How to Scan a Green Card on iPhone (Front and Back, No Glare)

By Xeplin · Published October 19, 2026

A new job, a citizenship application, a lease, a bank account: a permanent resident card gets requested often, and nearly always "front and back". It is also one of the harder cards to scan well. The surface is covered in holograms and fine security print that throw glare under any direct light, the back has lines of small machine-readable text that must stay sharp, and an online form will reject a copy where either side is cut off. This guide shows how to scan a green card on an iPhone so both sides are clean and readable, with the built-in scanner and with Scanner App, and how to handle a document this sensitive afterwards.

The short version

• Scan both sides. Almost every request wants the front and the back.
• No flash, light from the side, tilt to kill glare. The holograms reflect strongly.
• The three lines of text on the back must be sharp. They are machine-readable and are often checked first.
• Built in: Notes or Files, Scan Documents, front and back as two pages, filter on Color.
• Scanner App: Scan ID Card puts both sides on one page and exports PDF or JPG, offline and without an account.
• A scan is a copy. When an employer or an officer needs to see the card itself, bring the card.

When a copy is requested, and when the card is

Rules differ by form and change over time, so read the instructions for the specific application. When a form says "copy", a clear iPhone scan of both sides is what it means.

Set up the card

1. Take it out of any sleeve. Plastic adds a second layer of reflection on top of the holograms.
2. Lay it on a dark, plain surface. The card is light, and edge detection needs contrast.
3. Flash off, light from one side. A window to the side works best. Overhead lights are what cause the bright patches.
4. Tilt slightly if glare appears. Move the card a few degrees until the bright spot slides off the name, the numbers, and the photo.
5. Hold the phone parallel and close, so the card fills most of the frame and the small print has enough pixels.

Method 1: The iPhone's built-in scanner

1. In Notes, open a note, tap the attachment button, and choose Scan Documents. In Files, tap the More button and choose Scan Documents.
2. Capture the front. Tap the thumbnail and drag the corners in to the card edges if the crop took part of the table.
3. Turn the card over and capture the back as a second page.
4. Tap the filter button, choose Color, and tap Save.

The result is a two-page PDF. It is accepted in most places. The limits are that it is PDF only, while some portals ask for JPG, and that front and back are on separate pages, which some upload forms treat as two files. Saving the scan in Files rather than Notes keeps it out of a note that may sync.

Method 2: Scan ID Card in Scanner App

1. Open Scanner App and tap the plus button to open the New Document menu.
2. Under Tools, choose Scan ID Card.
3. Capture the front. The card is detected and cropped automatically.
4. Turn the card over and capture the back. Both sides are placed on the same page.
5. Zoom in on the card number, the dates, and the three lines on the back. If anything is soft or glared, recapture that side.
6. Tap Export and choose PDF, or JPG or PNG if the form asks for an image.

The scan stays on the iPhone until you export it, and Scanner App needs no account or internet connection. More about the tool is on the ID card scanner page.

Check it before you upload

• Every edge visible on both sides. A cropped corner is the most common reason a copy is sent back.
• Name, card number, and dates readable at full zoom.
• The back's three text lines crisp from end to end.
• The photo free of glare. A bright patch across the face makes the copy useless for identification.
• File type and size match what the form states.

Handle it like the sensitive document it is

A green card carries your name, date of birth, country of birth, and an identification number. Upload it through the official portal or the requester's secure system where one exists. Avoid sending it by email or chat, where copies stay in two mailboxes indefinitely. Do not keep it in the photo library, which syncs and is visible to apps with photo access. Keep one master scan in a place you chose, and delete working copies when the application is done.

Requests for a green card usually come with others. See how to scan a passport on iPhone, how to scan a Social Security card on iPhone, and how to scan a birth certificate on iPhone.

Quick answers

How do I scan my green card on my iPhone?

Use Scan Documents in Notes or Files and capture the front and then the back, or use Scan ID Card in Scanner App to get both sides on one page. Keep the flash off and check the back's text lines for sharpness.

Do I need to scan both sides of my green card?

Almost always. Forms that ask for a copy of a permanent resident card usually require the front and the back.

How do I stop glare on my green card scan?

Turn off the flash, use light from the side rather than overhead, and tilt the card a few degrees until the bright patch moves off the text and photo.

Can I use a scan of my green card for a new job?

For the work eligibility check, employers generally need to examine the card itself, though they may keep a copy. Bring the card on your first day.

Should I upload a PDF or JPG of my green card?

Follow the form. If it does not say, PDF keeps both sides together in one file.

Is it safe to keep a scan of my green card on my phone?

Yes, if it is deliberate: one copy in a scanner app or in Files, not in the photo library and not in old emails.

Both sides, sharp, accepted

Flash off, side light, both sides checked at full zoom, and one copy kept safely. Download Scanner App, free to download, to scan ID cards with both sides on one page, offline and without an account.