All dependents must have a valid no-fee passport and be named on the service member's orders in order to enter the U.K. Failure to have these may result in the deportation of the dependents at the airport or your port of entry into the UK. Your base passport office will be able obtain no-fee passports for your dependents prior to arrival at the Liberty Wing.
Military members stationed in the UK or travelling on official orders do not require a visa (ETA) but will need to present a common access card (CAC) and travel orders to border control.
Civilians and their dependents must present a no-fee passport with a valid visa at UK border control.
It is highly advisable to both civilian employees and dependents to obtain a regular tourist passport as the no-fee passport is only valid for entry into the country in relation to your PCS. The no-fee passport is not intended for travelling while assigned here and you may find yourself denied entry to other countries. The military member may also consider obtaining a tourist passport to enjoy travelling throughout Europe on leisure travel.
More detailed information may be found by reviewing the DoD Foreign Clearance Guide.
Lodging facilities are located at RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall. They provide family, officer and enlisted quarters on a priority basis to all military and authorized civilians relocating to the area. People on temporary duty or leave are accommodated on a space-available basis. Click here for Liberty Lodging's most current contact information.
Make temporary lodging arrangements as far ahead of your arrival as possible -- there is no guarantee that you will be offered a Temporary Living Facility. Due to the high volume of personnel in the area, the TLF fills up quickly, particularly during high PCS season. It is possible that individuals and families may be required to stay off base during these times.
If you are issued a non-availability letter, the lodging reservations office can provide a list of recommended accommodations in the local area or contact your sponsor for assistance in making a hotel reservation in the local area.
If you are an unaccompanied E-1 to E-4 with less than 3 years of active-duty service and are unsure of your eligibility to reside off-base, please make contact with the unaccompanied housing office at your gaining base, or have your sponsor do so, PRIOR to your arrival. You should be able to move straight into your dorm room with this prior coordination or know if you can live off-base.
If you will be a dorm resident, the dorm management office will advise you on if a temporary lodging reservation will be necessary.
If your dependency status changes (you acquire a dependent through marriage, birth, or adoption) prior to your arrival, please notify your sponsor and contact the military housing office for assistance.
If you are an unaccompanied E-1 to E-4 with less than 3 years of active-duty service and are unsure of your eligibility to reside off-base, please make contact with the unaccompanied housing office at your gaining base, or have your sponsor do so, PRIOR to your arrival. You should be able to move straight into your dorm room with this prior coordination or know if you can live off-base.
Accompanied members arriving to the tri-base area (RAF Lakenheath, RAF Feltwell and RAF Mildenhall) are serviced through the:
East Anglia Regional Military Housing Office
Phone: 01638 52 2101 (From a U.S. number: +44 1638 52 2101) DSN: 314-226-2101
Email:
48ces.housingassistance@us.af.mil Assistance Team (TLA, AOHA, OHA)
48ces.MFH@us.af.mil On-Base Housing Team (Facilities)
48ces.referral@us.af.mil Off-Base Housing Team (Referrals)
48ces.ceacf@us.af.mil Furnishings Management Section (FMS)
The East Anglia Regional Military Housing Office sends detailed instructions to inbound service members upon notification of their PCS. Please contact them if you have not already received your detailed instructions or have questions regarding your housing options or housing entitlements/allowances you may be eligible for.
Please reach out to RAF Lakenheath's Military & Family Readiness Center to sign up for the mandatory wing in-processing briefings that are held every Tuesday. Contact your sponsor if you've having difficulty arranging this to coincide with your arrival date.
It is recommended to attend the soonest briefing upon arrival in the UK as it covers essential information regarding the installations and the local area. At this briefing you will file your travel voucher, gain your 3rd AF driver's license and connect with valuable resources necessary to in-process into the Liberty Wing.
RAF Lakenheath M&FRC
Email: 48fss.fsfr@us.af.mil
Phone: 01638 52 3847 (+44 1638 52 3847)
DSN: 314-226-3847
You or your sponsor can coordinate opening a post office box so you may start redirecting your mail. A copy of your orders and a Postal Service Inbound Personnel form will need to be sent to the RAF Lakkenheath Post Office email address 48fss.post.office@us.af.mil
The post office can only open a P.O. Box 45 days prior to arrival. For more details and to download a copy of the form visit the Miliary Post Office's page on the RAF Lakenheath FSS website.
Check your mail regularly: Check your mail every two to three days, or more if expecting packages. The post office will only hold packages for 8-15 days (depending on shipping status) after your arrival date. After that, they will be returned to sender.
Mailing restrictions: Do not abuse your military postal system privileges. Various items like alcohol, swords, flammable items, etc., are not authorized for shipping and can't go through the MPS. Find out what you can and cannot send by checking the guidance posted around the post office or directly contacting your local MPS before buying and packaging it. Customs will find unauthorized items and you could be prosecuted and lose your MPS privileges.
For more information on what can or cannot be shipped to the U.K., contact the traffic management office at 01638 54 2201, from a US phone +44 1638 54 2201, DSN 314-238-2201
In many cases, you can bring a U.S. spec vehicle with you to the U.K. Your host TMO should be able to help you with arranging the transportation of your vehicle and direct you to the nearest location to drop it off. If you chose not to bring a vehicle with you, there are many options available on the economy.
If you decide to bring your U.S. spec vehicle (left-hand drive), you will find that driving on the "other side" of the road can pose some challenges, such as your ability to see around the cars in front of you. Additionally, some vehicles will have to have to undergo a light conversion to ensure the vehicle has functioning fog lights installed and headlights realigned to U.K. specifications.
No matter which option you choose, there are some specific details you should know up front. You can find more information by contacting the traffic management office at 01638 54 2201, from a US phone +44 1638 54 2201, DSN 314-238-2201
If bring a motorcycle or planning to purchase one upon arrival in the UK please know that to register and operate a motorcycle while assigned to RAF Lakenheath you must have an endorsement on your stateside license and have completed a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Course within the past three years.
Upon arrival to RAF Lakenheath you must complete the local conditions briefing by Wing Safety and pass the Driver's Training Test. The law in the united Kingdom requires all riders to wear helmets with Economic Commission of Europe (ECE) 22.05 or British Standards (BS) 6658 (categorized as Type A, blue label or type B, green label) approval. DOT, ANSI and Snell helmets are not authorized to be worn in the UK.
Check with your unit motorcycle coordinator upon arrival to determine the style of helmet required before purchasing a helmet on the economy and to be added to your unit's list of motorcycle riders.
There are three basic avenues for educating school-age children while you are stationed at RAF Lakenheath or RAF Feltwell they are Department of Defense Education Activity Schools, British Schools or homeschooling.
For details about your options contact the School Liaison Office.
To request child care at RAF Lakenheath, eligible patrons must use MilitaryChildCare.com. This secure Department of Defense website provides a single gateway for you to find comprehensive information on military-operated or military-approved child care programs worldwide. With MCC, you create an account and maintain a family profile that you can access at any time from any location.
When you’re preparing for a military move, your pet is part of the family. Moving with a pet can add another layer of complexity to your plans, especially if you’re moving overseas. Let Military OneSource connect you to tips and resources to help you prepare so both you and your pet have a smooth relocation.
Note there are no active AMC flights to the UK so all pets will need to enter through commercial travel.
You should ensure you are following the Government of UK's step by step guide to bringing your pet into the country.
More resources and guides can be found at the Defense Travel Management Office website.
There are also other considerations like the breed of the animal and the time of year you plan on flying that may affect or even prevent you from bringing your animal via commercial carrier all together. Once you have worked out those details, you must make sure your pet's carrier is of the appropriate size for your pet. Your pet must be able to stand in the carrier without their ears touching the top, or it will be considered too small. The carrier must also be fastened together with metal hardware to keep it from coming apart, i.e. nuts and bolts. Some cheaper carriers lock with plastic tabs and are not acceptable for airline transport. Finally, the carrier must be outfitted with a food and water dish that can be accessed by the airline without opening the door. Fastening it to the door with zip ties is acceptable.
Like many other overseas locations, RAF Lakenheath can be a challenging environment for spouses and dependents who are seeking employment however, the RAF Lakenheath Military Family & Readiness Center is available to assist! They have published a UK Employment Guide for command-sponsored family members at RAF Lakenheath and provide resources to assist your employment efforts.
To make an appointment with the MFRC click here! They offer multiple resume reviews and workshops amongst their other resources and programs.
Employment opportunities exist on base through local community banks, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Non-Appropriated Funds, Defense Commissary Agency, Department of Defense Education Activity, area contractors and the concessionaires at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall. Learn more
You can utilize The Federal Government's Official Job Site and visit this link tree to view current positions available. Contact the MFRC to learn more about Military Spouse Preference which provides priority in the employment selection process for military spouses who are relocating as a result of their military spouse’s Permanent Change of Station (PCS).
There are several possible employment routes off base within the host nation's economy. It is up to the individual to ensure that their employment activities comply with the Status of Forces Agreement and host nation law.
All personnel travelling to RAF Lakenheath or RAF Feltwell by air will arrive either at London Heathrow or Gatwick Airport. There are no more AMC direct flights to any UK bases. Inbound personnel can travel to the base by a variety of methods to suit their needs.
Private coach and taxis
You may use a pre-booked taxi service and file for reimbursement via your travel voucher. Contact you sponsor for recommended companies you can book prior to arrival. RAF Lakenheath is approximately a 2-hour drive from Heathrow or Gatwick Airport.
Private national coach (bus) services are also available and reimbursable. Coaches will not travel directly to the installation but to nearby towns like Cambridge, Ely and Mildenhall. Contact your sponsor for up-to-date coach options.
Train Service
Train stations at Cambridge, Ely, Bury St. Edmunds, Brandon and Thetford are within or less than a 45-minute drive to the installation. Train services to the tri-base area require two or three stops and train changes so you may not want to take the train when you first arrive in the UK.
Driving in the U.K., as you can imagine, is different in many respects to what you may be accustomed. For starters, driving is conducted on the left side of the road.
Requirements to drive
Drivers MUST have a 3rdAir Force driver's license to operate a vehicle on base and to obtain fuel from the base service station, as well as the service stations at other U.S. Air Force bases in the UK.
All personnel assigned to RAF Lakenheath who require driving privileges:
■ Must take the 3rd Air Force Driver's Training class within 30 days of arrival and pass the written exam
■ Must have a valid U.S. driver's license (not provisional or restricted)
■ Must carry their 3rd Air Force driver's license on their person to operate a vehicle on base and use base service stations
■ Must be 17 years old or older
Inbound members and their dependents will attend the driver's briefing during the Newcomer's Briefing hosted by the Military and Family Readiness Center. The exam will be administered during that time.
Where do I go for information?
■ Visit the Highway Code website at the following link to prepare in advance for the written exam: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/index.htm?cids=Google_PPC&cre=Highway_Code