Nebraska Birth Certificate: How to Order, Fees and Who Can Get One

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Vital Records issues Nebraska birth certificates, and each certified copy costs $17.00. You can order through the state's own online portal, by mail, or in person at the Vital Records office in Lincoln. For other states, see our guide to birth certificates by state.

Information last verified on October 8, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

This page covers ordering a certified copy of a Nebraska birth certificate, the fees and processing times DHHS publishes, who may order, and how to correct or amend a Nebraska birth record. It applies to births that occurred in Nebraska. DHHS says that if you need an out-of-state record, you must contact the vital records office for that state.

How to order a Nebraska birth certificate

DHHS offers three routes: its online ordering site, mail, and walk-in service at the Lincoln office. All three charge the same $17.00 per certified copy.

Online through the state portal

Online orders go through the state's own ordering site at nevitalrecords-dhhs.ne.gov, which handles Nebraska events only. The site says it does not offer expedited shipping and does not give refunds.

The two DHHS sources give different online timing figures. The DHHS service-options page lists a minimum of 7 days of in-office processing for online orders, while the ordering site itself tells you to allow 4 to 6 weeks to receive your order in the mail. Plan around the longer figure if you have a deadline.

By mail

Send the application details, a photocopy of your current photo ID and a $17.00 check or money order made out to "Vital Records" to:

Vital Records, P.O. Box 95065, Lincoln, NE 68509-5065

Enclose a stamped, self-addressed business-size envelope; DHHS accepts only the exact amount. DHHS does not take credit cards for mail orders. Regular mail orders take a minimum of 15 days of in-office processing, according to DHHS.

Expedited mail service

Expedited service is offered only on mail-in orders. Include a prepaid return envelope for USPS Priority or Express Mail, or a prepaid FedEx or UPS envelope. DHHS lists 1 to 2 days of in-office processing for expedited orders, plus the delivery time of the service you choose.

In person in Lincoln

You can apply in person at the Vital Records office in the Nebraska State Office Building, 301 Centennial Mall South (First Floor), Lincoln. DHHS lists a minimum of 30 minutes for walk-in service. The office phone number is (402) 471-2871, and the email address is DHHS.VitalRecords@nebraska.gov.

Processing times at a glance

These are the agency's estimates, not guarantees. The ordering site is the only online route DHHS lists. For a birth in Douglas County (Omaha), the Douglas County Health Department also issues certified copies for $17.00, except for people who were adopted. Order only through DHHS or that county office, not through other websites.

Douglas County births: Omaha office

The Douglas County Health Department has access to records for births that occurred in Douglas County. It does not issue birth records for anyone who was adopted at any time. Its office is in the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center, 1819 Farnam Street, Room H-01, Omaha (402-444-7204), and it takes orders online, by mail and in person.

Mail orders need the county's application, a photocopy of your current government-issued photo ID, a self-addressed stamped return envelope, and a check or money order payable to DCHD.

How much a Nebraska birth certificate costs

A certified Nebraska birth certificate costs $17.00 per copy, whichever route you use. The figure comes from two parts of Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-612: a $16 fee for a certified copy under subsection (1) and an additional $1 fee under subsection (7) for any certified copy of a birth record or any search made at the applicant's request.

The statute says the fee is charged whether or not the record is found on file with the department. If DHHS cannot find the record, expect the fee to be kept.

DHHS's Application for Amendment (form HHS-81) charges $16.00 to correct the record, plus $17.00 for each certified copy of the amended certificate. The form must be signed in front of a notary, and DHHS accepts only original documents or certified copies as evidence.

No-fee copy for voting

DHHS says new legislation allows applicants to request a no-fee certified copy of a birth record if the applicant does not have a current Nebraska driver's license or state identification card, for the purpose of voting. Apply in person or by mail (not online) and write on the application that you need the copy to get a state ID card for voting.

Who can order a certified copy

Nebraska does not sell certified birth certificates to anyone who asks. Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-612(1) directs the department to supply a certified copy to an applicant for a proper purpose as defined by department rules, and DHHS says all requests must meet the proper purpose standard. The rule that defines proper purpose (174 NAC 3) was not available when we checked, so ask DHHS if you are unsure whether your request qualifies.

If your name is not on the certificate, DHHS requires proof of your relationship to the person named. Its examples: your own birth certificate to get a parent's record, or a marriage record to get a spouse's. A registrant can also authorize someone else to order their certificate with DHHS's notarized letter of birth authorization, available on the state ordering site.

ID requirements

DHHS accepts a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, military ID, tribal ID or permanent resident card. If you do not have one, you can instead provide two documents: one from DHHS's List A and one from List B. List B documents must be issued within 30 days and show your current address.

Mail applicants must include a photocopy of their current photo ID. DHHS says it reserves the right to accept or reject any document presented.

Using the certificate for a passport or REAL ID

For a first U.S. passport, federal rules call for a birth certificate that shows your full name, place and date of birth, and your parents' full names, is signed by the official custodian of birth records, bears the issuing office's seal, and shows a filing date within one year of birth (22 CFR 51.42). For REAL ID, federal rules accept a certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the vital statistics office in your state of birth (6 CFR 37.11).

DHHS does not describe separate long-form and short-form versions on the pages we reviewed. If an agency asks for a particular version, confirm with DHHS before ordering.

Correcting or amending a Nebraska birth record

Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-635 to 71-644 set the rules for amending a Nebraska birth certificate. A parent, a guardian, the registrant if of legal age, or the person responsible for filing the certificate may apply (71-635).

Errors found in the first year

Within the first year after the birth, DHHS may fix obvious errors, transposed letters in words of common knowledge, or omissions, on request of a person with a direct and tangible interest in the certificate. These corrections are not marked as amendments (71-636).

Other amendments in the first year need an affidavit plus one item of documentary evidence, and the certificate is marked amended (71-637).

Corrections after the first year

One year or more after the birth, an amendment requires an affidavit plus two or more items of documentary evidence. Those documents must have been established at least five years before you apply, or within seven years of the birth (71-638).

Once an item on a certificate has been amended, it cannot be amended again unless the first amendment contained a mistake or a court orders it (71-643).

Changing a child's given name

Until the child's first birthday, given names may be changed on the parents' written request. From the first to the seventh birthday, the request must also include documentary evidence. Either procedure can be used only once; after that, and after the seventh birthday, a given name changes only by court order (71-640).

Adding a father

For a child born to unmarried parents, Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-630(4) directs DHHS to add the father when it receives a sworn acknowledgment of paternity signed by both parents, if paternity is not already shown, and the certificate is not marked amended. DHHS asks you to call the office at (402) 471-2871 for instructions and the form.

Legal name change

After a court changes your name, DHHS amends your birth certificate when it receives a certified copy of the court order (71-630). The court process itself is covered in our guide to Nebraska name change laws.

Sex designation

Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-604.01 provides that, on receipt of a notarized affidavit from the physician who performed sex reassignment surgery and a certified court order changing the person's name, DHHS prepares a new birth certificate in the new name and sex. The evidence and the original certificate are sealed and may be opened only by court order. The statute's history shows it was last amended in 2007. We did not confirm DHHS's current practice under this section, so contact the Office of Vital Records before you apply.

If a birth was never registered

If a Nebraska birth was not registered within the first year, you can ask DHHS to file a delayed birth registration under the Delayed Birth Registration Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-617.01 to 71-617.15). Call (402) 471-2871 for the required evidence and fee.

Adoption and original birth records

After an adoption, the court's report of adoption is used to establish a new birth certificate. DHHS says an adopted person born in Nebraska can contact the office to learn how to get original birth information. Access to original records is covered in our guide to Nebraska adoption records.

Older records and genealogy

Nebraska birth records are not open to the general public; each request must meet the proper purpose standard. Whether birth records are public in other states is covered in are birth certificates public records.

For genealogy, DHHS cites regulation 3-004.06: all vital records may be released for genealogical purposes when the requester documents that the registrant has been deceased for at least 50 years. DHHS's family history page describes the rule as covering records 50 years old or older, so confirm with the office which test applies to your request. DHHS says genealogy requests can take up to 12 weeks.

You can also view a record in person at the Lincoln office instead of receiving a certified copy. DHHS charges the same non-refundable $17.00 fee, requires a photo ID and a proper purpose, and does not allow the record to be photographed.

This article is general legal information about Nebraska birth certificates, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change; confirm with the Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records before ordering. Information last verified on October 8, 2026.

Related

• Birth certificates by state
• Are birth certificates public records?
• Nebraska adoption records
• Nebraska name change laws

Last updated: October 8, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a birth certificate in Nebraska?

The Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records charges $17.00 for each certified birth certificate, including additional copies in the same order. That is a $16 base fee under Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-612(1) plus a $1 birth-record fee under 71-612(7).

Can I get a Nebraska birth certificate the same day?

DHHS lists walk-in service at the Vital Records office in Lincoln with a minimum processing time of 30 minutes. Bring a government photo ID, or the two alternative documents DHHS accepts.

How long does a Nebraska birth certificate take to arrive by mail?

DHHS lists a minimum of 15 days of in-office processing for regular mail and 1 to 2 days for expedited mail orders sent with a prepaid express return envelope. Online orders do not offer expedited shipping, and the ordering site says to allow 4 to 6 weeks.

Who can get a certified copy of a Nebraska birth certificate?

Nebraska releases certified copies only for a proper purpose under Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-612(1) and DHHS rules. If your name is not on the certificate, DHHS asks for proof of relationship, such as your own birth certificate to get a parent's record.

Is there a free birth certificate in Nebraska for voter ID?

Yes. DHHS says you can request a no-fee certified copy of your birth record for the purpose of voting if you do not have a current Nebraska driver's license or state identification card. Apply in person or by mail, not online, and write on the application that you need it to get a state ID card for voting.

How do I correct a birth certificate in Nebraska?

After the first year, Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-638 requires an affidavit plus two or more supporting documents established at least five years before you apply or within seven years of the birth. Within the first year, obvious errors can be fixed on request without marking the certificate amended (71-636).