The United States green card, officially known as a permanent residence card, allows foreigners to live permanently, work, and study in the US. Cardholders can enjoy many benefits and privileges like US citizens, for example, traveling to some countries without visas. Then, can you travel internationally with a green card without a passport? In this passage, we will find out the answer.
Can You Travel with a Green Card and No Passport?
The answer is “Maybe” because it depends on where you travel to. The United States signed a bilateral agreement with its neighboring countries (including Canada and Mexico) and some friendly nations. If you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) in the US, you can present a valid passport and green card to enter these countries without visas for a short stay. However, some might be unable or difficult to get a passport from their country of citizenship. In this case, a reentry permit issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is also an acceptable travel document for a green card holder. Moreover, a passport is not a mandatory identification when green card holders return to the US.
What Countries Can a Green Card Holder Travel Without a Passport?
As stated before, green card holders without passports can travel to some countries that accept US travel documents, commonly referring to Refugee Travel Documents or a Re-entry Permit. Where can you travel with a green card? Below is a list of passport-free countries for US LPRs. Please note that the entry requirements might change occasionally. Therefore, it is suggested to check the latest news before visiting.
- Canada
- Mexico
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Puerto Rico
- Guam
- The U.S. Virgin Islands
A closed-loop cruise is another popular way of traveling internationally. As it starts and ends at the same U.S. port, green card holders might be allowed to visit some Caribbean and Central American countries by cruise without a passport.
- The Bahamas
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Belize
- Cayman Islands
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Turks and Caicos
- St. Maarten / St. Martin
- Turks and Caicos
What Documents Do I Need to Enter Passport-Free Countries?
It is necessary to note that although you can travel to the countries above without a passport, entry requirements might vary from country to country. The border control officer might require extra documents for security checks, including but not limited to:
- Original valid green card (or equivalent proof of PR status in the United States);
- A valid travel document in place of a passport, such as a refugee travel document or a re-entry permit.
- Return ticket or ticket for onward trips;
- Reservation of accommodation;
- Proof of financial capability to fund your trip.
- Proof of citizenship and identity, such as an enhanced driver’s license, birth certificate, etc.
What Does a Reentry Permit Do?
A reentry permit is a small booklet (similar to a passport) with a bio-data page and blank pages for visa stamps and stickers. According to USCIS, lawful permanent residents who stay outside the country for one year might be deprived of the PR status and a US visa is required. The reentry permit is issued to lawful permanent residents who plan to stay outside the US for an extended longer period and do not intend to give up their PR status. With this permit, one can travel to some countries and return to the US without a visa and passport.
What Documents Do I Need for Re-entry Permit Application?
Required documents might vary according to your real situation, but the following are a must in general conditions.
- Completed Form I-131;
- A copy of a government-issued photo ID;
- Proof of lawful permanent residency, such as a copy of the green card (both the front and back), a copy of the passport (bio-data page and the page with immigrant visa stamp), a copy of the Form I-797 serving as an approval notice of green card replacement application, or temporary evidence of PR status;
- 2 identical passport-style photos
- Reentry permits issued before (if applicable);
- English translation along with a certification from the translator for non-English documents (if applicable).
How to Apply for a Re-entry Permit?
To obtain a reentry permit, applicants can apply by mail and submit biometrics in person. Whether you apply for the travel document for a green card holder by yourself or by hiring an attorney, you have to go through the following procedures.
Fill out Form I-131
The form is available on the USCIS website and physical offices. Applicants must complete all 10 parts, including personal information, application type, processing information, proposed travel details, etc. Please note that the incomplete forms will be rejected. It can be filled out online and printed out or downloaded and completed with black ink.
Submit Applications
After filling out the form, you should mail it along with the required documents to the USCIS office. Where to file applications depends on where you live, which is listed below.
| State of Residence | USPS Service Sent to | FedEx, UPS, and DHL Sent to |
| Arizona, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania | USCIS Phoenix LockboxUSCISAttn: NFBP.O. Box 21281Phoenix, AZ 85036-1281 | USCIS Phoenix LockboxUSCIS Attn: NFB (Box 21281) 2108 E. Elliot Rd. Tempe, AZ 85284-1806 |
| Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia | USCIS Elgin LockboxUSCISAttn: NFBP.O. Box 4115Carol Stream, IL 60197-4115 | USCIS Elgin LockboxUSCISAttn: NFB (Box 4115)2500 Westfield DriveElgin, IL 60124-7836 |
| Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin | USCIS Chicago LockboxUSCISAttn: NFBP.O. Box 805371Chicago, IL 60680-5371 | USCIS Chicago LockboxUSCISAttn: NFB (Box 805371)131 South Dearborn-3rd FloorChicago, IL 60603-5517 |
| Other states | USCIS Dallas LockboxUSCISAttn: NFBP.O. Box 660867Dallas, TX 75266-0867 | USCIS Dallas LockboxUSCISAttn: NFB (Box 660867)2501 S. State Hwy. 121 BusinessSuite 400Lewisville, TX 75067-8003 |
Attend Biometrics Appointment
After receiving your application, USCIS will schedule an appointment for you, usually 5-8 weeks after submission. You have to confirm the booking and attend the designated USCIS service center in person to submit biometrics (fingerprints, photos, and signatures) as scheduled. Supposing that you are unavailable on the scheduled date and time, remember to re-arrange it. It can be changed more than once as long as it is done within 120 days of receiving the application receipt, otherwise, you will be considered to abandon the application and everything must start from the beginning.
Re-entry Permit Processing Time & Fee
The processing time varies according to different stages. It takes about 1-2 months to receive a biometric appointment after submitting applications and 3-4 months to issue the permit after submitting biometrics. Therefore, the waiting time will be at least 6 months or even one year.
The paper filing fee costs $630 for each application. It can be paid through money order, personal or cashier’s check payable to the US Department of Homeland Security, or credit/debit card with Form G-1450. Please note that no matter what the result is, the filing fees are nonrefundable.
Re-entry Permit Validity
It is usually valid for 2 years upon the date of issuance. However, conditional permanent residents and those who have spent more than 4 years outside the US for the previous 5 years will be given a 1-year permit except for those with close ties with the United States, such as:
- Permanent residents who take a trip on the order of the US government instead of being deported;
- Permanent residents who work for a public international organization and the US is one of the member states;
- Permanent residents who are professional athletes and travel around regularly to take part in competitions.
How Long Can I Stay Outside the United States?
According to US immigration laws, lawful permanent residents can travel in and out of the US freely. However, staying abroad for too long will affect your PR status. Once the authorities believe you don’t plan to treat the US as a permanent home, they might revoke your permanent residency. Generally speaking, being absent from the United States for less than one year will not jeopardize your green card status. Moreover, 6 months is preferable, otherwise, the officer might evaluate your desire to stay permanently in the US by considering your ties to the country, employment, taxation status, residential address, etc.
How to Protect My Status as a Green Card Holder?
To maintain your permanent residency, you are supposed to apply for certain documents when you plan to stay outside the US for an extended period. The following suggestions will help.
- Obtain a reentry permit before setting out.
- Obtain a returning resident visa (SB-1 visa) at a U.S. embassy or consulate when absent from the US for more than 2 years;
- Keep US family and community ties.
- Have a full-time job in the US.
- File tax as a local resident.
- Have a US mailing address.
- Own a US bank account.
- Own a US driver’s license.
- Own a property in the US.
- Run a business in the US.
FAQ
📌Can you travel to Canada with a green card?
Yes, and no visa is required. Click here to learn more about visa-free countries for Green Card holders.
📌Can you travel to Mexico with a green card?
Yes, and no visa is required.
📌Can you travel to Europe with a green card?
Yes, and you can travel without visas and stay for up to 90 days.
📌Can you travel to Puerto Rico with a green card?
Yes, and you can take a visa-free trip.
📌Can you travel internationally with a green card?
Yes, but only to some specific countries. A passport is usually needed in international travel.
Summary
Permanent residents must present a green card to enter visa-free countries for the United States, but it must not be the sole travel document to travel internationally. A reentry permit is sometimes acceptable when traveling with a permanent residence card without a passport. It is suggested to apply for the permit a few months before traveling, so you can return to the US without losing your PR status.