Green Card
A common name for the document confirming permanent-resident status, best known in the context of the United States.
«Green card» is a common name for the document that confirms a country's permanent-resident status. The term is most often used in relation to the United States, where the card grants the right to live and work in the country permanently without being a citizen.
Such a status can be obtained on various grounds — through family ties, employment or investment programmes, for example; in some cases the status is first granted with conditions and for a limited period. The specific categories, requirements and application procedures are set by immigration law.
Permanent-resident status is not the same as citizenship: it does not provide the country's passport, but in many cases it lets the holder apply for naturalisation later. A permanent resident's obligations, including those related to tax and residence, depend on the state's law.
| What it is | A permanent resident card, primarily in the US |
| Who it concerns | Immigrants to the US, including investors |
| What it gives | The right to live and work in the country permanently |
| Not to be confused with | A visa and US citizenship |
| Role in investment migration | The outcome of the US investment immigration category |
How it works in practice
- The investor goes through the investment category: the status is usually granted conditionally at first, then the conditions are removed.
- The card serves as proof of status for employment, travel and dealings with authorities.
- Maintaining the status requires actually living in the country; long trips abroad require special permits.
- The card itself is periodically renewed — a technical procedure that does not reopen the status.
- Having accumulated the required residence record, a permanent resident may apply for citizenship.
Common pitfalls
- ! Extended stays outside the US can be treated as abandonment of status — even with a valid card.
- ! The status brings tax obligations on worldwide income; tax planning is done before the move, not after.
- ! An expired or lost card does not end the status but complicates work, travel and renewals.
- ! Serious offenses can lead to loss of status and removal, despite the «permanent» nature of residence.
“A green card is a residence status, not a visa for occasional visits — long absences are read as abandoning residence. And from the day it is issued, the US taxes your worldwide income.”
Levan Pogosov — LawyerFAQ
Is a green card the same as citizenship?
No. It is a permanent-resident status that allows living and working in the country but does not replace citizenship. If the conditions are met, it may become a basis for later naturalisation.
Does only the United States have a «green card»?
The term itself is firmly linked to the United States, but a permanent-resident status with a similar meaning exists in many countries, albeit under different names.
Must a green card holder live in the US permanently?
The status assumes permanent residence: long departures without special permission are risky. Separate documents are obtained for planned long absences.
Does a green card holder pay US taxes?
As a rule, permanent residents are treated as US tax residents and report worldwide income. Details depend on the situation, so tax advice is taken before obtaining the status.
Does a green card give visa-free entry to other countries?
No: it is not a passport, and third countries' visa rules follow the holder's citizenship. Some countries offer facilitation to card holders, but these are their own decisions.
Does the investor's family receive green cards too?
Usually the spouse and minor children are included in the application and receive status together with the main applicant. Age criteria for children are set by law.