrics or evidence request.
9. Keep the expired card and receipt notice together if the card expires during processing.

Before filing, review the latest USCIS Form I-90 instructions and fee information. If your case involves unusual facts, missing documents, travel concerns, status questions, or a correction that is not straightforward, seek advice from a qualified immigration professional.