If someone gets a dishonorable discharge, can they leave the U.S. and move to Europe? I’m just curious if this kind of discharge stops you from traveling or living abroad. Like, would you be able to get European citizenship or at least work there? Anyone know?
Yeah, you’d still be able to get a passport to travel, as long as it’s not tied to something like a felony or sex offense. That’s what I’ve heard.
Wade said:
Yeah, you’d still be able to get a passport to travel, as long as it’s not tied to something like a felony or sex offense. That’s what I’ve heard.
Gotcha, so just having a dishonorable discharge doesn’t block you from getting a passport?
@Fox
Exactly. A dishonorable discharge alone won’t stop you from traveling. The issue might be with visas or work permits though.
You’d need a visa to live or work in Europe, even with just a passport. Citizenship takes a lot more steps.
Lior said:
You’d need a visa to live or work in Europe, even with just a passport. Citizenship takes a lot more steps.
FYI, getting a visa can depend on your record too. Some countries check for stuff like a court martial or brig time.
@Nico
What’s brig time? 
@Nico
Oh, it’s military jail basically. If you didn’t serve brig time, you’re probably fine.
If there wasn’t a felony charge, I think you’re good to travel. Living or working there just adds extra hoops.
Zan said:
If there wasn’t a felony charge, I think you’re good to travel. Living or working there just adds extra hoops.
Yeah, makes sense. Any idea what kind of hoops? Like what’s the process?
@Fox
Mostly visa applications, background checks, and stuff like that. Some jobs might ask for your military record too.
Citizenship is a whole other thing. It usually depends on stuff like marriage, ancestry, or long-term residency.
Ocean said:
Citizenship is a whole other thing. It usually depends on stuff like marriage, ancestry, or long-term residency.
Oh, got it. So just having a passport doesn’t mean you can live there indefinitely?
@Fox
Nope, a passport lets you visit, but for living there you need to meet visa requirements first.
If you’re just curious, most people with a dishonorable discharge can still travel. The tricky part is settling down permanently in Europe.
Lexi said:
If you’re just curious, most people with a dishonorable discharge can still travel. The tricky part is settling down permanently in Europe.
Thanks for the info! I was mostly wondering if it was even possible to move there.
@Fox
Totally possible, but like everyone’s saying, the process can get complicated. Just depends on the country and your situation.