To travel, you usually need your permanent resident card, a valid passport, and whatever visas are required by the country you intend to visit. While the US does not require permanent residents to have a valid passport to re-enter the US, foreign countries and airlines require you to have a passport.

For the vast majority of international travel in 2026, a U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder) cannot travel without a passport. While your Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) proves your right to live and work in the United States and allows you to re-enter the country, it is not a travel document that grants you entry into other foreign nations. To fly to Europe, Asia, or most other regions, you must present a valid passport from your country of citizenship. There is, however, a narrow exception for "closed-loop" cruises (voyages that start and end at the same U.S. port) to certain destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, or Canada, where a Green Card and a government-issued photo ID might be accepted by the cruise line, though a passport is still strongly recommended for emergencies. If you are a stateless person or cannot obtain a passport from your home country, you must apply for a U.S. Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571) before you depart, which acts as a passport substitute for international travel and ensures you can return to the United States after your trip.