First: is I-90 the right form?
- 10-year green card (lawful permanent resident): use Form I-90 to renew or replace it.
- 2-year green card (conditional resident, through a recent marriage or investment): when it's within 90 days of expiring, don't file I-90. File Form I-751 (marriage) or Form I-829 (investment) to remove the conditions. Conditional residents use I-90 only to replace a card that was lost, stolen, damaged, never received or has wrong information.
- Eligible for citizenship? USCIS itself suggests checking whether you can naturalize before filing I-90. If you've had your green card for about 5 years (3 if married to a U.S. citizen), see our citizenship date calculator. Filing Form N-400 doesn't remove the duty to carry a valid card, though, so if your card is expiring you may still need to renew it while you wait.
When you must file Form I-90
USCIS lists these reasons for a permanent resident:
- Your card has expired or will expire within the next 6 months.
- Your card was lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.
- You got your card before age 14 and have now turned 14 (unless the card expires before your 16th birthday).
- Your card has incorrect information, or you legally changed your name or other details.
- You never received the card USCIS issued.
- You're switching to or from commuter status, your status was automatically converted to permanent resident, or you still have an old version of the card (Forms AR-3, AR-103 or I-151), which is no longer valid.
The 6-month renewal window
If you're renewing because the card is expiring, wait until it's within 6 months of the expiration date. The I-90 instructions warn that if you choose this reason and your card won't expire within six months, the application may be denied. Once the card has already expired, you can file at any time, but don't wait: an expired card can cause problems with jobs, travel and ID.
Turning 14
Permanent residents who turn 14 must register and file Form I-90 within 30 days of their 14th birthday. If the current card will expire after the 16th birthday, there's no fee for this filing. If it will expire before the 16th birthday, they don't file at 14 and simply renew the card later.
What it costs
According to the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition 10/16/26):
- $415 online or $465 on paper for most renewals and replacements.
- $0 if you turned 14 and your card expires after your 16th birthday, if USCIS issued the card with a mistake that was its own error, or if USCIS sent the card but it came back undeliverable and you never received it.
- A fee waiver (Form I-912) is possible if you qualify.
Fees change, so check the amount on uscis.gov/i-90 before you pay. If you file by mail, USCIS asks for electronic payment by card (Form G-1450) or bank transfer (Form G-1650); see our fee guide for how payment works.
How to file
- File online with a USCIS online account (you can pay, track your case and respond to requests there) or by mail to the address on the I-90 page. If you mail it, use the current edition of the form (01/20/25 at the time of writing) and sign it by hand.
- Include the evidence for your reason. For a renewal, that's a copy of your expiring or expired card. If the card is lost or stolen, the instructions ask for a copy of a government-issued photo ID instead. For a name change, include the legal document that changed it.
- Go to biometrics if asked. USCIS may schedule an appointment for fingerprints, a photo and a signature. The appointment notice comes separately.
- Keep your address updated with USCIS while you wait, so the new card reaches you.
While you wait: the receipt notice
If you're renewing, your I-90 receipt notice is valuable. Together with your expired green card, it serves as proof of your permanent resident status for 36 months from the expiration date on your card, and it says you remain authorized to work and travel. Keep it with your card. Employers can accept the combination for Form I-9.
If you don't have your card at all (for example, it was stolen) and need proof of status before the new one arrives, USCIS may give you a temporary stamp (an ADIT stamp) after you file. Contact the USCIS Contact Center to ask.
If you're outside the United States
USCIS says that if your card will expire within six months while you're abroad, but you'll return within one year of leaving and before the card expires, you should file Form I-90 as soon as you get back. Long trips can also affect your eligibility for citizenship; see continuous residence and physical presence.
Why you shouldn't let it lapse
Your status as a permanent resident doesn't end when the card expires. But the law (INA 264) requires every permanent resident 18 or older to carry their registration card, and not doing so is a misdemeanor. In daily life, an expired card can also make it harder to start a job, renew a driver's license or reenter the country.
If USCIS denies the application
You'll get a letter explaining why. You can't appeal an I-90 denial, but you can file a motion to reopen (with new facts and evidence) or a motion to reconsider (showing USCIS applied the law or policy incorrectly) with the office that decided. An immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can help.
Sources: USCIS: Form I-90 and the Form I-90 Instructions (edition 01/20/25); USCIS: Replace Your Green Card; USCIS Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/16/26); INA 264 and 8 CFR 264.5. This is general information, not legal advice.