How Passport Services Are Organized in Nebraska

Nebraska does not issue passports. The U.S. Department of State does that for every state under federal law. What Nebraska offers is a network of local acceptance facilities, where you sign your application in person and have your identity checked before it goes to the State Department.

Across Nebraska these facilities are run by counties, cities and the U.S. Postal Service. Many sit inside courthouses, in the office of the county clerk or the clerk of the district court. Others operate from post offices, public libraries or city halls. Each location sets its own hours, appointment rules and accepted payment methods, so the office in one county can work quite differently from the one next door.

Our database lists 103 passport offices across the state. That reach matters in a state with 93 counties and long highway stretches between towns. A county seat such as Arthur, Burwell or Bassett can have a listed office even when the nearest city of any size is a long drive away.

Every office does the same core job. A trained acceptance agent watches you sign Form DS-11, checks your photo identification, administers the oath and seals the packet for mailing. The agent does not approve the passport and cannot predict whether it will be issued. That decision belongs to the State Department alone.

Because the service is federal, the rules you meet at the counter are the same in Omaha and in Ainsworth. What changes from place to place is access: how soon you can get an appointment, how far you must drive, and whether the office can take your photo on site.

Passport Offices in Omaha, Lincoln and Eastern Nebraska

Most Nebraskans live in the eastern part of the state, and the office count reflects it. Omaha has five listings, including the Northwest Passport Office at 6012 North 102nd Street, reachable at 402-965-4026. It serves Douglas County, the most populous county in Nebraska, where demand for appointments stays steady all year.

Lincoln has four listings. The State House Passport Office at 301 Centennial Mall South (402-458-1842) sits in the downtown government district, close to the Capitol. Lancaster County is also home to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, so students heading to study-abroad programs make up a real share of local applicants. Omaha and Lincoln are roughly 55 miles apart on Interstate 80, which means a resident of either city can book whichever office has the earlier opening.

South of Omaha, the Bellevue Passport Office at 2609 Victoria Avenue (402-291-1167) serves Sarpy County. Bellevue sits beside Offutt Air Force Base, so military families preparing for overseas moves often work against tight deadlines. If you are on a short timeline, call first and ask about the earliest appointment.

Smaller eastern cities fill in the map. The Dodge County Passport Office is at 428 North Broad Street in Fremont (402-727-2780), and the Platte County Passport Office is at 2610 14th Street in Columbus (402-563-4906). Fremont and Columbus each have two listings. Blair, in Washington County, has the Blair Passport Office at 201 North 16th Street (402-426-3100). Beatrice, in Gage County, lists an office at 612 Grant Street (402-223-1332), and the Schuyler Passport Office at 119 East 11th Street (402-352-2313) serves Colfax County.

Metro offices tend to book up before the spring and summer travel season. A smaller-city office a short drive away often has an open slot sooner. It is worth calling two or three before you settle on one.

Rural and Western Nebraska: Fewer Offices, Longer Drives

Once you leave the Omaha–Lincoln corridor, offices are spread thinner and are usually part of a county courthouse. Kearney, on Interstate 80 in Buffalo County, has two listings, including the Buffalo County Passport Office at 1512 Central Avenue (308-236-1246). It is the main hub for central Nebraska, and people from smaller towns nearby often drive in.

In the central and north-central part of the state, Custer County has the Custer County Passport Office at 431 South 10th Avenue in Broken Bow (308-872-2121) and the Arnold Passport Office at 214 S Walnut (308-848-2210). Aurora, the Hamilton County seat, lists an office at 1111 13th Street (402-694-3533). Albion, in Boone County, lists one at 222 South 4th Street (402-395-2057).

The Sandhills are where distances really stretch. The Brown County Passport Office is at 148 West 4th Street in Ainsworth (402-387-2705). Rock County lists an office at 400 N State St in Bassett (402-684-3933), Garfield County at 251 S 8th Ave in Burwell (308-346-4161), and Arthur County at 205 Fir Street in Arthur (308-764-2203). In ranch country, a passport trip can mean a half-day round trip, so confirm hours before you leave.

The Panhandle adds a time-zone twist. Sidney, in Cheyenne County, has the Cheyenne County Passport Office at 1000 10th Avenue (308-254-2814). Alliance has the Box Butte County Passport Office at 515 Box Butte Avenue (308-762-6293), and Bridgeport has the Morrill County Passport Office at 600 Main Street (308-262-1261). This part of Nebraska observes Mountain Time, so check which clock an office uses when you book. From Omaha, the Panhandle is more than 400 miles away, which is why local offices matter so much there.

In the south, the Furnas County Passport Office is at 912 R Street in Beaver (308-268-4015), and the Cambridge Passport Office is at 710 Patterson Street (308-697-4234). Harlan County has an office at 706 W 2nd St in Alma (308-928-2173). In the southeast, Nemaha County lists one at 1824 N Street in Auburn (402-274-3616).

Rural offices are often staffed by a clerk who also records deeds, files court papers and issues marriage licenses. Passport applications get handled around those duties, so many offices take them by appointment or only at set times. A phone call saves a wasted trip.

What to Bring to a Nebraska Acceptance Facility

First-time applicants, children under 16 and anyone whose last passport is too old, damaged or lost must apply in person. Bring the following:

At the time of writing, a first adult passport book carries a $130 application fee plus a $35 acceptance fee. For a child under 16 the application fee is $100 plus the same $35. Fees change, so confirm the current amounts on the State Department's travel site before you go.

Children under 16 need both parents or guardians present. If one parent cannot come, bring a signed and notarized consent form, DS-3053, along with a copy of that parent's photo ID. Many banks and some county offices around Nebraska have notaries.

Renewals, Processing Times and Urgent Travel

You may be able to skip the office entirely. Adults can renew by mail if their last passport was issued at age 16 or older, within the past 15 years, and is undamaged and in their possession. Mail renewals carry no acceptance fee.

Routine processing takes several weeks, and the State Department publishes current estimates. Expedited service costs an extra $60. For travel within 14 days, you may qualify for an appointment at a regional passport agency, though none is located in Nebraska. Apply early, and do not book nonrefundable travel until the passport is in your hands.

Passport acceptance facilities in Nebraska are distributed across post offices, county clerks' offices, and public libraries, providing residents with accessible locations to submit passport applications without traveling to a regional agency. Nebraska residents with urgent travel needs may also have access to a regional passport agency for in-person expedited service.

Passport Offices locations are available in 91 cities across Nebraska. They are spread across 80 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of passport offices include Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, reflecting larger populations and greater volumes of international travelers requiring passport services.

Residents of Nebraska should verify that their chosen acceptance facility accepts walk-ins or requires an appointment, as policies vary by location. Processing times fluctuate with seasonal demand, so applying several months before planned international travel is strongly advised.

Passport Offices by Counties

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Residents of Nebraska applying for a passport should complete their application form in advance, gather all required documents including proof of citizenship and a compliant passport photo, and confirm whether their chosen facility requires an appointment. Many passport renewal applicants in Nebraska can mail their DS-82 form directly to a processing center, avoiding an in-person visit altogether.

Browse Passport Offices by county across Nebraska to find the nearest location.

Getting It Done in Nebraska: Practical Tips for Your Visit

Start with a phone call. The offices listed here range from busy metro locations to single-clerk courthouse counters, and the listed phone number is the fastest way to confirm hours, appointment rules and whether staff can take photos. Federal holidays and local court schedules can change availability, so check again the week of your visit.

Gather your documents before you book. A frequent snag is a proof of citizenship that does not qualify, such as a hospital souvenir birth certificate. Nebraska birth records come from the Department of Health and Human Services, which keeps vital records in Lincoln, so order a certified copy well ahead if you need one.

Winter driving matters here. Blizzards and icy roads on Interstate 80, U.S. Highway 20 and U.S. Highway 83 can close routes in the Sandhills and Panhandle, so build in a buffer if your appointment falls between December and March.

Some counties offer more than one listing, which gives you a choice. Furnas County, along the Kansas border, and Scotts Bluff County in the Panhandle each have two entries. Compare the addresses and hours, then pick the one that fits your schedule.

Finally, you only need to visit once. Your passport book is mailed to the address on your application rather than picked up at the acceptance facility, so list a mailing address where someone will be home to receive it.

The U.S. Department of State issues every U.S. passport, and Nebraska has no state passport agency. The offices in this directory are acceptance facilities, run by county clerks, clerks of the district court, post offices, libraries and some city governments. They verify your identity, witness your signature on Form DS-11, collect your fees and forward the application to the State Department. Because each facility is managed locally, the hours, appointment rules and payment methods vary from one Nebraska county to the next, which is why calling ahead is worth the few minutes it takes.

Often yes, though it depends on the office. Busy locations in Omaha and Lincoln commonly book appointments days or weeks ahead, particularly before summer. Smaller courthouse offices in places like Burwell, Arthur or Alma may accept applications only during certain hours, because the same clerk handles other county business. Some locations take walk-ins and others do not. Call the number in the listing, ask about the next opening, and ask whether there is an afternoon cutoff, since applications must be completed and sealed before staff close for the day.

At the time of writing, an adult first-time passport book costs $130 for the application plus a $35 acceptance fee, which comes to $165. A child under 16 pays $100 plus the same $35. The application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State, usually by check or money order, while the acceptance fee goes to the facility. Expedited service adds $60, and faster return delivery costs extra. Photos are a separate cost. The federal government sets these fees and can change them, so verify the current amounts before you go.

Certified Nebraska birth certificates come from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records, based in Lincoln. You can typically request one by mail, online through an approved vendor, or in person. Passport agents need a certified copy showing your full name, date and place of birth, your parents' full names and a registrar's seal. Hospital souvenir certificates, plain photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted. If you were born in another state, order from that state's vital records office, and allow extra mailing time before your appointment.

The process is identical, but access differs. In the Panhandle, offices in Sidney, Alliance and Bridgeport may be your only nearby choice, and Omaha is more than 400 miles away. That region also observes Mountain Time. Rural counties often have limited hours, so call first and confirm which days the clerk handles passports. If you only need to renew an eligible adult passport, you can skip the trip by mailing Form DS-82 to the State Department. First-time applicants and children still need an in-person visit, so pair it with other errands in the county seat.

Pay the $60 expedite fee when you apply at your Nebraska acceptance facility, and consider paying for faster return shipping. That shortens processing but does not make it instant. If you must travel within 14 days, or need a foreign visa within a few weeks, you may be able to book an appointment at a regional passport agency through the State Department's phone line. Nebraska has no regional agency, so expect to travel out of state. Do not buy nonrefundable tickets until the passport is in hand, and check current processing estimates first.

Children under 16 must apply in person, and both parents or legal guardians normally must appear with the child. If one parent cannot attend, bring a signed, notarized Form DS-3053 and a photocopy of that parent's ID. Also bring the child's certified birth certificate showing both parents' names, each parent's ID with photocopies, and a 2 by 2 inch photo. Passports for children under 16 are valid for five years, not ten. Many Nebraska banks and some county offices have notaries, so arrange that before your appointment.