As we drove through the narrow streets of the quaint German village, I was struck by the obvious fact of how foreign everything seemed. The unreadable (to me) road signs, the tall brick houses hugging the road, and the smell of fresh bread wafting from the local bakery reminded me that we were far, far from our former U.S. home. I felt as though we'd stepped onto the set of a movie.
I pictured leisurely strolls to buy pastries and family day trips to view the nearby castles or enjoy the flowers that dotted the countryside. But as my husband drove that day, we had another mission, and I returned to the task at hand: getting through the written exam for my European driver's license.
If you're one of the lucky military families with orders to move overseas, this is an exciting time, whether you're heading to Germany, Japan, or another country. Like I was, you may already be dreaming of the travels you'll take, how you'll immerse your military kids into a new culture, or the foods you'll try. And while that's a rewarding part of overseas living, you'll also have to get through all the practical logistics first.
Whether you're excited, anxious, or a bit of both, here's a quick list to help you start preparing for your overseas move!
1) Explore these trusted resources.
We've done the research for you! MilitaryByOwner's Overseas PCS Survival Guide provides loads of details for your overseas move. You'll also find tips and tricks from other military families who've been overseas and back, some multiple times.
Our constantly updated library of resource articles and blog posts provides more info on various aspects of moving overseas.
2) Start some prepping now.
You may be itching to organize your belongings, downsize, donate, and hold your best-ever garage sale in preparation for your upcoming move.
But don’t get too far without those all-important PCS orders in hand. They're your key to everything!
3) Visit Military OneSource's Moving and Family Logistics for OCONUS Moves.
This is your one-stop shop for official DoD info for your PCS move overseas. Here, you'll find details about shipping your household goods, specific service branch support, links and contact info for every installation's Transportation Office, the Relocation Assistance Program, PCS entitlements, cost of living allowances, how to conduct a PPM (personally procured move), and more.
4) Connect with DPS (Defense Personal Property System).
This is where you'll coordinate everything move-related: scheduling your household goods, tracking your shipment, or filing a claim. Log into DPS here. Find DPS customer support here.
5) If you're shipping a vehicle, visit PCSmyPOV for the most accurate and updated information.
The government will pay to ship one vehicle, but there are limitations on its size and weight. If you have more than one vehicle, you'll need to decide whether to pay to ship it yourself, sell it, or leave it behind.
The Old City of Frankfurt, Germany. Photo from Shutterstock.
6) Research your new installation.
Now for the fun part! Do some scouting with a quick search of the official overseas base website and Facebook page, then look for Facebook groups or other social media groups to join. Other military families living where you're headed will be invaluable resources to help you adjust.
7) Connect with your overseas sponsor.
Your overseas sponsor is someone already stationed at the installation where you'll be assigned. They'll help you with any questions you have about topics like military and off-base housing, local schools, and other nuances of the area.
The military should connect the overseas sponsor to the active duty member, but you may need to check with your receiving location.
8) Know that military kids are entitled to their own sponsor, too.
Connecting with a peer who already lives in the host country can help ease some of the transition of moving overseas for military kids. Learn more about this program: Ease the PCS Transition with the Youth Sponsorship Program.
9) Double-check travel documents.
Does everyone in the family have a valid passport? Will any of them expire while you’re living overseas? Does your host country require a visa?
The service member must make appointments for themselves and dependents to receive their "no-fee" (government) passport. Remember that no-fee passports are not used for leisure travel outside of your host nation; you'll need a regular passport ("tourist passport") for that.
If this sounds confusing, here's some clarification from army.mil:
"Your No-Fee Passport is for Official Travel such as PCS, ETS, TDY or travel between Europe and the U.S.
Tourist Passports are required for leisure travel outside of your host nation. It can take up to 8 weeks to process a tourist passport in Europe. Apply for a Tourist Passport prior to leaving the U.S. to avoid delays in travel upon arrival!"
Photo from Canva
10) Begin making arrangements for transporting pets, pet vaccinations, and any quarantine requirements.
Each country or location has its own guidelines regarding arriving with pets, which requires some research and prep work. For instance, Hawaii, though not a foreign country, is considered an OCONUS location and has strict rules regarding a minimum waiting period after rabies vaccines and rabies tests for cats and dogs.
The military now reimburses some pet travel expenses that arise from an overseas PCS.
“The Department of Defense has approved a new policy to cover pet travel expenses, like pet shipping or quarantine fees, incurred by Service members during a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). As of January 1, 2024, military Service members going through a PCS within the continental United States can be reimbursed up to $550 for one household pet, either cat or dog, and up to $2,000 for moves to or from a location outside the continental United States to cover costs related to the transportation of a pet.”
Some helpful info for your overseas move with pets:
- Moving Overseas with Pets: What Military Members Need to Know
- 6 Resources for a PCS Move with Pets
- Moving with Your Pets
11) Plan now for extra room in your budget.
If you don't already have an emergency fund, begin setting aside extra funds for those hidden expenses that are bound to crop up. Even with PCS entitlements and dislocation allowances, there are always unexpected costs during a move.
Get tips from financial expert Kate Horrell for saving money during your overseas PCS.
12) Review essential documents and ID cards.
Check dates on military IDs and driver's licenses and plan to renew them before you leave the U.S. if they expire soon.
Make copies and take photos of important documents like marriage and birth certificates, passports, child custody papers, etc. Send copies to trusted family or friends or upload photos of them to the cloud. This will help greatly if you lose any of these documents/IDs and need to replace them.
13) Start downsizing now!
Overseas housing tends to be smaller than you're used to in the U.S., so now's the time to begin organizing and sorting your belongings. Determine if you'll need to put some larger items in storage or if you'll sell, donate, or give away.
Photo from Canva
14) Plan for what you'll include in your unaccompanied baggage shipment.
Your unaccompanied baggage shipment is separated from your other household goods and shipped in an expedited manner so that you should have access to it soon after you arrive at an overseas duty station. It still counts against your weight allowance but is designed to make your early days in a new country easier. It's generally limited to no more than 2,000 pounds, though some locations are lower.
Consider household items you use daily and want to have on hand soon after arriving at your new base. Not sure what to include?
Unaccompanied baggage tips from Military OneSource:
Examples: May consist of personal clothing and equipment; essential pots, pans, and light housekeeping items; collapsible items such as cribs, playpens, and baby carriages; and other articles required for the care of dependents. If necessary, you can also ship a small amount of professional books, paper and equipment in your unaccompanied baggage, or UB, shipment.
Not Allowed: Furniture and major appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, etc.).
Reminder: Unaccompanied baggage counts against your total weight allowance.
15) Stock up on items that could be challenging to purchase at your new duty station.
Ask for input from your overseas sponsor and other military families, and plan ahead. These may be things you wouldn't think about, so knowing someone where you're about to live will prove invaluable!
These things may not be available at your commissary or off-base and may be expensive to ship. Some ideas from those who've been there: goodies from Trader Joe's, favorite coffee, and snack foods.
More advice from military spouses living overseas:
- Refill needed medications and have a good supply on hand for the moving transition and first weeks in your new country.
- Schedule eye exams and purchase contact lenses and eyeglasses before the move.
- Lay in a supply of favorite nonperishable pantry staples to either hand carry, ship to your forwarding address, or include in your household goods, as they may not be available at your new base and could be expensive to ship.
Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash
16) Plan to leave irreplaceable items either in storage or with trusted family or friends.
Consider leaving behind sentimental and irreplaceable items like your wedding dress, cherished keepsakes, old photos, and valuable antiques. These treasures could risk damage or loss during an overseas move.
If possible, find a trusted family member or friend who can provide storage space while you're stationed abroad. If you're leaving items in long-term storage, verify that it's climate-controlled for those precious belongings.
We wish you the best of luck as you explore your new overseas duty station!
We want to hear from you! If you've moved overseas with the military, what advice would you give?
