Does anyone have information if and/or how I can get my visiting family on base for shopping at a commissary?

First off, where is your family from? What nationality? The bases have policies regarding the nationality of your guests.

Some occasions, they may require you to submit paperwork prior to them arriving, so they can get a background check.

If they are US citizens you have nothing to worry about.

The best recommendation is to make sure they bring their VALID US passport. Its also good to bring their flight itinerary just in case, they would like to see it, but typically they wont.

Take the visitor to the visitors base pass office.

The active duty sponsor must accompany them with his/her ID card.

The visitor will be given an a temporary access pass. You are required to watch over your guests, since you will be their sponsor.

------------------------------
These below are for another bases guest policy, but you can get an idea of the type of rules that the bases have regarding guests:

Guest stays exceeding 72 hours must be requested in advance in writing for family and friends with the intent of social visits only. Social visits exclude visits for the purpose of residency, housekeeping, and childcare or care of indigent persons. Social visits by guests other than dependent family members of military, DoDDS or DoD personnel that are not command sponsored will be limited to 60 days per guest in a 365-day period beginning with the date of the first guest pass issued for each guest.

Requests for visits in excess of 60 days will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must be pre-approved by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan (N01FH). All requests for visits in excess of 60 days must be in writing from the sponsor/resident, via the sponsor/resident's command and the Housing Welcome Center.

No guest may be sponsored by a second sponsor/resident in the same 365 day period. A sponsor/resident drawing any type of housing allowance may visit another Military Family Housing (MFH) sponsor/resident, not to exceed 10 days per 365 day period. Unaccompanied or bachelor personnel are not authorized to occupy in MFH. Japanese nationals or individuals with Japanese resident visas may be a guest in MFH not to exceed 60 days in a 365 day period beginning with the date the first guest pass is issued for each guest.

Guest passes shall not be issued for visitors when the intent of the visitation is to obtain dependency or command sponsorship for the visitor. Authorization for dependency and/or command sponsorship shall be obtained prior to the intended bona fide family member's entry into Japan.


------------------------------

To get the best information possible, I would just head over to the gate office. Ask them to see the paperwork. Typically its out front, so you can just get a copy, and have it ready so when your family arrives your all prepared.

If they are staying a long time, I would ask about a long term stay. You can typically get up to a 30 day pre-arrival pass. You may have to do some things to check in with them at the office when they arrive, but its still great having a long term pass, than going everyday to get a 1 day pass.

Only if they're ID cardholders. They have a sign at the ID desk that says no visitors allowed

Only if they're ID cardholders. They have a sign at the ID desk that says no visitors allowed

Oops sorry.. Good catch Robocat.

I totally missed how it said commissary..

Yes he is correct. Typically throughout Japan, you will find that most commissaries are off-limits to guests.

When I first read the discussion, I thought they were asking about visiting the base.

she!

she!

Sorry...

/pat pat

It's ok Adam

I was able to bring my mother-in-law to the Kadena and Foster commissary with her US passport and visitor's pass. I just had to sign her in at the ID desk. This was in July 2011 though...