Preparing For Your Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
The moving process starts once you receive your job/travel orders from your agency. Read your PCS orders very carefully to ensure information on the front and back of the order is accurate (i.e., names, SSNs, addresses, gaining and losing locations, dependent information, travel days, leave enroute if requested, etc.). If any discrepancies are noted, contact your PCS specialist ASAP, if you don’t know your PCS specialist, contact your HR representative.
On this Page...
What is CONUS, OCONUS, and Overseas Travel?
- CONUS = The 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia.
- FOREIGN OCONUS = Outside Continental United States.
- NON-FOREIGN OCONUS = Any country or place beyond the CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, the commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and U.S. territories and possessions.
What Type of PCS Move are you Making?
PCS Travel types are not all the same and will vary depending on your type of PCS. Please select the most appropriate option below:
First Official Station
Are you a new hire or a traveler moving to your first assignment?
Visit First Official Station here. |
CONUS to CONUS
Are you moving from one location to another within the Continental United States?
Visit CONUS to CONUS Travel here.
|
CONUS to OCONUS
Are you moving from within the Continental United States to Outside the Continental United States?
Visit CONUS to OCONUS Travel here.
|
| First Official Station |
CONUS to CONUS |
CONUS to OCONUS |
|
OCONUS to CONUS
Are you moving from Outside of the Continental United States back to the Continental United States?
Visit OCONUS to CONUS Travel here.
|
OCONUS to OCONUS
Are you moving from one location to another and both are Outside of the Continental United States?
Visit OCONUS to OCONUS Travel here.
|
OCONUS to Separation
Are you moving from Outside the Continental United States to separation in the Continental United States?
Visit OCONUS to Separation Travel here.
|
| OCONUS to CONUS |
OCONUS to OCONUS |
OCONUS to Separation |
Things to keep in mind...
You may need to submit individual DD Form 1351-2s (based on your orders) for the following circumstances:
- Enroute Travel
- House Hunting Trip (HHT)
- Household Goods Shipment (HHG)
- Miscellaneous Expense Allowance (MEA)
- Privately Owned Vehicle Shipment (POV)
- Real Estate (sale and purchase)
- Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA)
- Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expense (TQSE)
PCS Travel Resources
Your Human Resources office should provide you with mandatory PCS counseling prior to your relocation orders (Chapter 5, Part F,). Please contact your local Human Resource office if you have additional questions.
To determine the current currency conversion rate, please visit Conversion Rates.
Some moves may require travelers weigh their belongings to determine entitlements. To find a scale for your move, please visit the Scale Locator here. Just enter your location info - city, state, zip, etc. and visit a location near you.
Looking for Additional Resources or Regulations?
To learn about additional resources to assist you in your move and about regulations that govern PCS travel, visit Resources and Regulations.
Return to the Civilian PCS Travel Homepage
Page Updated: June 3, 2025