What Documents Are Needed for Green Card Renewal

The right document list depends on your card situation. A standard renewal, a replacement for a lost card, an expired card, and a conditional Green Card case may follow different paths.

Before you gather paperwork, identify which one describes you:

• Standard renewal: Your regular Green Card is expiring or has already expired.
• Replacement: Your card was lost, stolen, damaged, or contains incorrect information.
• Conditional permanent residence: Your card is based on conditional residence. This may require Form I-751 or Form I-829 instead of Form I-90.

For most standard cases, the main paperwork is simple: Form I-90, a copy of both sides of your current or expired card, and government-issued photo identification when it applies to your situation.

The main paperwork for a standard renewal

For a regular Green Card renewal or replacement, start with this checklist:

• Completed Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
• A copy of the front and back of your current or expired Green Card
• A valid government-issued photo ID, when requested or relevant
• Any extra evidence that matches your reason for filing
• The required filing fee, unless USCIS approves a fee waiver or another fee rule applies

The exact evidence can change depending on why you are filing. Someone renewing an expiring card may have a different supporting-document need than someone replacing a card with a mistake, a lost card, or a stolen card.

Do not send unrelated documents just to make the packet look complete. Match each item to the reason for your application and the current Form I-90 instructions.

Quick decision check

Ask yourself these questions before preparing the form:

1. Is this a regular Green Card, or a conditional Green Card?
2. Do you still have the card?
3. Is the card expired, close to expiring, lost, stolen, damaged, or incorrect?
4. Are you filing online or sending a paper application?
5. Do you need to ask for a fee waiver?

Your answers help determine which documents belong with your application.

Form I-90: the application at the center of the process

For a standard Green Card renewal, the key form is Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. The form is used for more than an expiring card. It may also apply when you need to replace a card for another listed reason.

Complete the form using information that matches your immigration records and your current card. Check names, dates, addresses, and other identifying details before submitting. A small mistake can lead to a request for more information or slow the case.

You can prepare Form I-90 in two ways:

• File through the USCIS online system, if online filing is available for your case.
• Download, complete, and mail the paper PDF version.

The form itself is only one part of the submission. You may also need to upload or include copies of your card, identification, and other documents tied to your filing reason.

Keep a full copy of everything you submit. If you file online, save your confirmation and uploaded documents. If you mail the application, keep a copy of the complete packet and proof that you sent it.

How to prepare a copy of the Green Card

USCIS commonly asks for a copy of the front and back of the current or expired Green Card. Include both sides even if the information on the back seems unrelated to your renewal.

Make sure the copy is easy to read. The name, photo, card number, dates, and other printed details should be visible. If you use a scan or photo, check that:

• The entire card appears in the image.
• Neither side is cut off.
• The text is not blurry.
• The front and back are clearly identified.
• The file opens correctly if you are uploading it online.

If your card is expired, keep a copy anyway. An expired card can still be relevant evidence for your Form I-90 filing. If the card was lost or stolen, you may not be able to provide a copy. In that situation, follow the current Form I-90 instructions for your reason for filing rather than trying to replace the missing card with unrelated paperwork.

If the card is damaged but still available, copy both sides before sending it. Keep the original unless the filing instructions tell you to submit it.

When a government-issued photo ID may be needed

A valid government-issued photo ID is listed among the documents that may support a Green Card renewal or replacement. This might be relevant when USCIS needs another way to confirm your identity or when your filing situation calls for extra evidence.

Use an ID that is current and easy to read. Depending on your circumstances, this could be another government-issued identification document. Do not assume that every applicant must submit the same ID. The form instructions and the reason for replacement matter.

A practical file for this part of the checklist may include:

• A clear copy of the photo ID
• Copies of both sides if the ID has information on the back
• A translation or other supporting item only if the current instructions call for it

Your Green Card is also an identity document, so do not treat the photo ID requirement as a replacement for the front-and-back Green Card copy when you still have the card. These documents can serve different purposes.

Conditional permanent residents: when I-751 or I-829 applies

Not every permanent resident should file Form I-90.

If your Green Card shows that you have conditional permanent residence, check whether your case belongs with Form I-751 or Form I-829. These forms are used for conditional-residence matters instead of treating the case as an ordinary I-90 renewal.

That means you should not simply see an expiring card and submit Form I-90 without checking your status. First identify whether the card is conditional. Then review the form that applies to your conditional-residence category.

Your document path may look like this:

• Regular permanent resident: Usually review Form I-90 requirements.
• Conditional resident: Review Form I-751 or Form I-829 instructions instead.
• Unsure: Stop before filing and get qualified immigration help.

The wrong form can create a serious problem. This article does not decide which conditional form applies to a particular person. Your own records and the current USCIS instructions should control that choice.

Filing online or mailing the Form I-90 PDF

Green Card renewal online can make document handling easier because you can upload scans or photos and keep a digital record of what you submitted. You still need to prepare the same basic evidence: the form, the card copy, and any applicable identification or supporting documents.

Before uploading, give each file a clear name. For example, you might label files by the document type and side. Use readable files and check that every page uploaded successfully.

Paper filing may make sense if you prefer a physical packet or if online filing is not available for your situation. With the PDF option:

• Complete the current version of Form I-90.
• Sign where required.
• Include the front-and-back card copy.
• Add any relevant ID or supporting evidence.
• Include the correct payment or fee-waiver request.
• Keep a complete copy before mailing.

Online and paper filing are not two different immigration benefits. They are two ways to submit the application. The important question is whether the filing method you choose is available for your case and whether your packet follows the current instructions.

Fees, fee waivers, and filing details to check

The Green Card renewal fee 2026 is not stated in the supplied research. Do not rely on an old fee amount, a search snippet, or a fee listed on an unrelated page. Check the current USCIS Form I-90 fee information before you submit.

The same caution applies to a Green card renewal fee waiver. The available research confirms that fee-waiver questions come up, but it does not establish every eligibility rule, form, or supporting document needed for a waiver. Review the current USCIS instructions to see whether you qualify and how the request must be filed.

What the available information does not establish about 2026 rules

The supplied material does not confirm:

• A new 2026 Green Card renewal fee
• A specific 2026 fee-waiver change
• A new document requirement for every Form I-90 applicant
• A new deadline or rule for all expiring cards
• A general 2026 change to online filing

So be careful with claims that say the rules definitely changed in 2026. Verify the current fee, form edition, payment instructions, filing address, online filing options, and evidence rules directly against the current USCIS materials before submitting.

What the USCIS receipt notice can do after filing

After USCIS accepts the renewal application, it mails a receipt notice. Keep this notice with your expired Green Card.

The receipt notice can be used with the expired card as documentation after USCIS accepts the application. That matters if your physical card expires while the renewal case is still pending. The two documents work together, so do not throw away the expired card or misplace the notice.

Keep the receipt notice in a safe place and make a copy or scan for your records. If you file online, also save the electronic confirmation and your account messages.

The receipt notice does not mean the application has been approved. It shows that USCIS accepted the filing and provides documentation connected to the pending case. Read the notice carefully and follow any later USCIS request for evidence or appointment information.

Before you submit, check the current USCIS Form I-90 instructions, fees, and filing options. If your card is conditional, your situation is unusual, or you are unsure which form to use, seek advice from a qualified immigration professional before filing.