Nebraska driver license and state ID — guide for immigrants

Nebraska issues a driver license or non-driver state ID only to U.S. citizens and lawfully present non-citizens. There is no program for undocumented residents — no AB60-style license. Below is what the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires, drawn from its own document-verification rules (as of 2026-06-30).

Quick answer

  • Undocumented DL/ID access: NO. Every applicant must attest to U.S. citizenship or lawful status and provide documentary proof; all USCIS documents are verified before a credential is issued.
  • SSN rule: You must disclose a valid SSN (verified through the Social Security Administration), or show proof of exemption by presenting a valid, unexpired Record of Arrival and Departure (I-94 or I-94A) in a valid foreign passport. Nebraska does not list an SSA letter of ineligibility as the exemption path.
  • Non-driver state ID: Available. Free for U.S. citizens; for non-citizens the fee is tied to the credential term — $29 for 5 years down to $10 for one year or less (each includes a $5 security fee), as of 2026-06-30.
  • REAL ID note: Nebraska issues both REAL ID credentials and credentials that are “not for federal identification purposes.” Under LB 138 (2023), USCIS parolees receive non-federal Nebraska credentials.
  • Agency: Nebraska DMV — dmv.nebraska.gov, phone 402-471-3985.

Who qualifies

Only U.S. citizens and lawfully present non-citizens can get a Nebraska driver license or state ID. Every applicant must attest, per statute §60-484.04, that they are a citizen or that they are not a citizen but have lawful status and will provide valid documentary evidence of it. Because all USCIS documents are verified through the federal SAVE system before issuance, undocumented residents cannot obtain a Nebraska DL or ID.

Lawful-status documents Nebraska accepts (present one):

  • Valid, unexpired I-94/I-94A in a valid foreign passport. F-1/F-2/J-1/J-2/M-1/M-2 students must also provide the I-20 and/or DS-2019 for SEVIS. If stamped “Refugee,” the foreign passport is not required and an I-797 may be needed.
  • Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (I-551)
  • Valid, unexpired ADIT stamp / temporary I-551 in a valid foreign passport
  • Valid, unexpired Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
  • Certificate of Naturalization (N-550/N-570)
  • Certificate of Citizenship (N-560/N-451)
  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240/DS-1350/FS-545)

USCIS parolees became eligible under LB 138 (2023): people assigned a parolee immigration status can obtain Nebraska driving and identification documents that are “not for federal identification purposes.”

The Social Security number rule

Nebraska statute (§60-484 and §60-484.04) requires proof of citizenship/identity, residential address, and Social Security number. In the DMV’s words, applicants “must disclose their valid social security number which can be verified through the Social Security Administration or show proof of exemption from the requirement by presenting a valid, unexpired Record of Arrival and Departure in a valid foreign passport (I-94 or I-94A).”

Acceptable SSN-proof documents include your Social Security card, a W-2, an SSA-1099, or a pay stub showing your name and full SSN. The only stated exemption from the SSN requirement is the I-94/I-94A in a valid foreign passport — Nebraska’s pages do not reference an SSA denial or ineligibility letter. A person who is genuinely ineligible for an SSN presents the I-94/I-94A exemption instead.

Documents you must bring

Nebraska’s Document Verification Form groups requirements into three categories. Bring all three:

  1. Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful status (with name, date of birth, and identity) — present one of the documents in the “Who qualifies” list above (or a valid, unexpired U.S. passport/passport card for citizens).
  2. Proof of Nebraska principal address — two documents from two different sources, no P.O. Box (for example: bank statement, pay stub, lease or mortgage, utility or insurance bill, vehicle registration, voter card).
  3. SSN or exemption — see the SSN rule above.

Important limits stated by the DMV:

  • Not accepted: visas, Form I-151, I-94W, or an I-94 Border Crosser.
  • Any document marked “NOT TO BE USED FOR PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION” is not accepted.
  • Faxed or photocopied documents are not accepted; documents must be certified with a raised seal or stamp.
  • A foreign passport is accepted only as the carrier for a valid I-94/I-94A or an ADIT/I-551 stamp — not on its own.
  • A consular ID / matricula consular is NOT accepted for identity or lawful status.
  • Non-citizens must bring their USCIS documents every time they visit an exam office.

Fees and how long your credential lasts

A non-citizen’s DL or state ID expires when the USCIS document expires, so the validity term — and the fee — scale to your immigration document. The standard full term is 5 years. Each fee below includes a $5 security fee (as of 2026-06-30):

Validity termDriver license (Class O)State ID (non-citizen)
5 years$29.00$29.00
Over 3 to 4 years$24.00$24.00
Over 2 to 3 years$19.00$19.00
Over 1 to 2 years$15.00$15.00
1 year or less$10.00$10.00
Replacement$16.00$16.00

A state ID is free ($0.00) for U.S. citizens. You cannot hold a driver license and a state ID at the same time (statute §60-484). Note: verification of USCIS documents through SAVE “can take up to twenty (20) federal work days to complete,” so allow extra time.

How and where to apply

  1. Gather all required documents above.
  2. Apply in person at a Nebraska driver licensing office. Use the office locator and hours at dmv.nebraska.gov.
  3. Appointments can be made in advance for Lincoln and Omaha area DMV sites.
  4. If your USCIS documents do not immediately verify, you can check status through SAVE Case Check; the DMV mails you a letter once it receives the verification.

Agency: Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, 301 Centennial Mall South, PO Box 94877, Lincoln, NE 68509-4877 — phone 402-471-3985.

If you do not have lawful status

Nebraska will not issue a DL or state ID without proof of lawful presence, but you may still be able to identify yourself and bank:

  • Foreign passport — many banks and businesses accept a valid foreign passport as primary identification.
  • ITIN-friendly bank account — some banks open accounts without an SSN. See ITIN-friendly banks and what an ITIN is.
  • Matricula consular — your home-country consulate may issue a consular ID useful for banking and other purposes (though, as noted, the Nebraska DMV does not accept it). See consulates in Nebraska.
  • International Driving Permit (IDP) — obtained in your home country before traveling, an IDP can let short-term visitors drive; it is not a substitute for a Nebraska license for residents.

Last verified: 2026-06-30. Source: Nebraska DMV.

General procedural information. DMV policies, fees, and document requirements change frequently — verify with Nebraska DMV before visiting. Not legal or immigration advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney.