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86th AW/IG Complaints & Resolution Frequently Asked Questions

Space A-Travel To and From Germany

Travel To and From Germany

US Military
1. Military personnel on official business do not require passports but do require military ID cards and NATO TDY travel orders. Military personnel assigned to positions or units with missions that may require deployment to other countries that do require passports should bring a passport to Germany.

2. Military personnel assigned to Germany for PCS, TDY, etc. who travel to locations outside Europe and North Africa (including the US) do not require a passport to return to duty in Germany but do require ID card and orders. Personnel stationed in Europe or North Africa do not require a passport to visit Germany on leave but do require military ID and leave documentation that identifies their European or African duty station. Eligible family members of such personnel may also visit Germany temporarily without a passport.

US GOV Civilians/Civilian dependants
1. No-fee passport required.
Visa not required for stays totaling up to 90 days within any 180-day period. A visa is required for stays totaling more than 90 days. The 90 days begin when entering any of the following countries, which are parties to the Schengen Agreement: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

2. Civilian personnel on a command-sponsored assignment and all accompanying family members of both military and civilian personnel should arrange with a US military passport office or agent to obtain a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) certificate or State Department-issued SOFA stamp in their no-fee passport before arriving in Germany.

SOFA Stamp Change Message 

OIF
US Military personnel assigned to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) (and this applies only to OIF participants) do not require a passport to visit Germany on leave provided:
Personnel have valid military ID.
Personnel are participating in an OIF R&R program.
Personnel arrive at a military airfield on a military/commercial contract aircraft. (This does not apply to personnel arriving on commercial aircraft).
US military authorities inform German immigration authorities assigned to perform inspections at US military airfields of the arrival times of such personnel. (Note that this notice is not required in Berlin.)
Personnel arrive bearing DA Form 31 with the following information:

a) First and last name
b) Date and place of birth
c) Social Security number
d) Indication of the issuing authority.
e) Signature of the approving authority.
f) Indication of the validity period
g) An explicit statement (in Block 17) that the form is "valid for the purpose of travel to Germany."

ALL Others
1. Passport required for all other DoD personnel and eligible family members. Visa not required for stays totaling up to 90 days within any 180-day period. A visa is required for stays totaling more than 90 days. The 90 days begin when entering any of the following countries, which are parties to the Schengen Agreement: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Non-US citizens and dual nationals with non-US passports.
Passport and visa requirements may vary for non-US citizens and for dual nationals traveling on non-US passports. Such travelers should check with a German embassy or consulate to determine what credentials they require for entry. 

2. If Personnel are US citizens or US permanent resident aliens 
     a) US permanent resident aliens must have their current citizenship noted 
     on their DA Form 31. 
     b) US resident aliens who are citizens of "visa required countries" must 
     obtain a German visa from a German diplomatic mission to place on their 
     DA Form 31 in lieu of a passport from their country.