OCONUS PCS: The Complete Overseas Military Move Guide
An OCONUS (Outside the Continental United States) PCS relocates a service member's household to a foreign country, a U.S. territory such as Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, or Puerto Rico, or an overseas installation. The weight allowance structure differs from CONUS, unaccompanied baggage (UB) becomes a critical early-arrival channel, privately owned vehicle (POV) shipment is location-dependent (and often restricted), a consumables allowance may apply, and pets face quarantine requirements that vary by destination country. Understanding the system before orders arrive -- and which parts the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) does not cover -- is the starting point for an overseas move that does not derail your reporting date.
OCONUS vs. CONUS: Key Differences at a Glance
The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), published at travel.dod.mil, governs both CONUS and OCONUS entitlements, but the mechanics diverge significantly once your orders take you outside the continental United States. The table below captures the most operationally important differences. Always verify current figures at move.mil and with your installation Transportation Office (TO), because allowances are updated when the JTR is amended.
| Category | CONUS PCS | OCONUS PCS |
|---|---|---|
| Weight allowance structure | Single HHG weight allowance (rank + dependent status) | Same HHG allowance, but typically split: HHG shipped to destination + portion placed in non-temporary storage (NTS) at origin |
| Unaccompanied baggage (UB) | Not standard; used occasionally for extended transit | Standard entitlement, carved from HHG allowance; intended to arrive before the main HHG shipment (typically 500-1,000 lbs depending on rank and orders) |
| Non-temporary storage (NTS) | Rarely authorized without special circumstances | Commonly authorized for items not permitted at the OCONUS duty location (oversized furniture, restricted goods, NTS at origin installation) |
| POV (privately owned vehicle) shipment | Not a government entitlement for CONUS-to-CONUS | One POV shipment authorized to most OCONUS locations; some locations (Korea, many EUCOM posts) restrict or prohibit POV delivery |
| Pet shipment | Government has no entitlement; fully out-of-pocket | Government has no entitlement; fully out-of-pocket; plus destination-country quarantine and health certificate requirements add significant lead time and cost |
| Timeline from orders to delivery | Typically 4-8 weeks for household goods | HHG delivery abroad can take 6-12+ weeks by vessel; UB often arrives in 2-4 weeks by air freight |
| Consumables allowance | Not applicable | Authorized for certain OCONUS locations where U.S.-standard consumables (food, household supplies) are not locally available; amount varies by location and dependent status per the JTR |
How the OCONUS Shipment Channels Work
An OCONUS move typically involves three or four separate shipment channels managed through the Defense Personal Property System at move.mil. Your installation TO coordinates the whole process, but you initiate shipments and make channel decisions through your DPS account.
Unaccompanied baggage (UB). The UB channel ships a small portion of your household goods by air freight so it arrives before your main HHG shipment. Common UB items include bedding, towels, a limited number of kitchen essentials, children's school supplies, and work-required equipment. UB weight is carved from your total HHG weight allowance -- it is not an additive entitlement. The JTR specifies the maximum UB weight by grade; current tables are published at travel.dod.mil. Because UB moves faster than ocean freight, prioritize items you will need during the weeks before your main shipment arrives.
Main household goods (HHG) shipment. The bulk of your household goods moves by surface (ocean freight). The government contracts with a Transportation Service Provider (TSP) through DPS, which handles packing, loading, ocean transport, and delivery to your OCONUS residence. Transit times vary significantly by destination -- Western Europe is generally faster than the Pacific, and some Pacific island installations may have only periodic vessel schedules. Your TO will give you realistic transit estimates for your specific destination.
Non-temporary storage (NTS). For many OCONUS assignments -- particularly Korea tour types and certain EUCOM short tours -- you are authorized to place a portion of your HHG in government-funded NTS at or near your origin installation for the duration of the tour. Items in NTS remain stateside until your next PCS. NTS is subject to weight limits that count toward your total entitlement alongside UB and HHG.
Personally Procured Move (PPM) for OCONUS. A PPM is less common on an OCONUS move but is authorized under the JTR. It typically applies to goods you personally transport, items shipped to storage, or supplemental civilian move legs not covered by the TSP. Coordinate with your TO before contracting any civilian carrier for a PPM leg.
For a broader overview of the PPM reimbursement process and weight allowances by rank, see /newsroom/military-pcs-weight-allowance-by-rank-2026.
POV Shipment: What Changes Overseas
On a CONUS PCS, privately owned vehicle shipment is not a government entitlement -- you drive your car or hire a civilian auto transport company at your own expense. On an OCONUS PCS, the rules shift: the government typically authorizes shipment of one POV to your OCONUS duty location through the PCSmyPOV program administered by International Auto Logistics (IAL). Vehicles are processed through vehicle processing centers (VPCs) at or near your origin installation.
The POV entitlement is location-dependent. Most Korea short tours do not authorize POV shipment. Restricted overseas areas where SOFA vehicle registration is not feasible also typically prohibit it. For authorized locations -- most EUCOM installations, Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Puerto Rico -- one POV is processed through IAL's vehicle processing centers (VPCs). Check vehicle eligibility (age, condition, left-hand vs. right-hand drive requirements) before scheduling. Current VPC locations and procedures are documented through move.mil.
If you ship a POV, plan for a 4-8 week gap between drop-off at the origin VPC and receipt at the destination VPC. You will need a separate vehicle solution during that window at both ends.
Pets on an OCONUS PCS
The government provides no entitlement for pet shipment on any PCS, CONUS or OCONUS. Pet transport is entirely out-of-pocket. On an OCONUS move, the regulatory complexity increases substantially because your pet is crossing an international border (or entering a territory with its own animal import rules), and the requirements vary enormously by destination.
Common destination requirements include an ISO-standard microchip, rabies vaccination within a specific timing window, a rabies antibody titer test with a USDA-recognized laboratory (Japan, UK, Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand require titer tests; waiting periods after a passing result can reach 180 days), a USDA-endorsed health certificate from an accredited veterinarian issued within 10 days of travel, and quarantine upon arrival at some locations.
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains country-specific import requirements at aphis.usda.gov. Because titer test waiting periods alone can run 6 months, start the pet paperwork as soon as you receive verbal orders.
For coordination of civilian carriers involved in any stateside portion of a move that includes pets in a vehicle, see /newsroom/moving-concierge-for-military-pcs.
Consumables Allowance: A Unique OCONUS Benefit
The consumables allowance is an OCONUS-specific entitlement separate from the HHG weight allowance. When the JTR determines that household staples -- food, cleaning products, paper goods, baby supplies -- are not reasonably available at a duty location at U.S. comparable prices, the government authorizes an additional consumables shipment. The allowance is not automatic; it applies only to designated locations and varies by grade and dependent status. Eligibility is confirmed through the JTR overseas supplements and your installation TO. If it applies, consumables must ship within your PCS timeline -- the entitlement cannot be added retroactively.
OCONUS PCS Timeline: What to Expect and When
An OCONUS PCS timeline is longer and less forgiving than a domestic move. The critical path is driven by the HHG ocean transit time and customs clearance at the destination country -- neither of which can be rushed.
A realistic planning sequence:
- 6+ months out: Begin pet titer testing paperwork if the destination requires it. Verify POV eligibility.
- On receipt of orders: Open DPS at move.mil, brief with your TO, and confirm weight allowance, UB entitlement, NTS authorization, and consumables eligibility.
- 8-12 weeks before departure: Schedule HHG and UB pack-out dates in DPS. Schedule VPC drop-off for POV. Begin USDA health certificate process.
- 4-6 weeks before departure: UB ships by air freight. NTS items staged.
- 2-4 weeks before departure: HHG picked up by TSP. POV processed at VPC.
- On arrival: UB delivers in roughly 2-4 weeks. HHG takes 6-12+ weeks by vessel; actual transit depends on destination schedules.
Buffer at every stage is not optional. Vessel schedules, customs holds, and housing availability at the destination all introduce delays that cannot be scheduled around. If HHG delivery is delayed past your orders' timeline, your destination TO can authorize storage-in-transit (SIT).
For help coordinating civilian carrier involvement in any portion of the stateside leg, the /concierge intake process is built to handle the detail level an OCONUS move requires.
How a Moving Concierge Fits Into an OCONUS Move
The DPS system handles the government-arranged portions of an OCONUS move -- HHG, UB, NTS, and POV coordination through IAL. A moving concierge operates entirely on the civilian side and does not interact with DPS, your TO, or the TSP assigned to your shipment.
Where a concierge adds value on an OCONUS PCS:
- Stateside civilian move before departure. If your residence is not served by your TSP's pick-up, a civilian mover is needed to stage goods before the TSP takes custody.
- NTS transfer leg. If the NTS facility does not accept direct delivery from your home, a short-haul carrier is needed for that leg.
- Items excluded from the HHG shipment. Oversized items or goods prohibited at the destination country may need a separate civilian solution stateside.
- Spouse or dependent relocation on a different timeline. A parallel move with a different departure date needs its own screened carrier.
MovingRated is a concierge service -- we vet movers and gather quotes on your behalf. We own no trucks or crews. You contract and pay the carrier directly. For how the concierge model differs from a moving broker, see /newsroom/moving-concierge-for-military-pcs.
For cost estimation on any civilian move leg, use the /cost-calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an OCONUS and CONUS PCS? A CONUS PCS moves you within the 48 contiguous states. An OCONUS PCS relocates you to a foreign country, a U.S. territory (Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands), or any overseas installation. The practical differences include the UB and NTS shipment channels, a POV shipment entitlement at most OCONUS locations, the consumables allowance at qualifying locations, significantly longer HHG transit times, and per-country pet requirements. OCONUS entitlements are governed by the JTR, primarily Chapter 5 and the overseas supplements at travel.dod.mil.
Does the government pay to ship my car overseas? For most authorized OCONUS locations, yes -- one POV is authorized through the PCSmyPOV program via IAL. Korea short tours and some restricted overseas areas do not authorize POV shipment. Eligibility depends on your orders and the gaining installation's SOFA vehicle status. Verify with your gaining unit's sponsorship program and your TO before scheduling a VPC appointment.
How long does unaccompanied baggage take to arrive at an OCONUS installation? UB ships by air freight rather than ocean vessel and typically arrives within 2-4 weeks of the pack-out date, depending on the destination and available air service schedules. That said, transit times vary, and delivery to your residence at the OCONUS installation depends on the TSP's local delivery capacity. Your TO and the DPS tracking tools at move.mil are the authoritative sources for current UB transit estimates to your specific duty location.
Can I ship my pet on military orders? No. Pet transport is fully out-of-pocket on any PCS. On an OCONUS move you must also meet the destination country's import requirements -- microchip, rabies vaccination timing, titer test (with waiting periods up to 6 months for some destinations), USDA-endorsed health certificate, and possible quarantine on arrival. Country-specific rules are at aphis.usda.gov. Start the paperwork as soon as you receive verbal orders.
What is the consumables allowance and does it apply to my OCONUS move? The consumables allowance is a weight or dollar entitlement, separate from your HHG allowance, for shipping household staples -- food, cleaning products, personal care items, baby supplies -- to an OCONUS duty location where those goods are not reasonably available at U.S. prices. Eligibility is location-specific and is determined by the JTR and your service's overseas supplements. It is not automatic. Your installation TO, using your gaining duty location code, can confirm whether your destination qualifies and what the current authorized amounts are. If it applies, ship consumables within your PCS timeline -- it cannot be added retroactively.
How do I track my OCONUS household goods shipment? Shipments arranged through DPS are trackable at move.mil using the tracking number provided after TSP pick-up. You can also contact your TSP directly via the contact information in DPS. If delivery is delayed past the estimated date, escalate to your destination TO; unresolved issues go to the Defense Personal Property Management Office (DPMO) through DPS.
What happens if my household goods are delayed at my OCONUS duty location? HHG delays are common on Pacific routes where vessel schedules are infrequent. Your destination TO can authorize storage-in-transit (SIT) and in some cases a dislocation allowance (DLA) supplement for temporary lodging. The JTR governs both. File a delay claim through DPS promptly -- entitlements may not apply retroactively if documentation is not initiated within required timeframes.
Start Your OCONUS Move on Solid Footing
An OCONUS PCS has more moving pieces than any domestic relocation, and the consequences of a missed timeline -- a missed ship date, a pet that does not meet quarantine requirements, a POV that cannot enter the destination country -- compound quickly. The official resources are move.mil for DPS and shipment management, travel.dod.mil for JTR entitlements, and your installation TO for location-specific guidance.
For the civilian side of the move -- any leg that falls outside what your TSP handles -- visit /concierge to tell us the details and receive screened carrier options with documentation of what was verified. You make the hiring decision and contract directly with the mover.