Lost green card? Replace it with Form I-90 (2026)

A lost green card creates two tasks: replacing the document and arranging proof of your status when you need it. Losing the physical card does not, by itself, end permanent resident status. USCIS requires permanent residents to replace cards that are lost, stolen, or destroyed. (USCIS Policy Manual, 11.B.2)

This guide covers people already inside the U.S. Start with the I-90 eligibility check if you are unsure which form applies. The I-90 form overview covers other replacement reasons.

Lost green card: what to do first

Take these steps in order. Keep your replacement application separate from any identity-theft recovery work.

1. Look for the card and a saved copy. Check your wallet, recent bags, and secure document storage. The I-90 instructions accept a copy of the missing card or qualifying government photo identification. You do not need to produce the missing original. (I-90 instructions, pages 4 and 6)
2. Report theft when appropriate. USCIS does not list a police report as required initial evidence for the lost-or-stolen filing reason. If your identity has been misused, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends reporting to local police and through IdentityTheft.gov. (I-90 instructions; CFPB identity-theft guidance)
3. Protect affected accounts. If the missing wallet also exposed financial information, contact the affected institutions. Consider fraud alerts or security freezes when you suspect identity theft. These protect finances; they do not replace the immigration document. (CFPB identity-theft guidance)
4. Check your card type and expiration date. A conditional resident whose two-year card expires within 90 days needs the removal-of-conditions route described below. Filing I-90 does not remove those conditions. (8 CFR 264.5(d))
5. Identify your proof deadline. Note any upcoming job start or international trip. USCIS can assess a request for temporary status evidence while your replacement is pending. Explain the date and why you need it. (USCIS Contact Center)

Your A-Number may appear in saved immigration records. Gather the records you already have before starting the application.

How to file the replacement application

Choose the missing-card reason

For a permanent resident, the I-90 instructions identify Part 2, Item 2.a for a card that was lost, stolen, or destroyed. An eligible conditional resident uses Item 3.a. Choose the reason that describes what happened, rather than selecting renewal just because you need another card. (I-90 instructions, pages 4 and 6)

You can file online or by mail. USCIS also lists I-90 among the forms available through completed-PDF upload. Follow the requirements for your chosen route, including signatures, evidence, and any payment. Use the current USCIS I-90 page and online filing list, rather than an older downloaded form or mailing guide.

Gather evidence you can actually provide

For the missing-card reason, USCIS asks for a copy of the card or government-issued identification with your name, date of birth, photograph, and signature. Examples include a passport, driver's license, or military identification. Documents in another language need a full English translation with the required translator certification. (I-90 instructions, pages 2, 4, and 6)

Before submitting, check these five items:

1. Identity evidence: a card copy or qualifying government-issued ID.
2. Personal details: your name, birth date, and immigration information match your records.
3. Mailing address: USCIS can deliver notices and the replacement there.
4. Filing reason: the selected reason matches your status and missing card.
5. Signature and fee: the filing meets the instructions for your selected method. (I-90 instructions; USCIS I-90 page)

If choosing the reason and assembling evidence feels confusing, Immiva's I-90 preparation uses your answers to select the filing reason and produce your document list, fee information, and mailing instructions. Its current I-90 service prepares a paper packet that you review, sign, and mail yourself.

Save a copy of everything submitted and the receipt notice when it arrives. If USCIS schedules a biometrics appointment, follow the notice even if you have given fingerprints before. USCIS may require biometrics to verify identity and conduct checks. (I-90 instructions)

Replacement fees and help paying

The current government fee for a standard missing-card I-90 is $415 online or $465 on paper, checked against the USCIS fee schedule dated October 16, 2026. That schedule does not list a separate I-90 biometrics fee. Do not add an old $85 biometrics charge to these amounts. (USCIS fee schedule, pages 5–6)

A police report does not create a fee exemption. The missing-card reason carries the standard fee unless a waiver applies. A different no-fee category exists for a card that was issued, never received, and returned to USCIS as undeliverable. A card delivered to you and later stolen is a different situation. (USCIS fee schedule)

If you cannot afford the fee, review USCIS's waiver rules. Possible grounds include a qualifying means-tested benefit, household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or extreme financial hardship. Provide the required financial evidence with the request. (USCIS fee-waiver guidance)

Check the newer filing options: USCIS's current online-forms list permits Form I-912 with I-90 through PDF upload. Mailing the waiver request with the application remains an option. Older instructions that call every waiver request paper-only are out of date. (USCIS online filing list; USCIS fee-waiver guidance)

For payment preparation, use the USCIS filing-fee payment guide. Immiva's I-90 preparation currently costs $99, separate from government fees. Because it prepares a mailed packet, budget for the paper filing fee, unless your filing qualifies for an exemption or approved waiver.

Get temporary proof while you wait

The 36-month renewal extension needs the expired card

The familiar I-90 renewal extension is not a general replacement for a missing document. USCIS says the receipt notice is presented with the expired green card as evidence of continued status. If you do not have the card, you cannot supply that combination. (USCIS Contact Center)

Ask USCIS about temporary evidence of permanent resident status, often called an ADIT stamp or temporary I-551 evidence. You can request an appointment assessment online or call 800-375-5283. Explain that the card is missing, identify your pending application, and describe the work or travel deadline. USCIS's current Contact Center guidance says an office visit may not be necessary. (USCIS Contact Center)

USCIS has described a mail process that provides Form I-94 with an ADIT stamp and identity features after assessing the request. An urgent need or inability to verify identity, address, or a usable photograph can require an in-person appointment. That process announcement is archived, so confirm what USCIS will provide in your case; mailed evidence is not guaranteed for every applicant. (USCIS ADIT mail-process announcement; current Contact Center guidance)

Ask what document you will receive, when it expires, and how it meets your stated need. Do not treat a photograph of your old card as the same thing as temporary evidence issued by USCIS. The government's replacement guidance directs people without their card to request temporary status evidence. (USCIS replacement guidance)

Starting a new job: a separate receipt rule

For Form I-9, a receipt showing that you applied to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged document can be acceptable temporarily. The rule applies to employment verification only; an I-90 receipt is not proof for travel. (USCIS acceptable receipts)

For a new hire, the replacement-document receipt is generally valid for 90 days from the first day of work for pay. Present an acceptable receipt within three business days of starting work. By the 90-day deadline, provide the replacement document or another permitted combination of acceptable documents. A second receipt does not extend the period. Receipts are not acceptable for employment lasting fewer than three business days. (USCIS acceptable receipts; USCIS employer handbook, section 4.4)

Before an international trip

Arrange valid return documents before leaving. A pending application and a saved card image are not a substitute for checking the documents required for your return. USCIS tells permanent residents to consider valid entry documents and the circumstances of their travel. (USCIS international-travel guidance)

If you are already outside the United States, use USCIS's separate overseas-loss instructions. This article's domestic replacement steps do not resolve airline boarding requirements abroad. (USCIS replacement guidance)

Avoid delays and choose the right exception

Waiting for the replacement

Do not plan a job start or trip around a promised delivery date. Check the USCIS processing-times tool for the applicable I-90 category when planning. If a deadline cannot wait for the card, ask USCIS about temporary evidence instead. (USCIS replacement guidance)

Respond to USCIS notices by their deadlines. If you cannot attend biometrics, request rescheduling before the appointment and follow the notice's instructions. Missing required biometrics can lead to denial for abandonment. The biometrics rescheduling guide explains the practical steps. (USCIS Policy Manual, 11.B.2.E)

Your card never arrived

Check case status and delivery information before selecting a reason. USCIS's instructions distinguish a card returned as undeliverable from one that was not returned. If it was not returned, the instructions direct permanent residents to the lost, stolen, or destroyed reason. Do not assume every missing mail delivery qualifies for $0 replacement. (I-90 instructions, page 4)

You have a two-year conditional card

If conditional status expires within 90 days, or has expired, I-90 is not the route to extend it. Marriage-based residents file I-751; investor residents file I-829. An I-90 filed during the 90-day period is denied under USCIS policy. Read the I-751 removal-of-conditions guide if that is your situation. (I-90 instructions, page 1; USCIS Policy Manual, 11.B.2.C)

A denial or a separate status concern

USCIS may check identity, status, and background information during replacement. If you have a removal order, an immigration court case, or a concern that permanent resident status ended, obtain advice about that specific issue before treating the problem as document replacement alone. (I-90 instructions; USCIS Policy Manual, 11.B.2)

There is no administrative appeal from an I-90 denial, although a motion or another eligible filing may be possible. Read the decision and its instructions promptly. (8 CFR 264.5(f); USCIS Policy Manual, 11.B.2.G–H)

Your next step

For a lost green card inside the U.S., identify the right filing reason, gather qualifying identity evidence, and submit I-90 using current instructions. If you need proof sooner, ask USCIS about temporary evidence separately. (USCIS replacement guidance)