Passports, Status Stamps and NATO Travel Orders
Wives and children must have valid standard passports. The only exception is for those children endorsed on their mother’s passport who may continue to travel whilst the passport remains in date. Before travelling to Germany the passport for non EEC wives should be endorsed with a ‘status stamp’: an endorsement showing that the holder of the passport is the dependant of a member of the British Forces in Germany, a UK based civilian (UKBC) or a member of a sponsored organisation such as SSAFA, NAAFI etc.
The Defence Passenger Reservation Centre (DPRC) will endorse passports with the Status Stamp. If your family has already been called forward by DPRC, or aim to travel under private arrangements, then passports should be sent for endorsement to:
Defence Passenger Reservation Centre
Hampton House
20 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7TD.
The immediate members of your family, including dependant children in full time education in UK, are given ‘Dependant Status’. Such status is recognised by the issue of a civilian identity card, similar to the Services identity card, to wives and dependant children aged 16 and up to the 23rd birthday. Status is not normally granted to children who have attained their 23rd birthday prior to arrival in Germany unless they are in full time education or have a medical, physical or mental infirmity that renders them entirely dependent on their parents. A dependant who has attained their 23rd birthday and who has not been granted status may reside with the family provided the commanding officer agrees. Such dependants must register with the German authorities and are not entitled to any tax free facilities or Service support. Parents should ensure that any child residing with them who has not been granted dependant status, is in possession of a Form E111 and as an added safeguard take out medical insurance.
If your spouse (non EEC only) has arrived in Germany under private arrangements without having his or her passport endorsed with a status stamp, you should, if any other members of your family are of non EEC nationality, apply through your unit to HQ UKSC(G) G1 (Comp) for the passport to be stamped. It is not necessary for passports of a spouse or child of an EEC country to have the status stamp endorsed after arrival as status is indicated by the civilian ID card issued by HQ UKSC(G).
Serving military personnel intending to travel under private arrangements must either have a valid passport, or an identity card plus a NATO Travel Order (obtainable from the parent BFG unit).
Identity Cards
All spouses and children over the age of 8 years, including those attending school in the UK, or elsewhere, who visit their parents during school holidays, require civilian identity cards, which, for all dependants over 16 years of age, is to be carried at all times.
You should ask your RAO (Regimental Administrative Office) immediately on arrival for application forms. One passport size photograph is required; reimbursement of the costs will be made, providing you produce a receipted bill from the photographer. Children over 8 and under 16 years are provided with an ID card made under unit arrangements. arrangements, then passports should be sent for endorsement to: