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Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language
No: Nebraska DMV's examiner manual says only translations of marriage licenses can be used, so other translated foreign documents do not count there.
Who may translate: DMV approved translator; no published list
How we know · policy checked on October 31, 2026
No, apart from marriage licenses.
Nebraska DMV's examiner manual, dated November 26, 2025, says "Only translations of marriage licenses can be used", and that staff may request translation of any foreign based document by a DMV approved translator.
We found no published list of those translators, and the DMV's public license pages state no translation rule, so call before you order anything for this office.
Nebraska DMV at a glance
Does it accept eVerbary? No
Not for most documents. Under the examiner manual, a translation from a professional service, eVerbary included, cannot be used for a foreign document other than a marriage license.
Even for a foreign marriage license the manual leaves it to home office approval and does not say an eVerbary translation qualifies, so ask the DMV first. Policy checked on October 31, 2026.
- Translation
- Not accepted, except marriage licenses
- Who may translate
- DMV approved translator; no published list
- Foreign license
- Drive test unless Mexico, Germany or Canada
Checked on October 31, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page. Policies change: confirm on Nebraska DMV's own page before you submit.
Worth knowing about Nebraska DMV
Marriage licenses only
The one kind of translation the examiner manual says can be used.
No published list
The manual says "DMV approved translator"; we found no list.
Drive test
Required for foreign licenses except valid Mexico, Germany and Canada.
Nebraska DMV requirements in detail
Translation
"Only translations of marriage licenses can be used." The manual's section on foreign language translations (examiner manual, p. 105).
Form of the translation
Typed or printed on letterhead if an agency is represented, dated and signed; a notary is not required. The original and the translation are presented and scanned; the translator need not attend (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
Who may translate
Staff may request translation of any foreign based document by a DMV approved translator (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025). We found no list of approved translators on dmv.nebraska.gov.
Foreign marriage license
For a name change, certified marriage licenses, divorce decrees or court orders link the names; a foreign marriage license with translation may be used upon approval by the home office (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
Foreign license
Drive test required, except valid licenses from Mexico, Germany and Canada, and U.S. territories. The foreign license is returned to you (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
Test languages
Written and audio tests in English, Spanish and American Sign Language; a 24-question non-verbal picture test for other languages. A foreign language dictionary is allowed after an examiner reviews it (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
Spoken help
You may use human or digital translators for the application, vision check and drive test instructions; staff may use an app or a phone service (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
Identity and status
Applicants prove citizenship or lawful status; USCIS documents are verified before issuance, which can take up to 20 federal work days (Document verification requirements).
Where this rule comes from
The DMV's public pages, including the new resident page and document verification requirements, say nothing about translations.
The rule is in the Driver License Examiner manual the DMV publishes for its staff, dated November 26, 2025, in the section on identification and foreign language translators.
It is a staff manual rather than a page written for the public, and it is the only written rule we found.
That section has two sentences that matter and they pull in different directions. One says staff may request translation of any foreign based document by a DMV approved translator.
The other says only translations of marriage licenses can be used. The manual does not say who is approved or how to become approved, and earlier editions from 2023 and 2024 carried the same wording.
Foreign marriage licenses and name changes
A name change needs documents linking your new name to your current one.
On top of certified marriage licenses, divorce decrees and court orders, the manual allows "other documents" upon approval by the home office, among them a foreign marriage license with translation (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
A translated marriage license is therefore not automatic: it goes through that approval, and a new visit may be needed, since the manual warns that document approval may not occur the same day.
For lawful status applicants the manual also describes a case where a SAVE response shows a different name, often explained by a marriage certificate from the country of birth. The new resident page adds that lawful status applicants may use a petition of name change.
Testing with a foreign license
A foreign license does not excuse the drive test unless it is a valid license from Mexico, Germany or Canada, or a license from a U.S. territory that is valid or less than a year expired (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
The Class O written test has 25 questions and you can miss five; the non-verbal picture test has 24 and you can miss four. If you have limited comprehension of the drive test instructions, a translator can explain them beforehand.
USCIS parolees can get a credential marked not for federal identification, under the same identification, verification and testing requirements as other applicants (Not for federal identification documents). The manual and the license pages we read do not mention International Driving Permits.
Documents people usually translate
- Foreign marriage licenses, with home office approval, for a name change
What to do in Nebraska
Call the DMV at 402-471-3985 before you order any translation, and ask whether your document can be used and who it considers an approved translator (New Nebraska resident driver's licensing, contact page).
Bring the original document to the driver licensing office (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025), plus proof of citizenship or lawful status and two proofs of Nebraska address (New Nebraska resident driver's licensing).
If you show USCIS documents, bring them to every visit and allow up to 20 federal work days for verification (Document verification requirements).
What we do not do
eVerbary translates documents; it is not the DMV and does not issue licenses, International Driving Permits or REAL ID decisions. For Nebraska DMV we do not provide a DMV approved translation, and we do not issue licenses or International Driving Permits or get records from abroad.
Need a certified translation for another office?
A certified translation from eVerbary can still be useful for a different office, such as USCIS or a court; see certified translations.
Frequently asked questions
Does Nebraska DMV accept a translated foreign document?
Under the examiner manual, only a translated marriage license can be used, and for a foreign one the home office must approve it (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
Who is a DMV approved translator in Nebraska?
The manual uses that phrase but does not define it, and we found no list on dmv.nebraska.gov. Ask the DMV at 402-471-3985 (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
Does the translation need to be notarized?
The manual says a notary public is not required; it must be typed or printed on letterhead if an agency is represented, dated and signed (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
Will I take a drive test with a foreign license?
Yes, unless the license is a valid one from Mexico, Germany or Canada, or from a U.S. territory (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
In which languages is the written test?
English, Spanish and American Sign Language, with a non-verbal picture test for other languages (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
Can someone translate for me at the office?
Yes. Applicants may use human or digital translators for the application, vision check and drive test instructions (Driver License Examiner manual, November 26, 2025).
Sources
Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles's own pages, read on October 31, 2026.
Need a certified translation for another office?
A certified translation from eVerbary can still be useful for a different office, such as USCIS or a court; see certified translations.