Archive · 14 Dec 2025
Green Card Lost Abroad: Re-Entry Rules
If you lose your Green Card while traveling, you can still get back into the US.
You need to fill out a form called I-131A and show some documents like your passport and a copy of your Green Card.
If you're gone for more than a year, you need a special permit called a reentry permit.
The form helps you get a boarding foil that lets you come back for 30 days.
If you're gone for up to two years, the reentry permit helps you get back in without needing a special visa.
Green card holders can apply for a Boarding Foil using Form I-131A if their card is lost, stolen, or expired abroad.
The Boarding Foil is valid for 30 days and allows re-entry into the US.
Green card holders absent for over a year need a reentry permit to re-enter the US.
Reentry permits are typically valid for two years and prevent issues with residence status.
Required documents for Form I-131A include a valid passport, proof of LPR status, and a police report if applicable.
- Who
- Green card holders (Lawful Permanent Residents).
- What
- Process for re-entering the US after losing a Green Card abroad.
- When
- Applicable when the Green Card is lost, stolen, or expired while abroad.
- Where
- US Customs and Border Protection offices or US embassies/consulates.
- Why
- To facilitate re-entry into the US without a valid Green Card.
- Form I-131A
- Application for travel document if Green Card is lost, stolen, or destroyed.
- Reentry Permit
- Required for stays abroad exceeding one year.
- Boarding Foil
- Valid for 30 days, placed in passport for re-entry.
- Green Card Validity
- Invalid for re-entry after one year abroad.
- Reentry Permit Validity
- Typically valid for two years.