Nebraska Firearm Bill of Sale

A Nebraska Firearm Bill of Sale is a document that proves the sale and ownership transfer of a gun from one Nebraska resident to another.

It is a form that evidences legal ownership, and it helps minimize risks in a gun sale transaction.

Nebraska has a mix of relaxed and strict firearm laws. When selling a firearm, it is essential to understand the rules to avoid legal trouble.

Download: PDF or MS Word.

State Laws for Selling a Gun in Nebraska

Minimum Age to Purchase

An applicant must be at least 21 years old to get a permit.

Permit for Purchase

In Nebraska, anyone who is not a minor or a prohibited person may purchase and carry a firearm, with or without a permit.

Register a Gun

You can purchase a firearm in the state without registration.

Law enforcement officials conducting background checks may only collect data as necessary to determine eligibility for purchasing and possessing a handgun. [1]

Police do not keep records of firearm sales in the state. 

Open Carry Permit

Not required.

Concealed Carry Permit

To apply for a concealed handgun permit in Nebraska, you must complete an application process.

An applicant must meet the following requirements to get a permit: [2] [3]

• Be at least 21 years old
• Not be a prohibited person under federal law
• Pass an eyesight test
• Have no felony convictions
• Have no misdemeanor crime of violence convictions in the last ten years
• Have no mental illness or dangerous-person finding in the past ten years
• Be a resident of the state for 180 days before the application
• Have no firearms-related convictions
• Not be on probation, parole, work release, or house arrest
• Undergo a background check
• Complete an approved handgun training and safety course. [4]

The permit comes from the Nebraska State Patrol. It will include your name, address, photo, and the permit’s expiration date. [5]

It is valid for five years.

How to Apply

Step 1 – Get Trained

Complete a valid handgun safety and training course.

Step 2 – Complete Application

Fill out a Concealed Handgun Permit Application.

Step 3 – Show Proof of Training and Vision

Attach proof of handgun training and adequate vision.

Step 4 – Submit Application

Deliver your application to the nearest State Patrol Headquarters.

Step 5 – Get Fingerprinted

Submit fingerprints to the State Patrol and pass a Federal background check. [6]

Step 6 – Pay Fees

All applicants must pay an application fee.

Step 7 – Wait for Approval or Denial

The State Patrol approves or denies applications within 45 days of receiving them.

Gun Reciprocity

Nebraska recognizes permits from states with permit processing similar to its standards.

The current list of states includes:

• Alaska 
• Colorado 
• Connecticut 
• Florida 
• Hawaii 
• Illinois 
• Kentucky 
• Louisiana 
• Michigan 
• Minnesota 
• New Mexico 
• North Carolina 
• Ohio 
• Oregon 
• South Carolina 
• Virginia 
• Wisconsin
• District of Columbia

Nebraska will honor permits from several additional states, but with limitations.

The following states permits are valid only if the holder is at least 21 years old:

• Arizona 
• Arkansas 
• California 
• Maine 
• Missouri 
• Montana 
• Nevada 
• Oklahoma 
• Texas 
• Wyoming 

Nebraska will honor permits from the following states that meet the following specifications:

• Idaho – must be an enhanced permit only
• Iowa – must be a non-professional permit only
• Kansas – must be a standard permit only
• North Dakota – must be a Class 1 license only
• South Dakota – must be an enhanced permit only, with no restrictions enhanced
• Tennessee – must be an Enhanced Handgun Carry permit only and the holder must be at least 21 years old
• Utah – must be a permit only [7]
• West Virginia – must be a CHL permit only [8]

For all other states, individuals can bring their handguns through Nebraska when traveling without penalty, but they must have them secured, inaccessible, and unloaded. 

Restrictions on Firearm Ownership

Nebraska defers to federal law for determining who is prohibited from possessing a firearm. [9]

Under federal law, the following conditions make a person ineligible:

• Felony conviction
• Fugitive from the law
• Substance addiction
• Not a citizen or legal resident of the U.S.
• Dishonorable discharge from the military
• Subject to a court order for domestic violence
• Misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence
• Commitment to a mental institution

Requirements

The state does not require you to have a Nebraska firearm bill of sale.

You should consider creating one on your own to serve as proof of the transaction and that you collected all necessary information from the buyer. 

Private sellers must require buyers to have a certificate to purchase a firearm. [10]

There are some exceptions:

• You are selling an antique gun.
• The buyer is a licensed firearms dealer under federal law.
• The buyer is authorized to do so on behalf of law enforcement.
• The buyer is a close family member (spouse, sibling, parent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or grandparent).
• The buyer has a valid concealed carry permit.

Note the certificate requirement only applies when you are selling a handgun. Buyers do not need a certificate to buy rifles or shotguns. 

Buyers apply for a certificate through their local sheriff or chief of police. [11]

They must undergo a background check, be at least 21, and not be on the prohibited buyer list.

The process takes two days, and the certificate remains valid for three years.