Do Military Spouses Need a Passport or Visa?
Being married to a service member doesn’t eliminate the usual international travel requirements. Military spouses generally need passports to travel outside the U.S., and depending on the destination and reason for travel, they may also need a visa.
Things get a little more complicated with an overseas permanent change of station (PCS). A military spouse traveling on official orders may need a different type of passport than the one used for vacations, along with a visa or other documentation the host country requires.
Does a Military Spouse Need a Passport or Visa?
For a vacation or another personal international trip, you’ll use a regular tourist passport. You can check the State Department’s international travel information page to find the passport and visa requirements for a particular destination.
For an overseas PCS, eligible military dependents may need a no-fee passport, issued without the normal application fee for qualifying official government travel. The State Department includes no-fee passports among the special-issuance passports it provides for official travel.
The two aren’t interchangeable.
No-fee passports are for official government-authorized travel, such as traveling to an overseas duty station as an authorized military dependent. It isn’t intended for vacations or other personal trips. A spouse can have both at the same time.
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Do You Need a Visa as a Military Spouse?
Visa requirements depend on the country you’re entering and the reason for your travel. For a vacation, check your destination’s entry requirements before you leave. A country that allows American tourists to visit without a visa may have different requirements for military dependents moving there under PCS orders.
Italy is one example. According to U.S. Army Garrison Italy, service members’ dependents must obtain an Italian Missione (Type D) visa before traveling there for a PCS. This visa is placed inside the dependent’s no-fee passport. Your installation passport office can tell you whether you need a visa for your next duty station.
How Do Military Spouses Apply for a No-Fee Passport?
If you’re applying for the first time, you’ll complete Form DS-11. This form covers several passport types, including first-time tourist passports and special-issuance no-fee passports. For a no-fee passport connected to a PCS, you’ll also submit DD Form 1056 (Authorization to Apply for a “No-Fee” Passport and/or Request for Visa) and a copy of your approved travel orders. (If you’re renewing an existing no-fee passport, you’ll generally use Form DS-82 instead of DS-11.)
The State Department also requires a passport photo and proof of citizenship. First-time applicants must provide identification, and you’ll need additional documentation if you’ve changed your name.
Does Every Military Spouse Qualify for a No-Fee Passport?
Being married to a service member doesn’t automatically mean you can get one for any overseas trip. Your authorization to accompany the service member also matters. For example, USAG Italy states that only command-sponsored dependents are authorized for a no-fee passport and Italian visa through the PCS process.
Command sponsorship means the family members have been approved to accompany the service member overseas, and approved dependents are added to the service member’s orders. Because requirements differ by assignment, check your orders and contact your installation passport office before applying.
Do Service Members and Military Spouses Need the Same Documents?
No. A Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) establishes the legal status of U.S. military personnel in a host country. Depending on the agreement, it may allow service members traveling on official orders to enter and leave using their military ID and orders. But that doesn’t necessarily apply to military spouses. For example, USAG Italy says service members don’t need a no-fee passport or visa for a PCS to Italy. Their dependents, however, need both.
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Do Military Spouses Get Expedited Passport Processing?
Military spouses don’t automatically receive priority for passport applications just because they’re married to service members. They can, however, use the expedited and urgent-travel services available to other applicants.
The State Department currently lists routine processing at four to six weeks and expedited processing at two to three weeks. (Those estimates don’t include mailing time.) For urgent travel, State Department passport agencies accept appointments from people traveling internationally within 14 calendar days. If you also need a foreign visa, that window extends to 28 calendar days. You need an appointment and proof of travel, and expedited service costs extra.
No-fee applications follow DoD processes, and military status doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be processed immediately. USAG Italy advises incoming families that a no-fee passport can take eight weeks or longer, and a Missione visa adds another two to four weeks.
What Happens if Your Documents Aren’t Ready Before Your PCS?
You may have to travel separately from the service member. USAG Italy’s PCS guidance states that service members must still meet the report dates on their orders when authorized dependents are waiting for no-fee passports or Missione visas. Trying to enter as a tourist may not solve the problem, either. Someone who arrives without the required documents may have to return to the home at their own expense.
Will You Need Additional Documents After You Arrive?
Possibly. Some countries require military dependents to complete additional paperwork once they reach their destination. Requirements vary by country, so include them in your PCS planning rather than assuming your paperwork is finished once you board the plane.
What About Military Spouses Who Aren’t U.S. Citizens?
A military spouse who isn’t a U.S. citizen generally travels using a passport issued by their country of citizenship. Their visa requirements may also differ. If you’re a noncitizen spouse preparing for an overseas PCS, contact your installation passport office early to find out what applies to your citizenship and destination.
Make Sure to Check the Requirements Before You Travel
No single passport or visa rule applies to every military spouse. For personal travel, check the State Department’s current entry requirements for your destination. For a PCS, start with your orders and your installation’s passport office to learn what you’ll need to travel. And start early! Starting the paperwork ASAP can help prevent a documentation issue from delaying your overseas move.
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