DoD Memo Clarifies Overseas Military Spouse Employment
A Department of Defense memo clarifies an old point of contention for military spouses stationed overseas. The memo’s most important detail? Host nation Status of Forces Agreements do not inherently prohibit military spouse employment in a foreign country, but a past lack of specific guidance made the rules unclear.
The memo addresses this amiguity.
MilitaryOneSource states, “In response to questions and concerns from spouses and military family advocates, the Defense Department published a January 2025 memo clarifying guidelines for dependents overseas seeking employment’ off base or off-post in the host country.
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According to the January 2025 memo, “No international agreements to which the United States is a party regarding legal status protections for DOD military and civilian personnel and their dependents, deployed or otherwise assigned overseas, specifically prohibits the employment of DoD-authorized dependents in the country where they are located.”
Before the Memorandum
Before this, the lack of clear guidance worried military spouses and dependents. The fear was running afoul of Status of Forces agreements or local host nation laws by accepting jobs “on the local economy.”
The DoD memo from January 2025 clarifies this. “DOD-authorized dependents would not lose their status as dependents in the country where they are located under applicable international agreements as a result of their employment.”
Years of Waiting
The clarification follows years of advocacy from military families and organizations who argued that the perceived restrictions created unnecessary complications.
However, the memo does not address the complexities of overseas employment. Updated rules or not, military spouses face challenges in a variety of areas including some or all of the following:
- Local taxes can be challenging, especially if you don’t know the language.
- Some employers won’t hire applicants with short-term residencies.
- Foreign employment laws may differ from U.S. laws in unexpected ways.
- Time zone differences and reliable internet access are among the challenges of remote work.
While the DOD memo clarifies SOFAs, military spouses should conduct thorough research before job hunting overseas. This includes:
- Knowing how relevant international employment law affects you.
- Networking with others working in the host country under SOFA.
- Knowing the relevant details of the Status of Forces agreement for the location.
Military spouses must navigate a new, unfamiliar employment situation despite the updated information. To prepare for that, military spouses should:
- Develop strong networking skills.
- Learn cultural sensitivities before meeting potential employers.
- Adapt to unfamiliar business practices.
If you are considering overseas employment as a military spouse or dependent, contact your nearest military base legal office or Judge Advocate General to schedule an appointment to discuss your rights and responsibilities under SOFA and non-SOFA jobs. You can’t get legal advice in this situation but will learn your requirements and rights as an employee.
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About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
