BY ORDER OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 51-402
6 AUGUST 2018
Law
INTERNATIONAL LAW
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY
ACCESSIBILITY: Publications and forms are available on the e-Publishing website at
www.ePublishing.af.mil for downloading or ordering.
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.
OPR: HQ USAF/JAO
Supersedes: AFI51-402, 27 July 2011;
AFI51-702, 22 May 2017; AFI51-703,
21 May 2014; AFI51-704, 9 October 2014;
AFI51-705, 9 October 2014; a portion of
AFI51-108, 9 October 2014
Certified by: AF/JAO
(Mr. Edward J. Monahan)
Pages: 14
This publication implements Air Force Policy Directive 51-4, Operations and International Law.
It provides guidance to Air Force Judge Advocates, civilian lawyers, and commanders for
addressing issues dealing with international law; foreign tax relief program; foreign criminal
jurisdiction; handling requests for political asylum and temporary refuge; and criminal
jurisdiction of service courts of friendly foreign forces throughout the Air Force. It applies to all
Regular Air Force, Air National Guard (ANG) of the United States (US), Air Force Reserve,
Department of the Air Force civilian personnel, and contractors tasked with responsibilities
identified herein, except where noted otherwise. This publication may be supplemented at any
level, but all supplements must be routed to the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) listed
above for coordination prior to certification and approval. Refer recommended changes and
questions about this publication to the OPR listed above using the Air Force (AF) Form 847,
Recommendation for Change of Publication; route AF Forms 847 from the field through the
appropriate chain of command. The authorities to waive wing/unit level requirements in this
publication are identified with a Tier (“T-0, T-1, T-2, T-3”) number following the compliance
statement. See Air Force Instruction (AFI) 33-360, Publications and Forms Management, Table
1.1, for a description of the authorities associated with the Tier numbers. Submit requests for
waivers through the chain of command to the appropriate Tier waiver approval authority, or
alternately, to the Publication OPR for non-tiered compliance items. Ensure all records created
as a result of processes prescribed in this publication are maintained in accordance with Air
