Where to Find Permanent Resident Card Number

If a form asks for your Permanent Resident Card number, start with the back of the card. The number is usually in the lower section, inside the long machine-readable code made of letters, numbers, and symbols.

The wording on the form matters, though. A Permanent Resident Card has several numbers, and they are not all used for the same purpose.

Where the permanent resident card number appears

Turn the card over and look near the bottom. You should see one or more long rows of characters. This is the card’s machine-readable area.

The card number is generally found there. On many cards, it:

• Starts with three letters
• Is followed by 10 numbers
• Has 13 characters in total
• Appears in the first row of the long code near the bottom

The card number may also be printed on the front of the card. However, the back is the safest place to check when a form asks for the card number, document number, or Permanent Resident Card number.

Look closely at the characters. Some letters and numbers can look alike, especially in a small printed code. For example, a letter may be confused with a number. If you plan to type the number into a form, compare it with both sides of the card when possible.

The key label difference

Use this simple side-of-card guide:

• Back of card: Look for the 13-character card or document number.
• Front of card: Look for the USCIS number or other personal identification details.
• Not printed on the card: A receipt number usually belongs to an immigration case, not to the card itself.

That distinction solves many of the problems people run into with a Permanent Resident Card number lookup online or on a government form.

How to find the number on newer Permanent Resident Cards

For cards issued after May 2010, the number is typically on the back, at the bottom. It appears as part of the long machine-readable code.

On current designs, this is commonly described as a 13-character alphanumeric document number. “Alphanumeric” simply means it can contain both letters and numbers.

A practical way to find it:

1. Turn the card to the back.
2. Move to the bottom section with the long rows of characters.
3. Start with the first row.
4. Identify the 13-character code in that area.
5. Enter it exactly as printed, unless the form tells you to leave out spaces or symbols.

The number may look like a mix of letters and digits. One commonly described format is three letters followed by 10 numbers. On some card layouts, the relevant number is described as the last 13 characters in the long code at the bottom. Because layouts can vary, read the form’s wording and check the full machine-readable area instead of guessing from one number on the front.

If the form calls it the document number, the back-of-card code is usually the number you should examine first.

How the card number differs from the USCIS number

The USCIS number is a separate number printed on the front of Permanent Resident Cards issued after May 10, 2010.

This is where people often choose the wrong number. They see a prominent number on the front and assume it must be the card number. It may instead be the USCIS number.

Think of the two numbers this way:

• Card or document number: Usually found on the back, in the lower machine-readable area.
• USCIS number: Printed on the front of newer cards.

The USCIS number identifies your immigration record within the USCIS system. The card or document number identifies the physical card document for purposes where that number is requested.

So, is the Permanent Resident Card number the same as the USCIS number? Not necessarily. The supplied card information treats them as different numbers, especially on newer cards. Use the exact label on the form rather than using the first number you notice.

If a form asks for a USCIS number, check the front. If it asks for a card number or document number, check the back.

Card number, document number, Alien Number, and receipt number compared

These terms can sound interchangeable, but they point to different things.

Card number

The card number is associated with the physical Permanent Resident Card. It is generally found on the back near the bottom. It is often described as 13 characters, with three letters followed by 10 numbers.

Some forms may call this the Permanent Resident Card number or green card number.

Document number

The document number is the 13-character alphanumeric code on the back of a current card. Depending on the card design and the form, “document number” may be the wording used for the card number.

If a form asks for the document number on a Permanent Resident Card, check the back first.

Alien Number

The Alien Number, often written as an A-Number, is another immigration identification number. The research supplied for this guide does not establish that it is the same as the card number or the USCIS number.

If a form specifically asks, “Where is the Alien Number on a Permanent Resident Card?”, do not automatically copy the back document number. Check the front and the form’s instructions for the field labeled Alien Number or A-Number.

The form’s label controls. A request for an Alien Number is different from a request for a document number.

Receipt number

A receipt number is tied to an immigration filing or case. It is not the same thing as the number printed on the Permanent Resident Card.

You may see a receipt number on an immigration notice connected with an application. That does not make it the card number. If a form asks for a receipt number, look for the relevant case notice or follow that form’s instructions. Do not use the back-of-card document number unless the form tells you to.

Which number to use for Form I-9

Form I-9 asks for information from documents used to verify identity and work authorization. If you use a Permanent Resident Card for the document section, pay close attention to the field label.

When the form asks for the document number, use the number associated with the card document. On a current card, that generally means checking the back for the 13-character code in the machine-readable area.

Do not substitute the front-facing USCIS number just because it is easier to see. The two numbers have different labels and may serve different purposes.

Before submitting the form, check:

• Did the field ask for a document number or a USCIS number?
• Did you copy the characters from the correct side?
• Did you include letters as well as numbers?
• Did you follow the form’s rules about spaces, punctuation, or extra characters?

If the card’s layout does not match the wording you see, use the official Form I-9 instructions rather than guessing.

How older and newer card layouts may differ

Permanent Resident Cards have changed over time. Older cards may place numbers in different locations or use a design that does not look like a current card.

Newer cards issued after May 2010 usually put the card or document number on the back in the lower machine-readable section. Newer cards also print a USCIS number on the front.

That does not mean every older card will look the same. The number may be easier to find on one design than another, and the placement of labels can vary.

If your card has a long code at the bottom, inspect the first row carefully. The card number is commonly associated with that area. If the card is older and you cannot tell which characters are the document number, compare the wording on your form with the information printed on the card.

Can you look up a green card number online?

A Permanent Resident Card number lookup online may sound useful, especially if the number is hard to read. But the supplied information explains where to find the number on the physical card. It does not establish a confirmed online lookup method that replaces the card.

Do not assume that entering your name or other personal details into an online search will safely produce the correct number. An online result may also show a different immigration number, such as a USCIS number or a case receipt number.

If you have the card, use the card itself. If you do not have it, follow the instructions from the agency or form that requested the number. Use official channels rather than relying on an unverified lookup service.

What to do if the number is hard to read or the card is unavailable

First, check both sides under good lighting. Enlarge a clear photo of the card if you already have one, but be careful with personal information and avoid sharing the image publicly.

If the code is still unclear:

1. Write down the characters you can read.
2. Compare the front and back of the card.
3. Check whether the form asks for a card number, document number, USCIS number, Alien Number, or receipt number.
4. Read the official instructions for that form.
5. Contact the relevant government agency if the card is missing or the number cannot be confirmed.

The same advice applies if you are wondering what the nine-digit number on a Permanent Resident Card means. The available information identifies a USCIS number on the front of newer cards, but it does not establish that every nine-digit number is the one a particular form wants. Follow the form’s exact label.

Before you submit anything, check the wording one more time. Use the back-of-card document number when the form asks for the card or document number, and use official instructions when the card is unreadable, missing, or unclear.