The green card number location is generally on the back of a Permanent Resident Card, within the first line of machine-readable characters. This 13-character card number is different from the USCIS Number or A-Number that identifies you as an individual.
Key Takeaways
- The green card number is a 13-character identifier consisting of three letters followed by 10 numbers.
- On current card editions, find it on the back of the card in the first line of machine-readable characters.
- The green card number, card number, and Permanent Resident Card document number usually refer to the same card-specific identifier.
- Your USCIS Number is your A-Number, not the 13-character card number.
- A receipt number has the same general format as a card number, but you should not assume the two are interchangeable.
- There is no general public tool for a permanent resident card number lookup online.
Green Card Number Location on a Permanent Resident Card
Turn your Permanent Resident Card over and look at the machine-readable area near the bottom. The first line contains letters, numbers, and less-than symbols used as placeholders. On current card editions, the green card number is a 13-character sequence in that first line. It contains three letters followed by 10 numbers.
Focus on the uninterrupted sequence matching that format. Do not include the less-than symbols before or after it. Those symbols fill unused spaces and are not part of your number. If you are copying the number into a form, enter only the three letters and 10 digits unless the form provides different instructions.
The card's design matters. USCIS has issued multiple versions of the Permanent Resident Card, and unexpired older cards may arrange information differently. Some older cards place identifying information on the front or use a different visual layout. If your card does not match the current layout, follow the instructions for that card edition rather than selecting the first long number you see.
The expiration date, category, date of birth, country of birth, and other personal information are separate fields. They should not be included in the card number. Carefully distinguish the letter O from zero and the letter I from one. When a form rejects the number, first recount the characters and confirm that the sequence begins with three letters.
Green Card Number, USCIS Number, and A-Number Compared
The terminology causes confusion because forms, employers, airlines, and government notices may use different labels. The 13-character green card number identifies the card or the underlying card-producing case. The USCIS Number, also called the Alien Registration Number or A-Number, identifies the person in immigration records.
| Identifier | Typical Format | Where to Look | When It May Be Requested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green card number | Three letters and 10 digits | Machine-readable area on the back of current cards | Travel, employment verification, or forms requesting the card number |
| Card number | Three letters and 10 digits | Same location as the green card number on current cards | Forms requesting information about the physical card |
| Permanent Resident Card document number | Three letters and 10 digits | Back of current Permanent Resident Cards | Form I-9 records and some travel-document fields |
| USCIS Number or A-Number | Up to nine digits, often displayed as nine digits | Labeled USCIS# or A# on the card, depending on its edition | Immigration filings asking for the person's registration number |
| Receipt number | Three letters and 10 digits | USCIS receipt notices and case records | Tracking a pending petition or application |
| Residence number | No single official format | Depends on the requesting form or organization | May mean a card number, A-Number, or foreign residence permit number |
The phrase "permanent resident card number" usually means the 13-character card number, but you should confirm the form's definition. "USCIS#" generally refers to the A-Number. If you are still applying for permanent residence, review the broader green card process to understand when USCIS assigns and uses these identifiers.
How to Read the Green Card Number Format
The current green card number format has 13 characters. The first three are letters, and the remaining 10 are digits. A format-only example would look like ABC1234567890. This is a fictional placeholder, not a valid number to use on any filing.
The three-letter prefix reflects the USCIS system or office associated with the case. The remaining digits form the numerical portion of the identifier. Receipt-style identifiers may encode processing information, but you generally do not need to decode those details to complete a form. Your main task is to reproduce the number exactly as printed.
An IOE prefix is commonly associated with USCIS electronic processing. However, seeing IOE on a receipt notice does not automatically prove that the entire receipt number is the document number for your card. Use an IOE-prefixed sequence as your green card number only if that complete sequence appears in the card-number position on your Permanent Resident Card or the applicable instructions expressly request your receipt number.
Remove spaces or hyphens unless the form permits them. Most card numbers appear as a continuous sequence. If a website accepts only nine digits, it is probably asking for your A-Number rather than the green card document number. If it accepts three letters and 10 digits, it is more likely asking for the card number or a USCIS receipt number. Always read the field label and any help text before submitting.
Using the Green Card Number for Airlines and Form I-9
An airline may ask for a document number when recording a passenger's U.S. permanent resident card. If the field specifically requests the number of the residence card or travel document, it will generally call for the 13-character card number. Do not enter the USCIS Number merely because it is easier to see on the card.
Airline systems do not use uniform labels. A field called "residence number" could mean the card's document number, while another system might separately request an alien registration number. Check the accepted character format. A field allowing letters and numbers likely expects the card number. A digits-only field may be asking for the A-Number. Contact the carrier before travel if the label remains unclear. For related re-entry and documentation concerns, review the applicable green card travel rules.
For employment verification, a Permanent Resident Card is a List A document for Form I-9 because it establishes both identity and employment authorization. When an employee chooses to present this card, the employer records the document title, issuing authority, document number, and expiration date, if any. The document number is the 13-character card number printed on the card, not the employee's Social Security number.
Employers should inspect the document presented and follow the current Form I-9 instructions. They generally may not require an employee to present a green card instead of another acceptable document or specify which acceptable documents the employee must choose. Employees should not alter the number, omit its letter prefix, or substitute the USCIS Number unless the applicable field specifically asks for it.
Permanent Resident Card Number Lookup Online
There is no general public USCIS search tool that retrieves your permanent resident card number from your name, date of birth, or A-Number. This restriction helps protect sensitive immigration information. A USCIS online account may contain case notices and receipt information, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed lookup source for the document number printed on a missing card.
First, check secure copies of the front and back of your card. You may also review records created when you completed employment, travel, renewal, or immigration paperwork. Confirm that any saved number contains three letters and 10 digits and was copied from the card, rather than from an unrelated USCIS receipt notice.
If the card is lost, stolen, destroyed, or too damaged to read, you may need to apply for a replacement through Form I-90. Follow USCIS's current filing instructions, required evidence, and fee information. A replacement process can provide new evidence of your permanent resident status, but it may not solve an immediate travel or filing deadline. Information about current expenses and filing steps is available in the guide to the Permanent Resident Card renewal fee.
If card identifiers conflict with government records, the card is missing during a time-sensitive filing, or you cannot determine which number a form requests, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. An immigration attorney can review your card and notices, identify the appropriate number, and check the filing for potentially consequential errors. Responses typically arrive within a day.
Avoiding Errors on Immigration and Travel Forms
Start with the wording of the field, not with a general assumption about what "green card number" means. A request for an Alien Registration Number, A-Number, or USCIS Number calls for the personal identifier. A request for the card number, document number, Permanent Resident Card number, or Form I-551 number generally calls for information about the physical card.
Use this checklist before submitting the number:
- Identify the requested document. Confirm that the form refers to your Permanent Resident Card rather than a receipt notice, visa, passport, or employment authorization document.
- Check the permitted format. A 13-character alphanumeric field suggests the card number. A nine-digit field suggests the A-Number.
- Copy from the best available record. Use the physical card or a clear, secure copy whenever possible.
- Exclude placeholders. Do not enter less-than symbols from the machine-readable area.
- Recheck similar characters. Compare letters and numbers carefully before certifying the submission.
- Keep a secure copy. Retain the completed filing and supporting records where unauthorized people cannot access them.
A number-format error can cause a website to reject the entry or make it harder for an agency to match the filing to the correct record. Do not invent missing characters or convert a receipt number into a card number. If your card is conditional, expired, or approaching expiration, the next steps may differ. Review the rules for a conditional green card or check the current USCIS instructions that apply to your status.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Residence Number?
A residence number is an ambiguous, nonstandard label that may refer to a green card's 13-character document number, an A-Number, or another country's residence permit number. Look at the requesting organization's instructions and accepted format. If the field is connected to U.S. permanent residence, ask whether it wants the card document number or the USCIS Number before entering anything.
What Is the Green Card Number?
The green card number is the 13-character identifier associated with a Permanent Resident Card. It begins with three letters and ends with 10 digits. This number is used when a form or organization needs to identify the card itself, while the separate USCIS Number or A-Number identifies the permanent resident in immigration records.
How Do I Find My Green Card Number?
Find your green card number by looking for a three-letter, 10-digit sequence in the machine-readable area of the card. Use a well-lit, clear view because embossed text, security features, and similar-looking characters can cause transcription errors. If you rely on a copy, compare it with another trusted record before using the number in a consequential filing.
Where Is the Green Card Number Located?
The green card number is located in the machine-readable section on the back of current Permanent Resident Cards. Older valid editions may have a different arrangement, so use USCIS guidance for your card version if the expected sequence is not visible. Do not assume that the most prominent number on the front is the card number.
Can I Find My Green Card Number Online?
You generally cannot retrieve the physical card's document number through a public online lookup. An existing USCIS account may help you access case notices, but a notice's receipt number is not automatically a substitute for the number printed on your card. If no secure copy exists, follow the official replacement process rather than using an unverified number.
How Many Numbers Are in a Green Card Number?
A green card number contains 10 numerical digits, but the full identifier has 13 characters because it starts with three letters. Describing it as a "13-digit number" is technically imprecise. This distinction matters when a form validates character type, since entering only the 10 digits or replacing the letters with numbers can produce an error.
