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Chapter 05

OCONUS PCS Guide: Moving Overseas as a Military Family

An overseas PCS move follows the same basic path as a stateside move, but with more approvals, more paperwork and longer lead times. Family members may need medical screening, special passports and a plan for shipping goods across an ocean. This chapter explains what OCONUS means, which steps are added, how shipping works in general and what families should prepare for travel and documents.

A brass compass, a small globe and a folded map with a route across the ocean

What OCONUS means

OCONUS stands for "outside the continental United States" and is the opposite of CONUS, which refers to the contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Overseas assignments in Europe, Asia or elsewhere are OCONUS. Some places that are part of the United States, for example Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories, are also treated as OCONUS for many travel and allowance purposes. Confirm how your destination is classified for your orders.

An OCONUS PCS often means moving to a country with its own laws, language, currency and healthcare system. The status of U.S. forces in a country is usually set by an agreement between governments, and this affects things such as driver licenses, taxes, customs and local rules for family members. Your gaining command and the installation welcome office are the best sources for local details.

Extra steps vs CONUS

What are the entitlements for a PCS from CONUS to OCONUS? The exact entitlements depend on your orders, your rank, your family situation and whether your family is approved to accompany you. The Joint Travel Regulations and your finance office have the final word. What you can plan for in general is a set of extra steps.

  • Command sponsorship. Services generally require that a family be command-sponsored to travel at government expense and to use certain overseas benefits. Sponsorship is shown on the orders. It is not guaranteed in every location, so ask your gaining command early.
  • Medical and educational screening. Family members are normally screened for medical, dental and educational needs before they can accompany the service member. Military OneSource advises starting the screening as soon as you are notified, and the process can take weeks or months.
  • Orders approval. Orders for family members can follow the member's own orders, and this affects the schedule for passports, shipments and flights.
  • Passports and visas. Official travel often requires a special no-fee passport for family members. Ask whether your family needs one, and plan time for the application.
  • Pets. Many countries have strict import rules, including vaccinations, microchips and quarantine. Start the veterinary steps early.
  • Money and benefits. Housing allowances, cost-of-living allowances and other pay elements change overseas, and the rules for them differ by location. Ask the finance office what to expect.
  • Driving and insurance. Local licenses, vehicle rules and insurance requirements differ by country.

Many of these steps depend on one another. A medical clearance may be needed for sponsorship, sponsorship may be needed for the passport, and the passport may be needed to book travel. Draw a simple dependency list and start with the step that blocks the rest.

Shipping goods and vehicles

How long does it take for an HHG shipment to arrive in OCONUS? The honest answer is that it depends on the destination, the season, the mode of transport and the schedule of the carrier. Shipments over water usually take much longer than domestic moves, and delivery in weeks or even a few months is common. Your transportation office can give you an estimate for your destination and explain how pack dates, pick-up and delivery are set.

Household goods

  • Weight allowance. The allowance for overseas shipments depends on rank and family status and can differ from a stateside move. Ask for your own number.
  • Unaccompanied baggage. Many overseas moves split the shipment into a small air shipment that arrives quickly and a larger one that travels by sea. Pack the first-month items accordingly: kitchen basics, bedding, school supplies and clothing for the season.
  • Storage. If your overseas housing is smaller or furnished, you may store part of your goods in the United States. Ask about non-temporary storage rules.
  • Inventory and photos. Document everything, as in any PCS move, since damage claims are harder to handle across borders.
  • Voltage and plugs. Check which appliances work with local power and which need converters.

Vehicles

Can you ship a car to an overseas station? Military PCS vehicle shipping OCONUS is usually limited to a certain number of vehicles per member, and it depends on your orders and the location. Some countries have restrictions on age, emissions or size. Others make it easier to buy a vehicle locally. Ask the vehicle processing center or transportation office what applies to your destination before you decide to ship or sell your car.

Family travel and paperwork

Overseas travel needs more documents than a stateside drive. Start a folder for original and certified papers and keep it in your hand luggage.

  • Passports. Passports for all family members, with enough validity left. Non-U.S.-citizen family members need a valid passport from their country and may need a visa.
  • Official records. Birth and marriage certificates, adoption papers, custody orders and power of attorney.
  • Medical. Health records, immunizations, prescriptions and information about the health care system at the destination. Check how TRICARE works overseas for your family through the official TRICARE and Military OneSource sources.
  • School. Records and a plan for the school year. Military children overseas often attend schools run by the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the PCS move with kids chapter covers records and enrollment.
  • Pets. Health certificates and import documents, with dates that match the travel schedule.
  • Legal. Wills, power of attorney and guardianship arrangements for children.
  • Travel booking. Flights and temporary lodging, as arranged by the travel office and the gaining command. Keep all receipts.

For spouses, an overseas move also affects work. Employment rules differ by country, so ask the installation family support center about local options and career resources before you go.

How the base plan still applies

Everything in the basic PCS checklist still applies: orders, a pre-move survey, an inventory, a moving binder, hand-carry items and check-in at the new command. Add the OCONUS steps above, and give each of them more time than you think you need. Most overseas problems come from late paperwork, not from the move itself.

Last, plan how your family will stay connected: a time zone cheat sheet, a video call schedule and a way to share photos with relatives. Children in particular benefit from a regular call with grandparents or friends.