Re-entry Permit for Green Card Holders: When You Need One and How to Apply
Updated October 31, 2026. Sources: USCIS.gov.
Not legal advice. GreenCardBlog.com is an independent information site, not a law firm and not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. Immigration rules, fees and timelines change. Always confirm details on USCIS.gov and consider speaking with a licensed immigration attorney about your situation.
A green card lets you travel and come back, but long trips can put your permanent resident status at risk. A re-entry permit is a travel document from USCIS that helps you show you did not intend to give up your U.S. residence. Source: USCIS: International Travel as a Permanent Resident.
Why trip length matters
| Time outside the U.S. | What USCIS says |
|---|---|
| Under 1 year | You can generally re-enter with your green card, but officers may still ask whether you kept your U.S. residence. |
| 1 year or more | Your green card alone is no longer a valid entry document. Without a re-entry permit, you may be treated as having abandoned your status. |
| Over 6 months (for citizenship) | Long absences can break the 'continuous residence' needed to naturalize, even with a re-entry permit. |
What a re-entry permit does
- Lets you apply for admission after an absence of up to 2 years without needing a returning resident (SB-1) visa.
- Is generally valid for up to 2 years from the date it is issued.
- Can be used in place of a passport in many countries, but check each country's rules.
What it does not do
- It does not guarantee you keep your status; officers can still look at whether you truly kept your U.S. residence.
- It does not protect continuous residence for naturalization. Some people working abroad for the U.S. government or certain U.S. companies file Form N-470 for that.
How to apply
- File Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents while you are physically in the United States.
- Attend your biometrics appointment. USCIS says you may leave after biometrics, but plan your trip around it.
- Choose whether the permit is mailed to you in the U.S. or sent to a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad for pickup.
Check the current filing fee on the USCIS filing fees page or with the USCIS Fee Calculator before you file, because fees change.
Related: green card renewal fee and how to renew a green card. If you have been abroad a long time already, talk to an immigration attorney before you travel again.
Keep reading: Conditional Green Card.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a green card holder stay outside the U.S.?
Under 1 year: You can generally re-enter with your green card, but officers may still ask whether you kept your U.S. residence. 1 year or more: Your green card alone is no longer a valid entry document. Without a re-entry permit, you may be treated as having abandoned your status.
What does a re-entry permit do?
Lets you apply for admission after an absence of up to 2 years without needing a returning resident (SB-1) visa; Is generally valid for up to 2 years from the date it is issued; Can be used in place of a passport in many countries, but check each country's rules.
What does a re-entry permit not protect?
It does not guarantee you keep your status; officers can still look at whether you truly kept your U.S. residence; It does not protect continuous residence for naturalization. Some people working abroad for the U.S. government or certain U.S. companies file Form N-470 for that.
How do I apply for a re-entry permit?
File Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents while you are physically in the United States; Attend your biometrics appointment. USCIS says you may leave after biometrics, but plan your trip around it; Choose whether the permit is mailed to you in the U.S. or sent to a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad for pickup.
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