UK drops visa requirements for most military dependents Published Dec. 1, 2015 By Staff Reports USAFE-AFAFRICA/UNITED KINGDOM, RAF MILDENHALL ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England -- Effective 28 Nov. 2015, dependent spouses of active duty military personnel being assigned to the United Kingdom, as well as their dependent children under the age of 21, are no longer required to obtain a U.K. visa. Children aged 21 or over at first arrival, or secondary dependents, such as parents or parents-in-law, MUST have a visa BEFORE arriving in the United Kingdom. Prior to the rule changing, all military dependents were required to obtain visas. New biometrics collections requirements were also to go into effect. However, the UK Home Office has now implemented an exemption for both requirements for eligible U.S. military dependents. This exemption does not apply to military dependents 21 years of age or over upon first arrival to the UK, or to secondary military dependents such as parents, etc. Visas are also still required for U.S. government civilian employees, contractors, and their dependents. Border agents have been advised by the U.K. Home Office to permit entry for military spouses and dependent children under the age of 21 without visas. In addition to passports, they must present the military member's Permanent Change in Station (PCS) orders that contain the dependent(s) names, and if the names are not on the PSC order, must also present a command sponsorship letter containing the dependent(s) names. Eligible family members moving to the U.K. must still obtain a U.S. no-fee passport, which can be obtained with the aid of the nearest military installation passport office. For more information on visa requirements for your permanent change of station move to the United Kingdom, please visit the RAF Mildenhall Newcomers page at: http://www.mildenhall.af.mil/library/newcomers.asp.