What is a green card? It is the document most immigrants spend years trying to get, and the name is a nickname. The official name is the Permanent Resident Card, also known as Form I-551. USCIS says having one "allows you to live and work permanently in the United States" (USCIS, Green Card).
As of October 31, 2026, this guide explains what the card proves, what is on it, how long it lasts, and how it differs from a visa and from citizenship.
- Green card is the common name for the Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551.
- It lets the holder live and work permanently in the United States.
- The name comes from Form I-151, which had a green tint.
- Most cards expire after 10 years; conditional residents receive a two-year card.
- Permanent residents age 18 or older must carry a valid card at all times.
- Status continues until you naturalize, lose it or abandon it, even if the card expires.
What does a green card prove?
That you are a lawful permanent resident, often shortened to LPR. The USCIS Policy Manual defines an LPR as "an alien who the U.S. government has lawfully authorized to permanently live in the United States." It adds that LPRs are issued a card "as evidence of identity and status in the United States" (USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 11, Part B, Ch. 1).
That distinction matters. The status is the legal thing, and the card is the evidence of it. Regulations define the status as "the status of having been lawfully accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States as an immigrant in accordance with the immigration laws, such status not having changed" (8 CFR 1.2, eCFR).
Why is it called a green card?
Because of an old form. In 1946 the government began issuing different registration documents by status, and permanent residents received Form I-151, "which contained a green tint and led to the card being commonly referred to as a" green card. "In 1977, the PRC (Form I-551) replaced the Form I-151 as evidence of LPR status" (USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 11, Part B, Ch. 1). The nickname outlived the form, and USCIS still uses it on its own website.
What does a green card look like, and what is on it?
It is an identity card issued by USCIS with your personal details. USCIS says the personal information on its secure identity documents "includes, but is not limited to, a benefit requestor's biometrics, full legal name, date and country of birth, sex, and A-number" (USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 11, Part A, Ch. 2). The manual also says USCIS "has continued to improve the PRC by using the latest tamper-resistant technology," so the design has changed over the years and two valid cards may not look identical.
The name on the card follows your legal documents. USCIS says its documents "do not include nicknames." If your name changes later, you ask USCIS to reissue the card with evidence of the change. Our guide to your USCIS A-Number explains the number printed on the card.
How long does a green card last?
It depends on which card you have. The I-9 handbook for employers lists three types (USCIS, Handbook for Employers M-274, 7.1):
| Card | Expiration |
|---|---|
| Older cards issued from January 1977 to August 1989 | None shown |
| Standard card | "A 10-year expiration date" |
| Conditional resident card | "A two-year expiration date" |
A standard card must be renewed. USCIS says you must replace it if "your Green Card is either expired or will expire within the next six months" (USCIS, Replace Your Green Card). Our guide to renewing a green card with Form I-90 covers that filing.
A conditional card works differently. "You cannot renew your conditional Green Card," USCIS says. You file to remove the conditions instead (USCIS, Conditional Permanent Residence).
Does your status end when the card expires?
No. USCIS says "you maintain permanent resident status until you" either naturalize or lose or abandon your status (USCIS, Maintaining Permanent Residence). An expired card is still a practical problem, though, because you use the card to prove your status at work and at the border. An I-90 receipt notice helps while you wait. USCIS says the notice, together with the expired card, "provides evidence of your lawful permanent resident status for 36 months from the expiration date on your Permanent Resident Card" (USCIS, Replace Your Green Card).
What can you do with a green card?
Live and work here without an employer's sponsorship or a set end date. USCIS lists these uses (USCIS, After We Grant Your Green Card):
- Prove employment eligibility when completing Form I-9.
- "Apply for a Social Security Card and a state issued driver's license."
- Return from a trip abroad, since the card "is valid for readmission to the United States after a trip abroad if you do not leave for longer than 1 year."
You can also sponsor certain relatives. USCIS lists the spouse and unmarried children of a permanent resident as eligible family members (USCIS, Green Card Eligibility Categories).
What duties come with it?
Three you should know. First, carry it: "If you are a permanent resident age 18 or older, you are required to have a valid Green Card in your possession at all times" (USCIS, After We Grant Your Green Card). Second, report moves: USCIS says "aliens must report any change of address within 10 days of moving within the United States or its territories" (USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 11, Part A, Ch. 2). Third, keep the U.S. as your permanent home. USCIS says abandonment can include "moving to another country and intending to live there permanently" and "declaring yourself a" nonimmigrant on your U.S. tax returns (USCIS, Maintaining Permanent Residence).
How is a green card different from a visa or citizenship?
A visa is for travel, a green card is for residence, and citizenship is a separate step.
| Visa | Green card | Citizenship | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Permission to travel and seek entry | Proof of permanent residence | Full membership by birth or naturalization |
| Can it end? | Yes, it has an expiry date | Yes, through removal, rescission or abandonment | Naturalization can be revoked only in limited cases |
| Next step | Change status or file for a green card | Naturalize, if eligible | None |
USCIS says "the most common path to U.S. citizenship through naturalization is being a lawful permanent resident (LPR) for at least five years" (USCIS, I am a Lawful Permanent Resident of 5 Years). Our guide to naturalization after an employment green card covers the timing.
How does someone get one?
Usually through family, a job or extraordinary ability, or another listed category. "Most people who apply for a Green Card will need to complete at least two forms," USCIS says: "an immigrant petition and a Green Card application (Form I-485)" (USCIS, How to Apply for a Green Card). People outside the United States generally go through consular processing instead of Form I-485. Our guide to adjustment vs consular processing explains the difference.
What this means for you
- Treat the card as evidence of your status, and the status as the thing to protect.
- Check your expiration date and renew within the six-month window.
- Carry the card if you are 18 or older.
- Update USCIS within 10 days when you move.
- Before a long trip abroad, read the rules on absences and reentry permits.
Where to start
If you are working toward a green card and want to know whether a self-petition such as EB-1A or the NIW fits your profile, our free evaluation at /evaluate/ checks your record, and Frank, our AI assistant at /frank, helps you build the evidence. Petitions are reviewed and filed by our partner law firm, Lai & Turner.
Sources
All checked October 31, 2026.
- USCIS, Green Card. What a green card allows.
- USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 11, Part B, Ch. 1. LPR definition; history of the card.
- USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 11, Part A, Ch. 2. Personal information on documents; names; address changes.
- 8 CFR 1.2 (eCFR, current text). Definition of lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
- USCIS, Handbook for Employers M-274, 7.1. Card expiration types.
- USCIS, Replace Your Green Card. When to replace; I-90 receipt notice.
- USCIS, Conditional Permanent Residence. Two-year cards.
- USCIS, Maintaining Permanent Residence. How status ends; abandonment.
- USCIS, After We Grant Your Green Card. Uses of the card; carry requirement.
- USCIS, Green Card Eligibility Categories. Family of permanent residents.
- USCIS, I am a Lawful Permanent Resident of 5 Years. Naturalization path.
- USCIS, How to Apply for a Green Card. Forms and process.
Frequently asked questions
What is a green card in simple terms?
It is the card that shows you are a lawful permanent resident of the United States. USCIS says having one allows you to live and work permanently in the country. The official name is the Permanent Resident Card, or Form I-551. It is not citizenship, and it can be lost through removal, rescission or abandonment.
How long is a green card valid?
Most cards issued today carry a 10-year expiration date. Conditional permanent residents receive a card that expires after two years. Some older cards issued from January 1977 to August 1989 have no expiration date. If your 10-year card is expired or will expire within six months, USCIS says you must replace it using Form I-90.
Does my status end when my green card expires?
No. USCIS says you maintain permanent resident status until you complete naturalization or lose or abandon your status. The card is the evidence of that status, so you should still renew it. Conditional residents are different: they cannot renew a two-year card and must file to remove conditions or lose their status.
Is a green card the same as a visa?
No. An immigrant visa is one way to travel to the United States to become a permanent resident. The green card is the proof of permanent resident status once you have it. People already in the United States can get a green card without a new visa by filing Form I-485 to adjust status, if eligible.
Can I become a citizen with a green card?
Often, yes. USCIS says the most common path to citizenship through naturalization is being a lawful permanent resident for at least five years. You must also meet other requirements, including continuous residence, at least 30 months of physical presence in the five years before filing, and good moral character.
Green Card Guide AI is not a law firm and this article is not legal advice. It describes evidence-building strategy in general terms; your attorney determines what belongs in your petition and how it's argued.
