According to USCIS, most Green Cards are valid for 10 years, and cards for conditional permanent residents are valid for two years. A card that is expired, or that will expire within six months, should be replaced using Form I-90. Conditional residents follow a different process and file Form I-751 or, in entrepreneur cases, Form I-829.
Quick answer
| Situation | What USCIS says |
|---|---|
| Standard card | Most cards are valid for 10 years |
| Conditional resident card | Valid for two years; cannot be renewed; conditions are removed with Form I-751 (marriage-based) or Form I-829 (entrepreneur) |
| Card expired or expiring within six months | Replace the card with Form I-90 |
| Card lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed | Replace the card with Form I-90 |
| Incorrect information on the card | Reason to replace the card |
| Legal change of name or other biographic data | Reason to replace the card |
The expiration date belongs to the card
The USCIS glossary describes the Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) as evidence of lawful permanent resident status. The validity period printed on the card is the period during which that document is accepted. Questions about a person’s status itself, as distinct from the card, are legal questions that USCIS or a licensed immigration attorney can answer for a specific case.
Cards without an expiration date
The glossary entry for the Permanent Resident Card notes that some cards have no expiration date, and that most are valid for 10 years. The glossary does not say which cards fall in the first group. A card with no printed date is therefore a matter to check against the card itself and current USCIS guidance, not against a year quoted in a blog post. The glossary also does not support articles that claim all cards stay valid until a certain year.
When to replace the card
The USCIS page on replacing a Green Card says a permanent resident must replace the card if it is expired or will expire within the next six months. The application is Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, and it can be filed online or by mail. If approved, USCIS mails a new card.
The same page lists other situations for lawful permanent residents:
- The card was lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed.
- The card contains incorrect information.
- A legal change of name or other biographic information happened since the last card.
- The previous card was never received.
- The card was received before age 14 and the holder has reached the 14th birthday, unless the card expires before the 16th birthday.
- The holder has an older alien registration card (Form AR-3, Form AR-103, or Form I-151), which USCIS says is no longer valid proof of status.
The page also covers commuter status changes and automatic conversions to permanent resident status. Anyone in those groups should read the page directly.
Conditional permanent residents
The USCIS page on conditional permanent residence says a conditional permanent resident receives a Green Card valid for two years, and that the card cannot be renewed. Conditions must be removed by filing a petition within the 90 days before the conditional card expires. For marriage-based cases the form is Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence. For entrepreneur cases it is Form I-829, Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions. USCIS states that a person whose conditions are not removed loses permanent resident status and becomes removable from the United States.
Conditional residents can still use Form I-90 in a few situations: the card was lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed; it contains incorrect information; a legal name or biographic change happened; or the previous card was never received.
After filing Form I-90
- USCIS says the I-90 receipt notice can be used with an expired card as evidence of lawful permanent resident status for 36 months from the expiration date on the card.
- The notice also states that the holder remains authorized to work and travel.
- If biometrics are required, USCIS mails a separate appointment notice. The receipt notice is not a biometrics notice.
- A person without the card who needs proof of status may receive an ADIT stamp from USCIS after filing.
- Wait 72 hours after filing before checking the case online.
The page does not cover filing fees or processing times, which change. Current numbers are on the USCIS site.
If an application is denied
USCIS says a denial of Form I-90 cannot be appealed. A person can file a motion to reopen, which states new facts and includes evidence, or a motion to reconsider, which shows that USCIS applied law or policy incorrectly or that the decision was wrong based on the evidence in the file. Both go to the office that made the decision. A licensed immigration attorney can advise on a specific case.
Abroad when the card is near expiration
The USCIS page says that if the card expires within six months, but the holder will return within one year of leaving and before the card expires, Form I-90 is filed upon returning to the United States. The page does not address what happens if a card is lost while abroad.
Checklist before filing
- Check the date printed on the card and note the six-month mark.
- Confirm whether the card is a standard or conditional card.
- Choose Form I-90, Form I-751, or Form I-829 accordingly.
- Use the same name and details that appear in USCIS records.
- Keep the receipt notice; its 13-character receipt number tracks the case. See the guide to A-Numbers and receipt numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Green Card valid?
USCIS says most cards are valid for 10 years and conditional cards for two years. The glossary also notes that some cards have no expiration date.
When should a card be replaced?
When it has expired or will expire within the next six months, or in the other situations listed by USCIS, such as loss or incorrect information.
Which form replaces an expiring standard card?
Form I-90, filed online or by mail.
What if the card is a conditional card?
Conditional residents file Form I-751 (marriage-based) or Form I-829 (entrepreneur) within the 90 days before the card expires.
Can the receipt notice be used while waiting for a new card?
USCIS says the I-90 receipt notice can serve with an expired card as evidence of status for 36 months from the expiration date.
Related reading
- Is “green card” capitalized? Style and official usage
- A-Number, USCIS number, and receipt number explained
- Green Card FAQ
- DV lottery requirements
About this guide
This website is for information only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. government, does not give legal advice or consultations, and does not offer application services. The current official instructions control, because rules change each year.
Last verified: October 2026. Sources: USCIS glossary; USCIS page on replacing a Green Card; USCIS page on conditional permanent residence.