How Long Is a Green Card Good For and When Should You Renew It?
Understand the duration of green card validity, key renewal timelines, and what to do if your card is lost, expired, or nearing expiration.
A Green Card, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, is a vital document for non-citizens authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. While granting long-term residency, the card itself has an expiration date, requiring holders to understand its validity period and the necessary steps for maintenance.
Maintaining a valid Green Card is crucial for avoiding complications with employment eligibility, international travel, and proof of lawful status.
Standard Validity Period
Most lawful permanent residents receive a Green Card (Form I-551) that is valid for ten years.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-90, Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card This standard 10-year duration applies unless an individual is granted conditional residency, which operates under a shorter timeframe.
It is important to distinguish between the expiration of the physical card and the expiration of one’s underlying permanent resident status. The date on the card indicates when the document itself must be renewed, not when legal residency ends. An individual remains a lawful permanent resident even if their 10-year card expires, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). However, an unexpired card is required as proof of status for employment verification (Form I-9) and reentry into the U.S. after travel abroad.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-90, Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card While older Green Cards issued between 1977 and August 1989 lack expiration dates, USCIS generally advises renewing them to ensure holders possess current, secure documentation.
Conditional Residency Term
Certain individuals receive conditional permanent residence, which comes with a Green Card valid for only two years. This typically applies to those who gained residency through a marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident if the marriage was less than two years old at the time residency was granted. Immigrant investors under the EB-5 program also initially receive conditional status. The basis for these conditions is outlined in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
This two-year period functions as a probationary phase, allowing immigration authorities to verify the legitimacy of the marriage or the sustainment of the investment and job creation. During this time, conditional residents generally have the same rights and responsibilities as other permanent residents.
Unlike the standard 10-year card, the expiration of a conditional Green Card signifies the end of the conditional status itself unless steps are taken to remove the conditions before the card expires. This requires filing a specific petition with USCIS – Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, for marriage-based residents, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, for EB-5 investors.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-90, Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card Failure to file the appropriate petition to remove conditions before the two-year card expires can lead to termination of residency status.
Renewal Procedures
Lawful permanent residents with a standard 10-year Green Card must file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, to renew it. USCIS recommends submitting this application if the card has already expired or will expire within the next six months.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-90, Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card Filing earlier than six months before expiration may result in rejection.
The application can be filed online via a USCIS account or by mailing a paper form to the designated processing facility.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-90, Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card Online filing allows for electronic payment and case tracking. A copy of the expiring or expired Green Card is usually required.
After filing Form I-90, USCIS issues a receipt notice (Form I-797C). For renewal applicants, this notice automatically extends the validity of the expiring Green Card for a period specified on the notice (currently 36 months as of September 2024).6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-90, Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card The receipt notice, presented with the expired card, serves as temporary proof of status and work authorization while the renewal application is processed.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-90, Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
Applicants will typically be scheduled for a biometrics appointment at a local USCIS Application Support Center.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-90, Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card During this appointment, fingerprints, a photograph, and a signature are collected for background checks. Attendance is mandatory. Once background checks are complete, USCIS reviews the application, and upon approval, mails the new 10-year Green Card. The current filing fee for Form I-90 is $415 for online filing and $465 for paper filing, effective April 1, 2024; a separate biometrics fee is no longer charged for this form.9Immigrant Legal Resource Center. USCIS Publishes Final Fee Rule, Effective April 1, 2024
Replacement
Permanent residents may need to replace their Green Card even if it is not nearing expiration. A replacement is required if the card is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-90, Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card Filing Form I-90 is also necessary if the card was issued but never received, contains incorrect biographical information (like a misspelled name or wrong date of birth), or if the resident legally changes their name or other biographic data after the card was issued.
The process involves filing Form I-90, indicating the reason for replacement. Supporting documents depend on the situation. For a lost or stolen card, a copy of the card (if available) or other government-issued photo ID is needed; a police report can be helpful if the card was stolen. If replacement is due to a USCIS error on the card, the original card and proof of the correct information are required, and the fee is typically waived.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-90, Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card For legal name changes, documentation like a court order is necessary.
The standard Form I-90 filing fee applies to most replacement cases ($415 online, $465 paper, as of April 1, 2024), unless eligible for a fee waiver (Form I-912) based on financial hardship or if the replacement is due to USCIS error or non-receipt.12U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-90, Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card Applicants will usually receive a receipt notice and attend a biometrics appointment, similar to the renewal process.
Crucially, the receipt notice for a replacement application (especially for lost, stolen, or damaged cards) does not automatically extend the validity of the Green Card like it does for renewals. If temporary proof of status is needed urgently for work or travel while the replacement application is pending, the resident can request it from USCIS. This is typically done by contacting the USCIS Contact Center to schedule an appointment at a field office, where an officer may place an Alien Documentation, Identification, and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp, also known as an I-551 stamp, in their valid passport or on a Form I-94. This stamp serves as temporary evidence of permanent resident status, usually valid for up to one year.