Confirm spouse documents and installation access

Practical guide

Spouse or dependent eligibility

For retirees and permanent-total disabled veterans using their respective Space-A categories, dependents must accompany the eligible sponsor. A spouse is not automatically an independently eligible traveler. Confirm accepted dependent identification and current enrollment/documentation with the terminal.

Foreign-national spouse

A dependent military ID does not replace a passport, visa or lawful entry permission. Ask the terminal to check documentation for the spouse’s actual nationality and every transit point. Confirm hotel and installation guest rules separately. Tourist travel is not an assumption of SOFA status; official-travel passport notices should not be applied blindly to a retiree vacation.

New Sanno caution

The hotel’s FAQ imposes extra requirements for guests from outside the U.S. or Japan, including SOFA sponsorship language and potentially 30 days’ advance documentation. A Thai spouse’s access should be confirmed directly by hotel Security before a nonrefundable booking.

Documents checklist

• Verify sponsor status and each dependent’s accepted ID.
• Check passport/visa requirements for each nationality.
• Obtain hotel/base access confirmation for foreign-national family members.