A lawful permanent resident replaces a lost or stolen green card by filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. USCIS says you must replace the card if it was "lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed", and you can file online or by mail. While you wait, USCIS says it "may" issue an ADIT stamp as temporary proof of status.
When USCIS says you must replace your green card
On its Replace Your Green Card page, USCIS says a lawful permanent resident must replace the card in these situations:
- The card is expired or will expire within six months.
- The card was lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed.
- The card has incorrect information, or you have had a legal name change or other biographic change.
- You never received the card USCIS issued to you.
This article is about the lost or stolen case. If your card is simply expiring, see our guide to renewing a green card and the I-90 receipt notice.
How to file Form I-90
USCIS says you may file Form I-90 "online or by mail." It lists these benefits of filing online: you can apply using a computer, phone or tablet, see when USCIS receives your application, receive online updates on your case, and communicate with USCIS directly. The Form I-90 page says: "You must create a USCIS online account to file your form online."
The I-90 page does not state a fee amount, and neither does this article. It points to the USCIS Fee Schedule, which is at uscis.gov/g-1055. Check the form edition too. USCIS tells filers to confirm that all form pages show the current edition date.
Proof of status while you wait
If you no longer have your card, you may need something to show your status in the meantime. USCIS says: "we may issue you an Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications (ADIT) stamp after you file this form." The word "may" matters. USCIS does not promise one.
According to the USCIS Policy Manual, which was current as of October 2, 2026 when we read it, a person without their card asks for an ADIT stamp by calling the USCIS Contact Center to schedule a field office appointment. The Policy Manual adds that an officer may place the stamp only on a Form I-94 or in an unexpired passport, and that USCIS sets how long it is valid.
If you are outside the United States
This is the part of the process USCIS pages describe the least. The Replace Your Green Card page does not address a card lost abroad. It does say that if you are outside the United States and your card will expire within six months, but you will return within one year of leaving and before the card expires, you should file Form I-90 "as soon as you return to the United States."
A different form exists for travel documentation. USCIS says Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation, is for lawful permanent residents, including conditional residents, who need a travel document to board a carrier. It is a travel document that lets you board an airline or other carrier without the carrier being penalized. USCIS says you "must file Form I-131A in person with a Consular Section at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate" and pay the fee online first, then bring proof of payment. USCIS says Form I-131A applies if your green card was lost, stolen or destroyed and you have been away less than one year, and that some permanent residents with expired cards may not need the form and should check with their carrier. The I-90 page does not mention I-131A, so whether it fits your situation is a question for the consulate or an immigration attorney.
Cards that never arrived
USCIS lists "You never received the previous card we issued to you" as a reason to file an I-90. The Policy Manual adds that if USPS tracking shows the card was delivered but the applicant does not have it, the applicant "should inquire with USPS immediately." It also says green cards "cannot be mailed to addresses outside the United States." If your card was mailed and you are waiting, our page on the "we ordered your new card" status explains what that message means.
If the card has USCIS's mistake on it
That is a different filing category. USCIS says that for a card with incorrect data because of a DHS error, you file Form I-90 and select the category for that reason, and include the card and documents showing the correct information. USCIS also says that if USCIS made the error, "you generally must file a new form, but not pay a new fee."
Conditional residents
USCIS says conditional permanent residents must also replace a card that was lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed. But the Form I-90 page warns: "DO NOT submit this form if you are a conditional resident seeking to remove conditions on your Green Card." Those residents file Form I-751 or Form I-829 instead. The Policy Manual says a conditional resident is not eligible to file an I-90 for any reason during the 90-day period before the second anniversary of obtaining status, and that an I-90 filed in that window is denied.
Common questions
Can I file Form I-90 online?
Yes. USCIS says you can file online or by mail, and that you need a USCIS online account to file online.
Will I get an ADIT stamp?
USCIS says it "may" issue one after you file. It is not guaranteed.
Does the Form I-90 page say how long a replacement takes?
The pages we read do not give a processing time. Use the USCIS processing times tool, and see our service request guide if a case seems stuck.
Is a lost green card the same as a lost reentry or travel document?
No. Different forms apply to different documents. USCIS says Form I-131A also covers certain lost travel-endorsed documents abroad for people who are not permanent residents. Ask an attorney which one fits your case.
Official sources
- USCIS: Replace Your Green Card
- USCIS: Form I-90
- USCIS: Form I-131A
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 11, Part B, Chapter 2
- USCIS: Immigration Documents and How to Correct, Update, or Replace Them
GreenLight is not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. government. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.