What Do I Need to Renew My Resident Card

The usual starting point is Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, plus a copy of your current or expired Green Card and a valid passport or government-issued photo ID. But first, check what kind of permanent resident status you have. That one detail decides whether Form I-90 is the right path.

Check whether you should file Form I-90

Use this decision tree before gathering documents:

1. Are you a regular lawful permanent resident?

If yes, Form I-90 is generally the form used to renew an expiring card or replace a card that has been lost, damaged, stolen, or contains incorrect information.

1. Does your card show conditional permanent resident status?

If yes, Form I-90 may not be the right form. Conditional residents usually need to take a different step to remove the conditions on their status.

1. Are you replacing a card rather than renewing it?

Form I-90 can apply to both situations. The reason for filing changes, though, and you may need different supporting details.

Lawful permanent residents are expected to carry a valid, unexpired Green Card or other proof of permanent resident status. If your card is close to its expiration date, start by checking the current USCIS instructions for Form I-90. If the card has already expired, you may still have a filing option, but you should pay close attention to the proof you can use while the application is pending.

Renewal versus replacement

People often say “renew my Green Card” when they mean several different things:

• Renewal: Your card is expiring or has expired, and you need a new card.
• Replacement: Your card was lost, stolen, damaged, or printed with incorrect information.
• Status-related filing: You have conditional permanent residence and need to remove the conditions instead of simply replacing the card.

The form and documents can depend on which situation applies. Don’t choose a filing reason just because it sounds close. Read the current Form I-90 instructions and select the reason that matches your situation.

Documents to gather before renewing your resident card

For a standard Form I-90 filing, make a basic document folder before you begin. Keep the original documents safe unless the instructions specifically tell you to send one.

Your starting checklist should include:

• Form I-90, completed through the approved filing method
• Your current Green Card, if you still have it
• A copy of the front and back of the card
• A valid passport or government-issued photo ID
• Any other document requested for your specific filing reason
• A way to pay the required filing costs, unless you qualify for an available fee option

The exact supporting documents can change based on why you are filing. For example, replacing a damaged card may not involve the same facts as replacing a lost card. A name change or another correction may also call for records that support the change.

Make clear copies. If you submit paper documents, keep a complete copy of everything you send. If you file electronically, save a copy of the completed application and upload confirmations.

A simple folder can prevent problems later:

1. Scan or copy your Green Card.
2. Save the front and back as separate files or as one clearly labeled file.
3. Add your ID copy.
4. Save your completed Form I-90.
5. Keep payment records and every notice you receive.

How to use your current or expired Green Card copy

Your current or most recent Green Card is usually the key document in a standard renewal checklist. USCIS may need information from it to connect the application with your permanent resident record.

Copy both sides of the card. The back may contain information that is not shown on the front. A front-only copy leaves out part of the document.

Your copy should be easy to read. Make sure the following details are visible:

• Your name
• Your photograph
• Your card number or other identifying information
• The card’s expiration date
• Any information printed on the back

If the card is expired, keep the copy anyway. An expired card does not automatically mean you have no way to show your status while Form I-90 is pending. A Form I-90 receipt notice may be used together with the expired card as evidence of lawful permanent resident status.

That does not mean every situation is handled the same way. Read the notice carefully and carry the documents you are told to use. If a government agency, employer, airline, or other organization asks for proof, ask what documents it accepts before you travel or attend an appointment.

If your card was lost or stolen, you may not be able to provide a copy. In that case, gather your passport or other government-issued photo ID and follow the instructions for your filing reason. Don’t create a replacement copy or guess at a card number.

When conditional permanent residents need Form I-751 or Form I-829

A conditional Green Card is different from a standard 10-year Permanent Resident Card. Conditional permanent residents usually have a two-year card. The next step is generally to remove the conditions on residence, not to renew the card through Form I-90.

There are two forms that may apply:

• Form I-751 is associated with removing conditions on residence based on marriage.
• Form I-829 is associated with removing conditions for certain investor-based permanent residents.

Look at your card and your immigration records before filing. If you are a conditional resident, Form I-90 may not solve the problem. Filing the wrong form can lead to delays or leave you without the application needed for your status.

This is the first branch in the decision tree:

> Regular lawful permanent resident: Check Form I-90.

> Conditional permanent resident: Check whether Form I-751 or Form I-829 applies instead.

If you are not sure which category describes you, get qualified immigration advice before submitting a form. Your filing deadline and status may depend on facts that a basic renewal checklist cannot answer.

How to complete and submit Form I-90

After confirming that Form I-90 fits your status, use the current USCIS form and instructions. Don’t rely on an old saved copy or a checklist from a previous year.

The application asks for identifying and immigration information. Enter your name and other details exactly and check each answer before submitting. Small mistakes can create follow-up requests or slow the case.

You generally need to choose between an electronic submission and a paper submission, depending on the reason for filing and the options USCIS currently provides.

Electronic submission

A Green Card renewal online can be useful if your filing reason is supported by the online system and you can upload readable documents. Before submitting:

• Create or use the required USCIS online account.
• Complete every required field.
• Upload the front and back of your Green Card.
• Upload your government-issued photo ID if requested.
• Review the filing reason and personal information.
• Save the confirmation and a copy of the application.

Online filing does not remove the need to check the current instructions. The system may ask for different evidence based on your answers.

Paper submission or an in-person step

Some applicants may need to submit a paper application, depending on the filing reason and current USCIS instructions. Use the address and payment method listed in those instructions. Do not send the form to an old address copied from another website or an earlier case.

Green Card renewal in person does not usually mean you can simply walk into a USCIS office and hand over the application. In-person contact may be connected to biometrics, an appointment, or another instruction from USCIS. Follow the notice you receive and confirm what the appointment is for.

If the online system does not support your situation, or your case has a special issue, check the current USCIS instructions before deciding how to submit it.

> Verify before filing: 2026 fees and rules

>

> Do not treat older fee figures or online search snippets as the current 2026 requirements. Confirm all of these items through the latest USCIS instructions before you submit:

>

> - The current Form I-90 filing fee

> - Whether a separate biometrics fee applies

> - Any available fee-waiver process

> - Accepted payment methods

> - Whether your filing reason can be submitted online

> - The current document and appointment instructions

>

> One commonly repeated fee listing gives $455 for filing and $85 for biometrics, but those amounts must be checked before filing. They should not be treated as confirmed 2026 fees without verification.

Filing fees, biometrics fees, and fee-waiver questions

Form I-90 may involve a filing fee and, in some cases, a biometrics fee. The amount and payment rules can change, so check the latest fee schedule before you pay.

A fee-waiver question is separate from whether Form I-90 is the right form. First confirm the correct application. Then check whether USCIS currently offers a fee waiver for your filing and whether you meet its requirements.

If you request a Green Card renewal fee waiver, use the current waiver form and instructions. Follow the evidence rules listed there. Don’t simply leave the payment section blank unless the instructions tell you to do that.

Before submitting, confirm:

• The fee amount
• Whether you owe a separate biometrics fee
• Whether your payment method is accepted
• Whether your fee-waiver request is complete
• Whether you must submit the fee waiver with Form I-90

A payment problem can cause a filing to be rejected or returned. Save proof of payment or confirmation after submitting.

What happens after filing, including biometrics and the receipt notice

After USCIS receives the application, it may send a receipt notice. Keep that notice with your copy of Form I-90 and your expired or current card.

The receipt notice can be important because it may be used with an expired Green Card as evidence of lawful permanent resident status. Read the notice to see what it says about your case and what documents you should carry.

USCIS may also schedule you for biometrics. Biometrics can include identity-related information collected at an appointment. If you receive an appointment notice, check the date, time, location, and items you need to bring.

Don’t ignore a request from USCIS. A missed appointment or unanswered notice can delay the application or affect how it is handled.

Your case may also involve a request for more information. If that happens, read the deadline and send only what the notice requests. Keep a copy of your response and proof that you submitted it.

What to do if your card is expired while the application is pending

An expired card can make ordinary tasks more stressful, especially if someone asks for proof of your status. Keep these documents together:

• Your expired Green Card
• Your Form I-90 receipt notice
• Your passport or other government-issued photo ID
• Copies of the application and supporting documents

The expired Green Card and receipt notice may work together as evidence of lawful permanent resident status. The exact way they are accepted can depend on the situation, so read the notice and check current USCIS guidance before travel, employment verification, or another time-sensitive task.

If you have not filed yet, don’t assume that an expired card means you should use a different form. First decide whether you are a regular lawful permanent resident or a conditional resident. Then choose Form I-90, Form I-751, or Form I-829 based on that status.

Before sending anything, check the latest USCIS instructions and confirm your form, supporting documents, fees, and filing method. That final check is the best way to catch a changed 2026 rule or an instruction that does not match an older renewal checklist.