The United States green card is one of the most popular permanent resident permits and opens several doors for social and economic opportunities to people from all over the world. As a foreign national with permanent residency in the United States, you should know that there are numerous U.S. green card visa-free countries to which you can easily travel. In fact, you are free to travel outside the United States to your home country and other countries of your choice with the privilege of visiting those countries without a visa. In this article, we’ll cover:
- Where can green card holders travel?
- Regulations for traveling out and returning to the U.S.
- How long can you stay outside the United States?
- Required documents for traveling out and returning to the U.S.
- Countries that grant a visa waiver for U.S. green card holders
Below you will find a map that outlines the visa-free countries for U.S. green card holders:
Countries Green Card Holders Can Visit Without a Visa
Green card holders can visit several countries without obtaining a visa. For example, the United States has an agreement known as a “good neighbor policy” with Canada and Mexico, enabling green card holders to travel to either of these countries without a separate visa. You will, however, need to present your passport to enter those countries along with the following:
- To travel to Mexico, you must obtain a Tourist Card (Forma Migratoria Múltiple – FMM), also known as a Multiple Digital Migration Form.
- Available online or at entry points.
- To travel to Aruba (with a stay of less than 30 days), you will need a valid national passport, a U.S. green card, a valid return ticket, and an Aruba ED Card.
Additionally, you can also travel to other countries for tourism without a visa:
Albania, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cayman Islands, Chile, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Malaysia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Serbia, Singapore, Sint Maarten, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turks and Caicos, and United Arab Emirates also grant visa waivers to U.S. green card holders.
Do you have questions about your travel plans? Learn more about Travelling with a Green Card.
Some of these countries have some restrictions for nationals of certain countries. Additionally, countries change their immigration laws from time to time. Therefore, before traveling to any of the countries or territories above, as a green card holder, it is recommended that you first check the requirements on their immigration website to be sure that a visa waiver is available to you.
Overview of U.S Green Card Travel Rights
The U.S. green card, officially known as a lawful permanent resident card (I-551), is issued to certain eligible foreign nationals by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This grants lawful permanent residents the right to live and work in the U.S. on a long-term basis.
The term “nonimmigrants,” on the other hand, refers to those who are in the U.S. on a temporary visa and are required to return to their home country on or before the expiration of their status. You can become a green card holder through employment, investment, or family ties to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, as well as a few other means.
Travel Eligibility for U.S. Green Card Holders
According to the USCIS, a lawful permanent resident is free to travel outside the U.S., and brief or temporary travel usually does not affect your status. This freedom is for both lawful permanent residents and conditional green card holders.
However, your travel arrangements must be made according to the travel regulations for your status. This includes having the necessary documents that will allow you to travel outside and re-enter the U.S. Although there are many U.S. green card visa-free countries you can travel to, the travel period can have a negative impact on your residency status, depending on your immigration restrictions.
Required Documents for Traveling Abroad/Reentering as a U.S. Green Card Holder
To travel to a foreign country, you will need to present your passport and your green card. You may also need some additional documents depending on the country you are traveling to. This is because some foreign countries have their own entry and exit requirements, which must be respected by every visitor.
In general, after a brief or temporary trip abroad, you will need to present:
- Your valid, unexpired green card (I-551)
- U.S. driver’s license/State-issued I.D.
- Re-entry permit (I-327) if applicable
- Passport/ foreign national I.D.—will be reviewed by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer to determine if you can re-enter the U.S.
These requirements are applicable regardless of whether the U.S green card holder traveled to a visa-free country or not.
Have questions about your travel plans? Speak to a member on our team.
How Long Can a Green Card Holder Stay Out of the Country?
As a green card holder, you can travel and stay outside the United States for a period of up to six months without losing your permanent resident status. While your status grants you the freedom to travel in and out of the U.S., you must maintain legal status at all times, which includes establishing and maintaining a continuous physical presence. It is important to remember that traveling to visa-free countries for U.S. green card holders does not annul this requirement.
- Less than 6 months = Your permanent resident status is safe
- 6 months = May trigger some questions at the port of entry when returning to the U.S.
- 12 months = Abandonment of the green card
Traveling abroad doesn’t necessarily mean you will be denied entry as long as your journey abroad was within the parameters of your status. However, staying abroad for more than a year may indicate that you intend to abandon your permanent resident status, which is known as green card abandonment.
Green Card Abandonment
Green card abandonment is a situation whereby a permanent resident gives up on their green card either intentionally or unintentionally. Staying outside the United States for too long is one of the acts that can be considered as having the intent of green card abandonment.
In some cases, abandonment may be established if there are indications that you no longer have the intention of making the U.S. your permanent residence, even during a brief or temporary journey that is less than a year.
After returning from a journey abroad, the CBP officer will base their assessment of your reentry eligibility on several criteria. This includes whether or not you:
- Maintained family and community ties
- Filed U.S. income taxes as a resident
- Maintained U.S. employment while you were abroad.
They may also check to determine whether you maintained a:
- U.S. mailing address
- Valid U.S. driver’s license
- A U.S. bank account
- run a U.S. business
- Own property in the United States.
Maintaining any or some of these criteria will help prove that your absence was indeed temporary and that you had no intention of abandoning your permanent resident status.
Don’t risk abandoning your green card. Speak to VisaNation to ensure that you are not jeopardizing your green card status.
Green Card Travel: Extended Absences Over One Year
If you expect to remain outside the U.S. longer than one year, apply for a re-entry permit before departure. However, there are requirements that must be addressed before you embark on the journey. To avoid denial at the port of entry, green card holders are advised to first apply for a re-entry permit before traveling outside the United States.
Whether you are a permanent or conditional green card holder, having a re-entry permit allows you to apply for admission to the U.S after returning from abroad without having to obtain a returning visa from a U.S. consulate or embassy. However, keep in mind that the permit will be issued with an expiration date, which means you can only use it to apply for admission on or before the expiration date.
Re-entry Permit Expiration and Renewal Guidelines
If you stay outside the United States for more than two years, your re-entry permit will have expired. In this scenario, you will have to obtain a returning resident visa (known as an SB-1) at a U.S. consulate or embassy. Applying for an SB-1 can be an extensive process that involves: a medical exam, the establishment of eligibility for an immigrant visa, and other requirements.
This is why it is not advisable to stay longer than the expiration of your re-entry visa. However, just like a re-entry permit, a returning resident visa will also not automatically grant you admission after your journey. The purpose of these documents is to help prove your case at the port of entry.
What Happens If My SB-1 Application is Denied?
If, for any reason, the immigration officials deny your returning visa application, you will not be allowed to enter the U.S. unless you acquire another valid visa. The common reason for SB-1 denial is failing to demonstrate strong ties to the United States while you were away. In this case, your only option is to reapply for another immigrant visa, which can be under the same category you had previously, or you can explore other available options.
The downside to this is that you will have to start the process all over again. For instance, if you apply for an employment or family-based green card, the process will cost you and your sponsor another round of expenses, force your sponsor to file a new petition, and require you to attend another interview. This could possibly have a very long processing time, and, in the end, there is no guarantee of getting it. This is why it is important to be cautious and ensure you don’t stay abroad for more than the stipulated time when you travel on your green card.
What Happens If I Lose My Green Card While I am Abroad?
Your green card or reentry permit can get lost or destroyed while you’re away. If this happens, you must file a Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation). Without having your green card, reentry permit, or I-131A, you will find it difficult to find an airline or any other transportation carrier back to the U.S. Allowing a traveler without proper documentation aboard a transportation carrier may lead to sanctions on the company.
Does Travel Outside the U.S. Affect the Naturalization Process?
If you dream of becoming a U.S. citizen someday, you might want to take extra precautions when it comes to your stay outside the United States. According to the USCIS, “absences from the U.S. of six months or more may disrupt the continuous residency required for naturalization.”
Long absences don’t just risk abandonment, they can also disrupt the continuous residency requirement for citizenship.
During your naturalization process, you will be asked to disclose all trips taken outside the United States for the five years preceding the citizenship application. If you are found to have stayed abroad for more than a period of six months, this may affect your chances of citizenship eligibility. However, for those who must unavoidably stay abroad for a long period, there is a provision in the N-470 Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Process.
This application will help you preserve your status if you have to stay abroad for one year or longer. The eligibility for the N-470 must be based on a very genuine purpose, such as employment purposes for the U.S. government, a recognized U.S. firm, a mission, or a denomination that has a bona fide organization in the U.S., and other recognized entities.
How VisaNation Law Group Can Help
While you are allowed to travel the world as a lawful permanent resident, it is important to take precautions in circumstances that could make you lose your green card or affect your eligibility for citizenship in the future. Whether you are already a green card holder or in the process of acquiring one, you need to know how to make the most of your status. This is why you should work with experienced green card immigration attorneys.
VisaNation Law Group has a team of highly experienced green card attorneys with extensive knowledge of the immigration rules for permanent residents, especially travel regulations. For a professional guide on your travel documentation, including a re-entry permit or returning visa application, you can always count on them. Additionally, if your application for any of these has been denied, they can help you regain entry to the U.S. You can contact and book an appointment with VisaNation Law Group today by scheduling a consultation.
FAQs About Green Card Travel
Below you will find answers to the most commonly asked questions about visa-free travel for green card holders.
Can you travel with a green card/permanent resident card?
You are eligible to travel outside of the U.S. as a green card holder/permanent resident. U.S. permanent residents are allowed to travel anywhere in the world, depending on their ability to enter the country of their destination. However, as a green card holder, there are a number of visa-free countries that do not require any additional paperwork for entry. Always double-check the visa requirements of the country you are traveling to, and if your existing passport will be acceptable.
Can you fly with a green card?
Yes, as a green card holder, you can board domestic and international flights. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) accepts a variety of personal identification documents, such as:
- U.S. green card;
- U.S. passport;
- Driver's license;
- Border crossing card;
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe; and
- Many other forms of identification.
What are U.S. green card travel benefits?
There are several travel benefits to having a green card. Firstly, you can easily leave, enter, and re-enter the U.S. You will not be subject to denial of entry unless you violate U.S. or international laws. Secondly, you are eligible to travel to many visa-free countries with your U.S. green card. To visit those countries, you will not need any additional paperwork or visas for entry. Your U.S. green card will be enough.
Can you travel with a green card and no passport?
You cannot travel internationally with just a Green Card and no passport. You can fly domestically within the U.S. using your Green Card as ID. TSA accepts it as a valid form of identification for airport security checkpoints.
Staying Compliant While Traveling as a Permanent Resident
Traveling as a U.S. green card holder is possible, but it comes with important conditions and documentation requirements. Understanding reentry time limits, reentry permits, and potential risks like green card abandonment ensures that your international travel doesn’t jeopardize your permanent resident status.
Short trips abroad are usually not an issue, but staying outside of the U.S. for more than 6 months can raise questions about whether you still intend to reside permanently in the United States. To avoid complications, you must carry the proper documentation when leaving and reentering the U.S.. This includes your valid green card, and in some cases, a reentry permit if you anticipate staying outside the U.S. for an extended period.
Whether you’re taking a short vacation, visiting family, or planning an extended stay abroad, staying informed helps you travel with confidence. Review the location-based resources above for additional details, and always check for any updates in immigration policies before making travel plans.