What Documents Do I Need to Renew My Green Card

For a standard Green Card renewal, most lawful permanent residents need three main things: Form I-90, a copy of the front and back of the Green Card, and government-issued photo identification. Some applicants may also need passport-style photos or extra documents that explain a name change, card error, or other special situation.

The right checklist depends on your status and what happened to your card. Use the path below that matches your situation before you file.

The core documents for a Green Card renewal

Start by asking which situation describes you:

• Your 10-year Green Card is expiring: You will generally use Form I-90.
• Your 10-year Green Card already expired: You will generally still use Form I-90 to renew or replace it.
• Your card was lost, stolen, damaged, or contains an error: Form I-90 may also be used for replacement.
• You are a conditional permanent resident: You may need Form I-751 or Form I-829 instead.
• You need proof that you still have lawful status while waiting: Keep the I-90 receipt notice with your expired card, if that applies to your filing.

For a regular I-90 filing, gather:

1. The completed Form I-90
2. A copy of your current or expired Green Card, front and back
3. Government-issued photo identification
4. The required filing fee, unless you qualify for a fee waiver
5. Any extra documents requested by your situation
6. Passport-style photos, if the current filing instructions require them

Make clear scans or photocopies. Check that names, dates, card numbers, and other details can be read. Keep the originals unless the current USCIS instructions specifically tell you to submit one.

A Green Card is proof of permanent resident status. Lawful permanent residents are expected to carry a valid, unexpired Green Card or other accepted proof of that status. That makes it wise to deal with an expiring card before you urgently need it for work, travel, or another official purpose.

Form I-90: the application used by lawful permanent residents

Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, is the form generally used by lawful permanent residents who need to renew or replace their Green Card.

You may use it when your card is:

• Expiring or has already expired
• Lost, stolen, or destroyed
• Damaged
• Incorrect because of a USCIS or printing error
• Changed because your legal name or other personal information changed

The form asks you to identify the reason for filing. Choose the reason that matches your situation and follow the document instructions for that reason.

If your card is simply expiring, the core filing is usually straightforward: Form I-90, a copy of both sides of the card, identification, and the required fee. If the card was lost, you may not have a copy of it. In that case, follow the current I-90 instructions for lost or stolen cards rather than trying to create a replacement for a document you no longer have.

Do not assume that every person with a Green Card should file I-90. The most important status check comes first: Are you a regular lawful permanent resident, or a conditional permanent resident? Conditional residents usually have a different filing path.

If your card is about to expire, filing guidance commonly points applicants to the six months before expiration as the time to submit Form I-90. Check the current USCIS instructions for the timing that applies to your case.

How to provide a copy of your current or expired Green Card

A copy of the Green Card is one of the most commonly requested supporting documents for an I-90 filing.

Copy or scan:

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

The copy should be complete and readable. Do not send only the side that shows your photograph. The back may contain information USCIS needs to review the card.

If the card is expired, include a copy of it if you still have it. An expired card does not necessarily mean you have lost your underlying permanent resident status, but it can create a proof-of-status problem. Filing I-90 and keeping the receipt notice can help address that problem while the application is pending.

If the card is damaged, copy both sides as well. If only part of the card is available, submit what you have and check the current instructions for any additional explanation or evidence.

If the card was stolen or lost, do not delay filing only because you cannot make a copy. Use the instructions for that filing reason. You may need to provide another identity or status document, depending on what USCIS requests.

Keep a copy of the entire application package for your records. That includes the form, supporting documents, fee record, and delivery or electronic confirmation.

When a government-issued photo ID or passport-style photo may be requested

A government-issued photo ID can help establish your identity. Examples may include a passport or another official photo identification document. The exact document USCIS accepts can depend on the filing method and your reason for applying.

Have a readable copy ready if the current I-90 instructions ask for it. Make sure the name on the ID is clear. If your name has changed, you may also need a document that connects your old and new names, depending on the reason for the change and the instructions for your filing.

Some I-90 filing situations may also call for recent passport-style photos. Do not automatically include random photos with every application. Check the current form instructions and the filing method you choose. Online filing and paper filing may have different photo directions.

A simple document check can prevent avoidable delays:

• Is the image clear?
• Are all four edges of the card or ID visible?
• Can the text and numbers be read?
• Does the document belong to you?
• Does your name match the information on Form I-90, or do you have proof of a legal name change?

If your identity documents have different names, dates, or other details, do not guess at the explanation. Review the current USCIS instructions carefully. A complicated mismatch may be a good reason to seek advice from a qualified immigration professional.

What conditional permanent residents should file instead

This is the decision point many Green Card checklists fail to highlight.

A conditional permanent resident does not follow the same renewal process as a regular lawful permanent resident with a 10-year Green Card. Filing Form I-90 may be the wrong move if your status is conditional.

Depending on the basis for your conditional residence, you may need:

• Form I-751 to remove conditions on residence based on marriage
• Form I-829 to remove conditions based on investment

These forms address the conditions attached to your residence. They are not simply requests for a new card.

Look at your card and your immigration records to identify whether you are a conditional resident. If your card shows a two-year period of residence, do not treat it like a standard 10-year card without checking the rules that apply to you.

The correct form matters more than assembling a large packet of documents. Before filing, confirm whether your case requires Form I-751 or Form I-829. The current USCIS instructions for that form should control what evidence, timing, and fees apply.

If you are unsure about your status, avoid filing Form I-90 just because the card is expiring. A wrong filing can send you down the wrong process and leave you without the document or status evidence you expected.

Renewing online versus using the Form I-90 PDF

USCIS offers Form I-90 filing options that may include online filing and a paper application using the Green Card renewal Form PDF. The right option depends on your situation and whether you meet the requirements for online filing.

If you file online

You will generally create or use an online account, complete the electronic Form I-90, upload the required documents, and pay the fee through the available process.

Before submitting, check that:

• Your uploaded Green Card copy shows both sides
• Your files are clear and complete
• Your answers match your card and identity documents
• You have saved confirmation of the submission
• You can access future notices in the account

Online filing can make it easier to track electronic notices, but it does not remove the need to check the form instructions. Not every applicant or filing situation may qualify for the same online process.

If you file the paper PDF

Download the current Form I-90 PDF and its instructions. Do not rely on an old copy saved on your computer. Forms and filing directions can change.

Print the form as instructed, attach the required copies, and follow the current USCIS mailing directions. Keep a complete copy of the packet and proof that you sent it.

Whether you file online or by mail, the basic question stays the same: are you using the right form for your status, and have you included the documents that support your reason for filing?

Fees, fee waivers, and the filing checklist

Form I-90 normally requires a filing fee. The amount and payment rules can change, so check the current USCIS fee information before submitting payment. Do not rely on an old fee amount from a previous application.

Some applicants may ask for a Green Card renewal fee waiver if they cannot afford the required fee. A fee waiver is a separate request, not an automatic discount. You must follow the current USCIS instructions for the waiver and provide the information or evidence the form requires.

Before filing, use this checklist:

• [ ] I confirmed that I am a regular lawful permanent resident, not a conditional resident.
• [ ] I completed the current Form I-90.
• [ ] I selected the correct reason for renewing or replacing the card.
• [ ] I copied the front and back of my current or expired Green Card.
• [ ] I prepared a copy of acceptable government-issued photo identification, if required.
• [ ] I checked whether passport-style photos are needed.
• [ ] I included documents supporting a name change, card error, or other special reason, if applicable.
• [ ] I checked the current filing fee.
• [ ] I completed the fee-waiver process instead of sending an incomplete payment, if requesting a waiver.
• [ ] I saved a copy of everything submitted.

Renewing a Green Card is different from applying for citizenship. Form I-90 deals with renewing or replacing the card. It does not apply for naturalization, and the supplied filing information does not determine whether you qualify for citizenship. If citizenship is your goal, review that separate process rather than replacing an I-90 application with a citizenship application.

Using the I-90 receipt notice with an expired Green Card

After USCIS receives and accepts your Form I-90 filing, it sends a receipt notice. Keep that notice in a safe place.

A Form I-90 receipt notice can be used together with an expired Green Card as evidence of lawful status while USCIS processes the application. One current filing reference states that the receipt notice extends proof of status for 24 months during processing.

That does not mean you should throw away the expired card. Keep both documents together. The receipt notice is meant to work with the expired card, not replace the need to preserve your records.

You may need to show this combination when an employer, government office, or other authorized party asks for proof of permanent resident status. If you filed online, save the electronic receipt. If you filed by mail, keep the mailed notice and your delivery records.

If your receipt notice does not arrive, contains incorrect information, or does not match your filing, check the current USCIS instructions for the next step. Do not assume that an expired card by itself will provide the proof you need.

Before sending anything, verify the current USCIS Form I-90 instructions, fee rules, and filing options. Most of all, confirm whether you should file Form I-90 at all—or whether your status requires Form I-751 or Form I-829 instead.