Form I-90: How to Renew or Replace a Green Card

Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, is the form you file with USCIS to renew or replace a 10-year green card. You can file it online or by mail when your card has expired or will expire within the next six months, or at any time if your card was lost, stolen or damaged, has a mistake, or shows an old name. As of November 2026, the filing fee is $415 online or $465 on paper, and some applicants pay nothing. Your permanent resident status does not end when the card expires, but you need a valid card (or other official proof) to show your status.

This guide explains who should file Form I-90, who should not, what it costs, how the process works and how to prove your status while you wait.

Who Files Form I-90?

USCIS says a lawful permanent resident must replace their green card if:

• the card has expired or will expire within the next six months;
• the card was lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed;
• the card has incorrect information;
• you legally changed your name or other biographic information since the card was issued;
• USCIS issued a card that you never received;
• you received the card before age 14 and have now turned 14 (unless the card expires before your 16th birthday);
• you still hold an old version of the card, such as Form I-151, AR-3 or AR-103, which is no longer valid; or
• you are changing between commuter status and actually living in the United States.

Not sure what your card says about how you got it? Our guide to green card category codes explains the code printed under “Category.” If you do not have a green card yet and are applying from inside the United States, see our Form I-485 guide instead.

Who Should Not Use Form I-90 to Renew

If you have a two-year conditional green card (for example, from a recent marriage or an EB-5 investment), you do not renew it with Form I-90. Before the card expires, you file to remove the conditions: Form I-751 for most marriage-based cards, or Form I-829 for investors. The USCIS I-90 page says plainly not to submit the form if you are a conditional resident seeking to remove conditions. Missing the I-751 or I-829 deadline can end your permanent resident status, so this mistake is a serious one. See conditional permanent resident green cards: 5 facts to know and our page on removal of conditions.

Conditional residents do use Form I-90 in a few narrow cases: when the card is lost, stolen or damaged, has incorrect information, shows an old name, or was never received.

Form I-90 Filing Fee (as of November 2026)

According to the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055), last updated October 28, 2026:

There is no separate biometrics fee for Form I-90; the filing fee covers it. The fall 2026 inflation adjustments to certain immigration fees did not change the I-90 fee. Some applicants may qualify for a fee waiver with Form I-912. Fees change, so check the fee schedule or the USCIS fee calculator on the day you file.

If your card is wrong because of your own mistake on the original application (not a government error), the regular fee applies.

How to File Form I-90, Step by Step

1. Check whether you can apply for citizenship instead. USCIS itself suggests checking your naturalization eligibility before you file an I-90. More on this below.
2. File online or by mail. To file online you need a USCIS online account, which also lets you pay, upload evidence, track your case and get notices. If you mail a paper form, use the current edition (01/20/25 as of November 2026), sign it, and complete the required fields in Part 1, or USCIS will reject it. You will need your A-number, which newer cards show as the USCIS# on the front; see where to find your A-number.
3. Include the evidence the form instructions ask for. What you send depends on your reason for filing: for example, proof of a legal name change, or evidence of the correct information if the card has an error.
4. Keep your receipt notice. USCIS mails a Form I-797C receipt notice. For renewals, this notice is also your temporary proof of status (see below).
5. Attend biometrics if scheduled. If USCIS needs your fingerprints, photo and signature, it mails a separate appointment notice. See what to bring to your USCIS biometrics appointment.
6. Receive your new card by mail. Keep your address up to date with USCIS while the case is pending, so the card is not sent to an old address.

Processing times change often. Check the current estimate for Form I-90 on the USCIS processing times page.

Proving Your Status While Form I-90 Is Pending

If you are renewing an expired or expiring card, the I-90 receipt notice, together with your expired green card, is evidence of your permanent resident status for 36 months from the expiration date printed on the card. The notice states that you remain authorized to work and travel. You can show the receipt notice with the expired card to an employer for Form I-9.

If your card was lost or stolen, you have no card to pair with the receipt notice. USCIS may issue an ADIT stamp (a temporary I-551 stamp, usually in your passport) after you file. To ask for one, contact the USCIS Contact Center.

Adults should carry proof of status. Under section 264 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, permanent residents 18 and older must carry their registration document at all times.

Lost Your Green Card Outside the United States?

You cannot use Form I-90 from abroad to get a card you need to board a flight home. If your green card was lost, stolen or destroyed during a trip of less than one year, USCIS says to file Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation, which lets an airline board you without penalty. Once you are back, file Form I-90 for a new card. If you have been away more than a year without a reentry permit, or more than two years with one, you may need a returning resident (SB-1) visa instead. That situation calls for legal advice.

If your card will expire within six months while you are abroad, and you will return within one year and before the card expires, USCIS says to file Form I-90 as soon as you return.

Renew Your Green Card or Apply for Citizenship?

Many green card holders who renew are already eligible to naturalize, usually after five years as a permanent resident, or three years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen. As a citizen you never renew a green card again. Naturalization takes time, though, and you may still need a valid card to work or travel while the N-400 is pending. Some people file both. See permanent resident vs U.S. citizen, how long naturalization takes and our naturalization services.

When to Talk to a Lawyer Before Filing

For most people, an I-90 is routine. But USCIS runs background checks, and a filing can draw attention to past issues. Get advice first if:

• you have been arrested, charged or convicted of any offense since getting your green card (see deportable offenses for green card holders);
• you have spent long periods outside the United States, especially a year or more;
• you are not sure whether your card is conditional;
• USCIS denied your I-90 or sent you a request for evidence. An I-90 denial cannot be appealed, but you may be able to file a motion to reopen or reconsider.

Form I-90 FAQ

Can I travel with an expired green card while my I-90 is pending?

For a renewal, the receipt notice says you remain authorized to work and travel, and together with your expired card it serves as proof of status for 36 months past the card’s expiration date. Carry both, plus your passport. Airlines and foreign countries sometimes are not familiar with the notice, so if you have a trip coming up, ask the USCIS Contact Center about an ADIT stamp before you leave.

How long does Form I-90 take?

It varies and changes month to month. Check the current estimate on the USCIS processing times page. The 36-month extension on the receipt notice is meant to cover the wait for renewals.

How early can I file Form I-90 to renew?

Up to six months before the card expires. You can also file after it has already expired.

Do I lose my green card status if my card expires?

No. A 10-year card expiring does not end your permanent residence. But you will have trouble proving your status for work, travel or a driver’s license, so renew on time. A conditional (two-year) card is different: if conditions are not removed, status can end.

How much does it cost to file Form I-90?

As of November 2026, $415 online or $465 by mail, with no extra biometrics fee. It is free if the card has a government error, was never delivered, or you turned 14 and your card expires after your 16th birthday. Confirm on the USCIS fee schedule.

Can I file Form I-90 online?

Yes. Create a USCIS online account and file from the Form I-90 page. Online filing costs $50 less than paper.

Reading in Spanish? See Cómo renovar o reemplazar la green card (Formulario I-90).

Consultations

BCA Law Firm helps permanent residents renew or replace green cards, fix card errors, and decide whether it is time to apply for citizenship. Consultations last 30 minutes, at our Norcross office or online, and are held in English:

• Book with Bhavya Chaudhary, founding attorney: $175
• Book with Ashish Ranjan: $150
• Book with Rachana J. Vijayathilakan: $150

Or call 678-292-6111, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Our office is at 700 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross, GA 30071.

Sources (checked November 4, 2026): USCIS, Form I-90; Replace Your Green Card; G-1055 Fee Schedule (updated 10/28/2026); Form I-131A; 8 CFR 106.2.

This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Every case is different; speak with an attorney about your situation.