How to Renew Your Pr Card

“PR card” can mean two different things. In Canada, it means a Permanent Resident Card. In the United States, people often use similar language for a Green Card.

The renewal process is different in each country:

• Canada: Start through the Permanent Residence Portal.
• United States: Renew or replace a Green Card with Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. The form may be filed online.

Check your country before you begin. Using the wrong portal, form, or document list can waste time and may lead to an incomplete application.

First, confirm whether you are renewing a Canadian PR card or a U.S. Green Card

Look at the card you have and identify the country that issued it.

Canada: Permanent Resident Card

The Canadian process uses the Permanent Residence Portal. The steps shown for a renewal include:

1. Completing the application.
2. Gathering the required documents.
3. Paying the application fee.
4. Submitting the application through the portal.

Canadian renewal applicants should include a copy of their current PR card, according to the application guide. You should also review the current guide for the full list of documents and any instructions that apply to your situation.

United States: Green Card

The U.S. process uses Form I-90. This form is used to renew or replace a Green Card.

U.S. applicants can file Form I-90 online, according to the available application information. The form and its instructions will tell you what information and supporting documents apply to your reason for filing.

The names are easy to mix up, but the routes are not interchangeable. A Canadian PR card application does not use Form I-90. A U.S. Green Card renewal does not start in Canada’s Permanent Residence Portal.

How to renew a Canadian PR card online

Canadian applicants can start a PR card renewal application in the Permanent Residence Portal. Before opening the application, have your card and basic personal information nearby. This makes it easier to enter details accurately.

1. Open the Permanent Residence Portal

Use the current Canadian government instructions to reach the Permanent Residence Portal. Start a new renewal application there rather than using a form or website meant for another immigration service.

The portal instructions may change. Read the current directions on the official government page before you create or continue an application.

2. Complete the application

Enter the information requested in the portal. Check names, dates, addresses, and card details before moving on.

Small differences can cause problems. For example, make sure the information in the application matches your identity documents and current PR card where the form asks for matching details.

If a question is unclear, do not guess. Use the current application guide or the government instructions for an explanation.

3. Gather and upload your documents

Prepare the required files in the format and size accepted by the portal. The exact list depends on the current instructions, so do not rely on an old checklist found elsewhere.

One item confirmed in the Canadian guide is a copy of your current PR card when you are renewing that card. Keep a clear copy before you submit anything.

The portal or application guide may also ask for other supporting documents. Check the current list carefully. A document that was accepted in an older application may not be enough for a new one.

4. Pay the fee

The Canadian renewal process includes a fee payment step. Use the current official fee information before paying.

Do not copy a fee amount from an old article, saved form, or social media post. Fees can change, and the payment instructions in the current government process are the ones that matter.

Save your payment confirmation and any receipt number. You may need those details later.

5. Review and submit

Read through the completed application before submitting it. Check that:

• Every required question has an answer.
• Your uploaded files open and are readable.
• Your current PR card copy is included.
• Your name and contact details are correct.
• The payment was completed.
• You have saved the confirmation or submission record.

After submission, keep copies of the application, uploaded documents, payment confirmation, and messages from the portal.

Canadian PR card renewal documents checklist

Use this as a working checklist, then compare it with the current official instructions. It is not a replacement for the government document list.

Confirmed for a Canadian renewal

• A completed application in the Permanent Residence Portal.
• A copy of your current PR card if you are renewing it.
• The documents requested by the current application guide.
• Payment of the required fee.
• A final submission through the portal.

Check before you upload

• Are all files clear and readable?
• Are they in an accepted file type?
• Are they within the portal’s size limits?
• Does each file belong to the right person and application?
• Have you included both sides of a card or document if the instructions ask for both?
• Have you checked whether a document needs a translation or another special format?

The safest answer to “What documents do I need to renew my green card?” depends on which country you mean. For Canada, use the PR card renewal guide. For the United States, use the Form I-90 instructions. The two systems have different forms and different document rules.

Once you receive a new Canadian PR card, the government guide says to destroy the old card. Do not destroy it before the new one arrives unless the current instructions specifically tell you to do something different.

How to renew or replace a U.S. Green Card with Form I-90

For a U.S. Green Card, the main form is Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.

The form covers renewal and replacement situations. Follow the version of the form and instructions currently provided by the U.S. government.

1. Confirm that Form I-90 is the right route

Start by checking the current Form I-90 instructions. They explain which Green Card situations use the form and what information you must provide.

Do not assume that every permanent resident document problem is handled the same way. If your situation does not fit the form’s instructions, stop and check the official guidance before filing.

2. Choose the filing method

Form I-90 can be filed online. If you use the online route, create or access the required account and follow the filing screens.

The online application will guide you through the information needed for your case. Read each question closely. Choose the correct reason for filing and review your answers before you submit.

If you use a paper form instead, follow the current mailing instructions exactly. Do not send it to an address copied from an old form or an unofficial website.

3. Prepare the information and documents requested

Have your Green Card information available while completing Form I-90. Use the current form instructions to identify the supporting documents required for your filing reason.

Your document needs may differ if you are renewing an expiring card, replacing a lost card, or correcting information. The official instructions are the best place to confirm what applies.

Before uploading or mailing anything, check that:

• The documents are complete and readable.
• The information matches your form.
• You have followed the file or copy requirements.
• You have kept a copy of everything you send.

Avoid adding random documents just to make the package look bigger. Send what the current form instructions request, and check whether extra evidence is needed for your specific reason.

4. Submit Form I-90

Review the form one more time. Confirm your contact details and filing reason, then submit it through the chosen filing method.

If you file online, save the confirmation shown after submission. If you mail the application, keep proof of delivery and a complete copy of the package.

The official filing instructions control what happens next. They also explain how the government will contact you if it needs more information.

Fees and payment for PR card or Green Card renewal

Both routes involve payment, but the amount and payment process are separate.

Canada

A Canadian PR card renewal includes a fee payment step. Check the current Canadian government fee page and the payment instructions connected to the PR card application before submitting.

Save the receipt or confirmation. If the portal gives you a payment reference, keep it with your application records.

United States

Form I-90 has its own fee information and payment instructions. Check the current U.S. government fee page and the Form I-90 filing instructions before paying.

Do not use a Canadian PR card fee for a U.S. Green Card application, or the other way around. The forms, agencies, and payment systems are different.

If the official instructions say more than one payment is required, follow those instructions exactly. If the amount or payment method is unclear, confirm it before filing rather than guessing.

What to do after submitting your application

Save a small application file on your phone or computer. Include:

• A copy of the completed application.
• Copies of every document you uploaded or mailed.
• Your payment receipt.
• Your confirmation or reference number.
• Emails, letters, or portal messages about the case.

Check your email, online account, and physical mail for updates. Use the contact details you provided in the application. If your address or email changes, follow the current government instructions for updating your information.

Do not submit a second application simply because you have not received an immediate update. First, check your confirmation and status information. Sending another application can create confusion.

For a Canadian application, follow the Permanent Residence Portal messages and the instructions connected to your submission. For a U.S. application, follow the Form I-90 or immigration account notices.

If the government asks for more information, respond by the deadline and use the requested method. Keep proof that you sent the response.

How to check your PR card renewal status and processing time

The PR card renewal processing time is not one fixed number for every application. It can change, and the official estimate may be updated.

For Canada, check the application status through the current government status tool or the Permanent Residence Portal instructions. Have your confirmation details ready if the system asks for them.

For the United States, check the status connected to your Form I-90 filing through the current U.S. government case-status or online-account instructions.

Status pages may show that an application was received, is being reviewed, needs more information, or has reached another stage. Read the status message carefully. A processing estimate is not a promise of a decision on a particular date.

If the stated processing time has passed, use the official contact method for that country. Avoid relying on random status websites or advice from an unrelated application type.

Common renewal mistakes that can delay an application

Most avoidable problems come from mixing up the two systems or submitting an incomplete package.

Starting in the wrong place

Canadian applicants should use the Permanent Residence Portal. U.S. applicants should use Form I-90. Confirm the country before filling out anything.

Using an old fee amount

Fee information can change. Check the current official page before payment, and save your receipt afterward.

Leaving out the current Canadian PR card copy

The Canadian guide says renewal applicants should include a copy of their current card. Add it to your checklist before you submit.

Uploading unclear files

Blurry scans, cut-off pages, and unreadable photos can make it hard to review an application. Open every file yourself before uploading it.

Choosing the wrong reason on Form I-90

A U.S. Green Card renewal and a replacement for another reason may require different information. Read the current Form I-90 options instead of selecting the first choice that sounds close.

Forgetting to save proof

Keep the confirmation, payment record, application copy, and supporting documents. Without those records, it is harder to check what you submitted.

Relying on a generic checklist

A checklist from another applicant may leave out something your case needs. Use it only as a reminder. Before applying, confirm the current fees, documents, and submission rules in the official Canadian Permanent Residence Portal instructions or the official U.S. Form I-90 instructions—the correct route for your country.