What Documents Are Required to Renew a Green Card

The first document question is really a status question: do you need Form I-90, Form I-751, or Form I-829? Most lawful permanent residents renewing a regular 10-year green card use Form I-90. Conditional residents often need a different filing.

Choosing the right form before gathering documents can save you from preparing the wrong packet.

Start by identifying whether you need Form I-90, Form I-751, or Form I-829

A standard renewal or replacement usually starts with Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.

You may use Form I-90 if you are a lawful permanent resident with a regular green card that:

• Is expired or close to expiring
• Was lost, damaged, or stolen
• Contains incorrect information
• Needs to be replaced for another reason listed in the form instructions

One result advises filing Form I-90 within six months of the card’s expiration. Check the current instructions before filing so you know how that guidance applies to your situation.

The main exception is conditional residence. A conditional green card is usually valid for two years. It is not renewed through the regular I-90 process in the same way as a 10-year card.

Conditional residents may need:

• Form I-751 to remove conditions based on marriage
• Form I-829 to remove conditions based on an investor case

If your card says you are a conditional resident, stop before building an I-90 document packet. Read the instructions for the form connected to your conditional status. Filing the wrong form can create delays or other problems.

Core documents for a standard green card renewal

For a regular I-90 renewal, build your checklist around these documents:

• A completed Form I-90
• Your signature on the form
• A copy of your current or expired green card, front and back
• A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport
• Recent passport-style photos

These are the basic materials repeatedly associated with a standard green card renewal. They are different from extra evidence you may need only because of a name change, incorrect card information, or another special situation.

Before you file, check that:

1. Every required part of Form I-90 is filled in.
2. The information matches your identity documents.
3. You signed the form where required.
4. The green card copy shows both sides clearly.
5. Your photo ID is readable and not cut off in the copy.
6. Your passport-style photos are recent and meet the current photo rules.

Make a complete copy of everything you submit. Keep the copy with your filing records and any delivery or submission confirmation.

A document checklist can help, but it does not replace the current USCIS form instructions. Requirements can change, and your filing reason may call for extra evidence.

How to prepare a copy of your current or expired green card

The green card copy is one of the most important parts of a standard I-90 filing. Include both:

• The front of the card
• The back of the card

The copy should be clear enough for the information to be read. Avoid blurry phone images, dark scans, or copies where the edges of the card are missing.

If your card is expired, include it anyway. An expired card can still be useful evidence when paired with the I-90 receipt notice. The two documents work together to show that you filed to replace the card and that your permanent resident status is still being documented while the application is pending.

If your card was lost or stolen, you may not be able to provide a copy of it. In that case, follow the current I-90 instructions for your filing reason. Do not replace the missing-card copy with an unrelated document unless the instructions say it is acceptable.

If the card is damaged, copy whatever parts remain readable. Keep the damaged card unless the instructions tell you to submit or surrender it.

When to include government-issued photo ID and passport-style photos

A government-issued photo ID is listed among the documents used for a standard renewal. Common examples include a driver’s license or passport.

Use an ID that clearly connects you to the identity shown on your green card. Make sure the name and identifying details are easy to read. If the name on your ID is different from the name on your green card, prepare evidence of the legal name change as described below.

Recent passport-style photos are also listed as part of the renewal materials. Follow the current photo instructions rather than relying on an old photo from a previous immigration filing.

Your photos should be:

• Recent
• Clear and in color, if required by the current instructions
• The correct size and format
• Free from shadows, glare, or anything that hides your face

The exact photo rules can depend on how you file and what the current instructions require. Check them before taking or submitting the photos.

Do not assume that a photo taken for a passport, driver’s license, or another application automatically meets the green card renewal rules.

Documents supporting a legal name change or other change

The standard checklist covers the basic renewal. You may need more evidence if something on your green card has changed or is wrong.

For a legal name change, include a document that connects your old name with your new one. Depending on your situation, that could be a court order, marriage record, divorce record, or another official document. Use the document that applies to your case and follow the current I-90 instructions.

You may also need supporting documents if:

• Your date of birth or other personal information is incorrect
• Your card was issued with an error
• Your immigration information changed
• You are replacing a card that was lost, stolen, or damaged
• You are filing for a reason other than a normal expiration

The key point is to separate basic renewal documents from case-specific evidence. You do not need to collect every possible document listed in general green card articles. Start with the documents that apply to your filing reason, then add proof for the specific change.

If your situation is unusual, checking with a qualified immigration lawyer or another authorized legal service may be wise. General information cannot tell you exactly what evidence your case needs.

What conditional residents need to file instead

Conditional residents should not treat a two-year conditional card like a regular 10-year green card.

If your conditional residence is based on marriage, the usual filing may be Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. If it is based on an investor case, the filing may be Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status.

These forms have their own evidence rules. For example, the documents needed to show a genuine marital relationship or an eligible investment are not part of the basic I-90 checklist.

Before gathering documents, ask:

• Does my card show conditional residence?
• Was my conditional residence based on marriage or investment?
• Is the card approaching the point when conditions must be removed?
• Does the current USCIS guidance tell me to file I-751 or I-829?

If the answer points to conditional residence, use the instructions for that form. Filing an I-90 simply because the card is expiring may not address the condition on your status.

This is one situation where getting qualified legal advice can be especially helpful, particularly if the filing deadline has passed, the relationship has ended, or there is another complication.

Filing Form I-90 online or by PDF

You may be able to complete Green Card renewal online or file a paper version of Form I-90 as a PDF.

The document checklist is still the same starting point:

• Completed form
• Signature, when required
• Front and back copy of the green card
• Government-issued photo ID
• Recent passport-style photos
• Extra evidence for a name change or another special filing reason

Online filing lets you upload digital copies of your documents. Scan or photograph each page so the text is sharp and the entire document is visible. Name your files clearly so you can tell which file shows the front of the card, the back of the card, your ID, and any supporting evidence.

For a paper filing, arrange the documents in the order requested by the current instructions. Do not send original identity or legal documents unless the instructions specifically ask for them. Keep copies for your own records.

Before submitting either type of filing, review the form one more time. A missing signature, unreadable upload, or mismatch between the form and your supporting documents can lead to trouble.

Fees, fee waivers, and the renewal receipt notice

A standard I-90 filing usually involves a fee, but the amount and payment rules can change. For the Green Card renewal fee 2026, do not rely on an old article or a fee amount saved from a previous filing. Check the current USCIS fee information and the instructions for the form before paying.

A fee waiver may be available in some situations. If you are asking for a green card renewal fee waiver, follow the current instructions for the waiver request and provide the evidence they require. Do not simply leave out the filing fee or assume that financial difficulty automatically means the fee is waived.

A filing is not complete just because you mailed a form or uploaded documents. Keep proof that you submitted the application and any fee or fee-waiver request.

After USCIS accepts the filing, it sends a receipt notice. Keep this notice with your expired or expiring green card.

The receipt notice can extend proof of status for 24 months when used with an expired green card. The notice is not a replacement for the card by itself. Its value comes from using it together with the expired green card.

How long does a green card renewal take?

The available information does not give a current Green Card renewal processing time estimate. Processing can change, so avoid relying on a fixed number of weeks or months from an old source.

Instead, keep your receipt notice and expired card together while the I-90 application is pending. Follow any instructions in notices you receive and check current USCIS case information for updates.

What to use as proof of status while the renewal is pending

If your card expires after you file Form I-90, keep these two items together:

1. Your expired green card
2. Your I-90 receipt notice

Used together, they can extend proof of status for 24 months. This is why you should not throw away the expired card after filing.

You may need proof of status for work, travel, identification, or another official purpose. The receiving agency or organization may have its own process for reviewing the expired card and receipt notice. Bring both documents rather than relying on only one.

If you never receive a receipt notice, lose it, or your situation does not fit a standard renewal, check the current USCIS guidance for next steps. Conditional residents should also confirm that they filed the correct form, since an I-90 receipt notice is tied to an I-90 filing.

Before sending anything, verify the current USCIS Form I-90 instructions and document requirements. Check especially carefully if you are a conditional resident, changing your legal name, replacing a lost card, or correcting important personal information.