Ask veterans who have lived abroad for a while how they found their footing, and some will name a post. A VFW canteen in the Philippines, an American Legion lunch in Paris, a monthly breakfast outside a base in Germany. These places do more than serve cheap beer. They are where you learn which hospital takes FMP, which immigration agent is honest, and who to call when something goes wrong.
This guide covers the two biggest organizations, the VFW and the American Legion, plus what to do if neither has a post near you.
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) abroad
The VFW organizes its posts into departments. Outside the 50 states, there are departments for Europe and for the Asia/Pacific Areas.
Where the posts are
As of November 2026, the VFW's foreign post finder lists posts under these locations:
- Asia-Pacific: Cambodia, Guam, Japan, Korea, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Western Australia.
- Europe: France, Germany and Italy.
Posts open, merge and close, and officers change every year. Always check the post finder for the current list and contact details, and call or message before you show up.
Who can join the VFW
The VFW is open to those who served honorably, or are serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces in a war, campaign or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters. According to the VFW eligibility page, your service must be shown by one of these:
- An authorized campaign or expeditionary medal, ribbon, badge or insignia.
- Receipt of Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay.
- Service in Korea of 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days.
Your DD-214 or personnel records usually show this. If you do not have yours, the National Personnel Records Center can help you request them.
If you do not have your DD-214 with you
A lot of veterans arrive overseas with their discharge papers in a storage unit back home. Before you need them, scan your DD-214, any award orders and your VA rating decision, and keep encrypted copies in cloud storage you can reach from any country. If the original is lost, the VFW points veterans to the National Personnel Records Center, which handles requests for military personnel records. Records requests can take time, so start early rather than the week before you plan to join. While you wait, most posts are happy to have you visit as a guest.
The American Legion abroad
The Legion groups its members outside the continental United States under FODPAL (Foreign and Outlying Posts and Departments of The American Legion). The Legion describes FODPAL as having more than 15,000 members and 250 posts. Its six departments outside the continental U.S. are Alaska, Hawaii, France, Latin America, the Philippines and Puerto Rico, along with posts in Canada and the historic China Post 1. Find posts with the Legion's post locator at legion.org/posts.
Who can join the Legion
Eligibility is broader than many veterans realize. Since the LEGION Act of 2019, the Legion's FAQ says the current eligibility period runs from Dec. 7, 1941, to the present, and it also covers World War I. You need federal military service during an eligible period and an honorable discharge or a discharge under honorable conditions. There is no overseas or combat requirement.
One honest note from the Legion's own guidance: eligibility is not the same as acceptance. A post may decline an applicant, though not for a legally protected reason.
Joining with no post nearby
If there is no Legion post where you live, you can still join. The Legion FAQ says that members who join through National Headquarters are placed in their state's Department Headquarters Post, an administrative post with no meetings. You keep the same membership benefits, can visit local posts as a guest, and can transfer if you find one you like.
VFW or Legion: which one?
| VFW | American Legion | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic eligibility | Honorable service in a war, campaign or expedition overseas or in hostile waters | Honorable federal service from Dec. 7, 1941 to present, or World War I |
| Proof | Campaign or expeditionary medal, hostile fire or imminent danger pay, or qualifying Korea service | Service dates and discharge character (DD-214) |
| Overseas structure | Departments of Europe and Asia/Pacific Areas | FODPAL, with departments including France, Latin America and the Philippines |
| Find a post | VFW foreign post finder | legion.org/posts |
You do not have to choose. Plenty of veterans belong to both, and in many overseas cities the two groups know each other well and share events.
How to find and join a post overseas
- Check the official finders. Use the VFW foreign post finder and the Legion post locator. Note the post number, city and contact.
- Look one level wider. If nothing is in your city, check the nearest big city or base town. Many members drive an hour or more for a monthly meeting.
- Make contact first. Email or message the post commander or adjutant. Ask when they meet, whether visitors are welcome, and what language business is conducted in.
- Bring your paperwork. Take a copy of your DD-214 (or other proof of service) and a photo ID to your first visit.
- Visit before you commit. Go to a meeting or social event. Every post has its own culture.
- Join and pay dues. Join through the post, or online through the national organization if you prefer, and transfer later.
- Get involved. Posts abroad are often small and run by a handful of people. Volunteering for one task is the fastest way to belong.
What posts abroad actually do
Every post is different, but overseas posts commonly offer some mix of these:
- A regular meeting and social time. Often monthly, sometimes more often in larger communities.
- Ceremonies. Memorial Day and Veterans Day events, and honors for members who pass away abroad.
- Local know-how. Members who have already worked through visas, banking, hospitals and VA claims in that country.
- Community service. Scholarships, school visits, disaster relief and charity drives in the host community.
- Help in hard times. Hospital visits, checking on members who live alone, and helping widows and families with paperwork.
That last point is not small. When a veteran dies abroad, the family may face U.S. paperwork, VA notifications and local funeral rules all at once, sometimes in a second language. Post members who have been through it before can make a real difference.
Questions to ask before you join
- When and where does the post meet, and in what language?
- Does the post have an accredited service officer, or work with one?
- Are spouses and families welcome at social events? Is there an auxiliary or family program?
- What are the dues, and what do they go toward?
- What volunteer roles need filling?
Help with VA claims
One of the most practical things a post can offer is a service officer. VA says the services an accredited Veterans Service Organization representative provides on your VA claims are always free. Some overseas posts have accredited service officers who help members with claims and appeals. If yours does not, use VA's accredited representative search to find one who can work with you remotely. See our page on VA claims from overseas for the full process.
Be wary of anyone who charges a fee to help with an initial VA claim. Accredited attorneys and claims agents can charge fees in some situations, but a VSO representative's help on VA claims is free.
Other options if there is no post
- Base Retiree Activities Offices. In Japan, Korea and Europe, installations may have a Retiree Activities Office staffed by volunteers. See our post on Retiree Activities Offices in Europe.
- OCONUS Veterans meetups. Informal lunches and coffees for veterans and spouses in cities around the world. Check our events page, or host the first one in your city.
- Start something. Every overseas post was founded by a few veterans who decided to meet regularly. If you want to start a new post, contact the VFW or Legion department for your region and ask how it works.
For a wider list of organizations, see our veteran organizations abroad page.
Being a good member abroad
Overseas posts are guests in their host country, and members are often the most visible Americans in town. A few habits help everyone:
- Learn the basic customs and courtesies of your host country, and follow them at post events.
- Welcome local spouses and their families. In many overseas posts, they help make every event happen.
- Keep post disputes and politics off public social media. Small communities have long memories.
- Show up when you say you will. Small posts depend on a few reliable people.
A few gotchas
- Directories lag. A listed post may meet rarely or have moved. Confirm before you travel.
- Bars are not the whole story. Some posts run canteens, but many overseas posts meet in restaurants, hotels or members' businesses.
- Local law applies. Posts abroad operate under host country rules on alcohol, events and fundraising.
- Not every voice at the bar is right. Posts are a great source of local tips, but check benefits and visa advice against official sources.
Common questions
Are there VFW posts overseas?
Yes. As of November 2026 the VFW foreign post finder lists posts in places including Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia and Taiwan. Check the finder for current details.
Who is eligible for the American Legion?
Veterans with federal military service from Dec. 7, 1941 to the present, or during World War I, and an honorable discharge or discharge under honorable conditions.
Who is eligible for the VFW?
Those who served honorably in a war, campaign or expedition overseas or in hostile waters, shown by a campaign medal, hostile fire or imminent danger pay, or 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days in Korea.
Can I join the Legion if there is no post where I live?
Yes. Joining through National Headquarters places you in your state's headquarters post, and you can visit local posts as a guest or transfer later.
Do post service officers charge for VA claims help?
No. VA says an accredited VSO representative's help on VA claims is always free.
Ask vets who have done it
Post your question in the free community. Members in your country have usually been through it.
Published June 30, 2026. Information only, not legal, tax, immigration or medical advice. Confirm with the official sources.
