What Is an Alien Card

The phrase “alien card” can point to different documents, depending on the country. In the United States, it usually means the Alien Registration Card connected with lawful permanent residence. Most people now call that document a green card.

In another country, though, an alien card may be a foreign-national registration document. Kenya, for example, uses a Foreign Nationals Certificate, also called an Alien Card, for certain foreigners living there.

That difference matters. An alien card is not a universal document with one meaning everywhere.

What an alien card means in the United States

In U.S. immigration language, an Alien Registration Card is an identification card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, to lawful permanent residents.

A lawful permanent resident is a person allowed to live and work permanently in the United States under permanent resident status. The card serves as evidence of that status and identifies the person as its holder.

The name “Alien Registration Card” is older terminology. Many people also use related names such as:

• Green card
• Permanent Resident Card
• Resident alien card
• Alien Registration Receipt Card

These terms are closely connected in U.S. use, but they don't all describe exactly the same idea. Some refer to the physical card. Others describe the person’s immigration status or use older wording for the document.

The word alien can sound unusual or harsh in everyday speech. In immigration contexts, it has been used as a technical term for a person who is not a U.S. citizen. Its meaning can depend on the law, form, or country where it appears. So it helps to look at the full document name instead of relying on the phrase alone.

Is an alien card the same as a green card?

In the United States, an alien card generally refers to the same type of document as a green card: the Permanent Resident Card.

A green card is officially called a Permanent Resident Card. It allows the holder to live and work permanently in the United States. An Alien Registration Card is the identification card issued to lawful permanent residents. That is why the two terms are often treated as equivalent in U.S. explanations.

The wording can still cause confusion:

• Green card is the common name.
• Permanent Resident Card is the official name.
• Alien Registration Card is an older or alternate name for the identification document.
• Resident alien card is an informal phrase that may be used to describe the same U.S. card.

This does not mean every “alien card” in every country is a green card. Kenya’s Foreign Nationals Certificate is one example of a document that uses the Alien Card name but serves a different national system.

Also, the phrase U.S. Green Card requirements refers to the requirements for obtaining U.S. permanent resident status and the Permanent Resident Card. Those requirements can depend on the person’s situation. A card from another country cannot be used to assume that someone meets U.S. immigration requirements.

What information appears on a Permanent Resident Card

A U.S. Permanent Resident Card contains information used to identify the cardholder and the card itself.

The card includes:

• Biographic information, such as identifying details about the person
• A photograph
• A fingerprint
• An expiration date
• A unique USCIS number

The expiration date is one reason people sometimes wonder if a green card is temporary. The card has an expiration date as a physical document, even though it is used to show lawful permanent resident status. If you have a question about what an expired or soon-to-expire card means for your particular case, check current information from USCIS rather than relying on the card’s nickname.

The card is also different from a passport. A passport is generally issued by a person’s country of citizenship. A Permanent Resident Card is a U.S. immigration document showing lawful permanent residence.

That distinction is useful when a form asks for a passport number, citizenship, immigration status, or USCIS number. Those fields may ask for different pieces of information.

What the USCIS number on an alien card means

The USCIS number is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Department of Homeland Security. It appears on the front of a U.S. Permanent Resident Card.

This number identifies the person in the USCIS immigration system. It is not the same thing as citizenship, and it does not mean the person has become a U.S. citizen.

You may see the USCIS number requested on an immigration form or in a notice. The card may label it as a USCIS number, and immigration paperwork may refer to it in connection with the person’s records.

When entering the number, copy it carefully. A nine-digit identification number is easy to mistype, especially if you are working from a photocopy or an old form. If the number on a card seems unclear or does not match another immigration document, USCIS is the right place to ask what to do.

The number also should not be confused with:

• A passport number
• A Social Security number
• A card receipt number
• A foreign-national registration number issued by another country

The exact label on the form matters.

Alien cards outside the United States: the Kenya example

The meaning changes once you leave the U.S. system.

Kenya requires foreigners who live there for more than 90 days to be registered. Kenya uses a document called a Foreign Nationals Certificate, which is also known as an Alien Card.

That certificate is part of Kenya’s foreign-national registration process. It is not the same document as a U.S. green card, even though both may be described with the words “alien card.”

This is the key terminology problem:

• In the United States, an alien card usually points to the Permanent Resident Card held by a lawful permanent resident.
• In Kenya, an Alien Card refers to the Foreign Nationals Certificate used for registered foreign nationals.
• In another country, the phrase may refer to a different identification or residence document.

A foreign-national card may show that a person is registered or allowed to stay under that country’s rules. It does not automatically prove permanent residence, citizenship, or a right to work in the United States.

If a form asks for an “alien card,” first check which country issued it. Look for the document’s official name and the government authority listed on it. That small step can prevent you from entering the wrong number or treating a foreign document like a U.S. immigration card.

Green card holder, resident alien, and citizenship: how the terms differ

These labels are related, but they describe different things.

Green card holder

A green card holder is a person who has a U.S. Permanent Resident Card. In ordinary conversation, this usually means the person is a lawful permanent resident.

The term describes the person’s U.S. immigration status through the document they hold. It does not mean the person is a U.S. citizen.

Resident alien

A resident alien is a term used in some U.S. tax or immigration settings for a person who is treated as a resident while remaining a noncitizen. The exact meaning can depend on the context where the phrase appears.

A resident alien card usually means the physical identification card associated with a lawful permanent resident. In that sense, it is closely related to a green card. But the words resident alien can also describe a legal or tax category rather than the card itself.

So, “resident alien” and “green card holder” should not be treated as interchangeable in every form or situation. Read the question carefully and use the definition provided by the agency asking for the information.

U.S. citizen

A U.S. citizen is a different legal status from lawful permanent resident status. A green card does not turn into citizenship simply because someone has held it for a certain period.

That is why green card vs citizenship is an important comparison. A green card shows lawful permanent residence. Citizenship is a separate status, with its own rules and application process.

The card, the immigration status, and citizenship are three connected but separate ideas:

• The Permanent Resident Card is the physical document.
• Lawful permanent resident describes the immigration status.
• U.S. citizen describes a different status.

If a form asks whether you are an alien, resident alien, permanent resident, or citizen, don't guess based only on the word printed on your card. Use the form’s instructions or ask the relevant government agency.

Common questions about deportation and alien status

What are alien cards?

In U.S. usage, alien cards usually means Alien Registration Cards, the identification cards issued to lawful permanent residents. These are commonly known as green cards or Permanent Resident Cards.

In another country, the term may mean a foreign-national registration document. Kenya’s Foreign Nationals Certificate is one example.

Is a resident alien card the same as a green card?

In many U.S. explanations, the terms point to the same kind of document. A green card is the Permanent Resident Card, and an Alien Registration Card is the identification card associated with lawful permanent residents.

Still, the wording can vary by document and jurisdiction. Outside the United States, a resident-alien or alien card may have a different purpose.

Am I an alien if I have a green card?

A green card identifies you as a lawful permanent resident, not as a U.S. citizen. The word alien may appear in older U.S. immigration terminology, but its exact legal use depends on the document or question.

For an individual status question, don't rely on a general definition. Check USCIS guidance or ask a qualified immigration professional to review your situation.

Can ICE deport a U.S. citizen?

This is a question that needs current, case-specific legal guidance. The meaning of “alien” on a card or form does not, by itself, answer every question about enforcement or citizenship.

If this issue affects you or a family member, contact USCIS or seek advice from a qualified immigration lawyer. Avoid making a decision based on a card label alone.

When to check USCIS or the relevant country’s immigration authority

Start by identifying the country that issued the document. Then check the official name printed on the card or certificate.

For a U.S. document, USCIS is the place to check current information about:

• Permanent Resident Cards
• Alien Registration Cards
• USCIS numbers
• Green card applications and requirements
• Questions about permanent resident status

For a card issued outside the United States, contact that country’s immigration or foreign-national registration authority instead. Kenya’s Alien Card, for example, must be understood through Kenya’s rules, not U.S. green card terminology.

If your question involves your own status, an expired card, possible deportation, a citizenship application, or a form with unclear wording, get current guidance from USCIS or the appropriate national authority. Immigration terms can look similar while carrying different meanings, and the agency handling the document is the safest place to confirm what it means in your case.