See your approximate Overseas Housing Allowance — the tax-free monthly payment you receive when married and stationed overseas.
Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) is a tax-free monthly payment for servicemembers stationed outside the US who live off-base. It's designed to cover your housing costs overseas — and for married servicemembers, the "with dependents" rate is significantly higher.
OHA has three components:
Rental Ceiling — the maximum rent the military will reimburse. You're paid your actual rent up to this ceiling. If your rent is lower, you get your rent amount. If it's higher, the difference is out-of-pocket.
Utility / Recurring Maintenance Allowance — a flat monthly amount to cover utilities like electricity, gas, water, and trash. This is paid regardless of your actual utility costs.
Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA) — a one-time payment to help with move-in costs like security deposits, required appliances, and agent fees.
Getting married upgrades you from the "without dependents" rate to the much higher "with dependents" rate — meaning a higher rental ceiling and higher utility allowance. This is true whether your spouse lives overseas with you or stays in the US.
Cost reimbursement — you get your actual rent up to a ceiling. Rates fluctuate with exchange rates. Paid when living off-base at an overseas duty station.
Fixed monthly amount based on rank and location. Stays the same all year. Paid for stateside duty stations or for dependents' US location.
If your spouse lives overseas with you: You receive OHA at the "with dependents" rate for your overseas duty station.
If your spouse stays in the US: You receive BAH at the "with dependents" rate based on your spouse's US ZIP code. You may also receive OHA at the "without dependents" rate if you live off-base overseas.
Either way — getting married unlocks thousands of dollars per month in housing allowance that you're currently not receiving.
→ Use our BAH Calculator if your spouse will stay in the US.
We want to be upfront about this: OHA rates are more complex than BAH. Here's why our numbers are estimates rather than exact figures:
Currency exchange rates change constantly. The DOD sets OHA ceilings in local currency — euros, yen, won, pounds. But you're paid in US dollars. When the dollar strengthens, your OHA dollar amount goes down. When it weakens, your amount goes up. This can change every pay period.
OHA is a reimbursement, not a flat payment. Unlike BAH where you get the same amount regardless of your actual rent, OHA only reimburses up to your actual rent (capped at the ceiling). If your rent is below the ceiling, you get less than the maximum.
Rates are surveyed and updated regularly. The DOD periodically surveys housing costs in each overseas area and adjusts ceilings accordingly. A rate that was accurate last month may have changed.
We provide these estimates so you can see the approximate value of getting married while stationed overseas. For exact, up-to-date figures, always check the official DOD OHA calculator or contact your finance office.
OHA is a tax-free monthly payment for US military servicemembers stationed overseas who live off-base. It reimburses your actual rent up to a ceiling based on your rank and location, plus a flat utility allowance. Married servicemembers receive the higher "with dependents" rate.
BAH is a fixed monthly amount that stays the same all year. OHA is a cost-reimbursement — you're paid your actual rent up to a ceiling, and the dollar amount fluctuates with currency exchange rates. BAH is for stateside locations; OHA is for overseas duty stations.
It depends on where your spouse lives. If your spouse lives overseas with you, you get OHA at the with-dependents rate. If your spouse stays in the US, you get BAH based on their US ZIP code. Either way, getting married unlocks significant housing allowance. Check the BAH Calculator if your spouse will be stateside.
OHA rates are set in local currency (euros, yen, won, pounds) but paid in US dollars. As exchange rates change — sometimes every pay period — your dollar amount changes too. Our estimates use approximate exchange rates from early 2025 and may differ from current rates.
You qualify as soon as you're legally married and your spouse is enrolled in DEERS. The with-dependents rate gives you a higher rental ceiling and utility allowance. A proxy marriage through WeddingProxy.com can make this happen same business day — without leaving your overseas duty station.
MIHA is a one-time allowance to cover move-in costs when you rent a place overseas — things like security deposits, required appliances (many overseas rentals don't include them), and real estate agent fees. It's separate from your monthly OHA and is paid when you sign a lease.
Yes. A proxy marriage through WeddingProxy.com is performed under Montana law and is legal in all 50 states, recognized by every branch of the military. Neither you nor your partner needs to be physically present — it's 100% online. You can be married same business day without leaving your duty station, no matter where in the world you're stationed.
Every month you wait is another month of $0 in housing allowance. Get married today — 100% online, same business day, recognized by all branches.