Australia's rule lets US, UK, Canada and New Zealand residents join its military without citizenship. Check eligibility, age limit and more

In a significant move, the Australian government has expanded Australian Defence Force (ADF) recruitment to permanent residents from four countries namely US, UK, Canada and New Zealand. This means eligible non-citizens from these countries can apply to serve in the military without first becoming Australian citizens. However, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria, including residency requirements, security checks and age limits to join the Australian military.

The policy was announced on June 4, 2024, with applications opening in stages. New Zealand permanent residents living in Australia became eligible to apply in July 2024, while eligible permanent residents from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States gained access to the recruitment pathway in January 2025.

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Who is eligible to join the Australian Defence Force?

Permanent residents from New Zealand, the UK, Canada and the US can apply to join the ADF. However, they must meet the required entry and security criteria.

Applicants must fulfil three key conditions:

• - They must have lived in Australia for at least one year immediately before applying.
• - They must not have served in a foreign military during the two years before submitting their application.
• - They must be eligible to obtain Australian citizenship.

However, this does not imply automatic guarantee. Applicants must also satisfy the ADF's other entry requirements. Director of Military Recruiting at Defence Force Recruiting Group Captain Chris Ellison said the change addressed a long-standing gap in recruitment.

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"For many years, Defence Force Recruiting personnel have been approached by New Zealand permanent residents expressing their keen interest to serve the nation that had adopted them, but we had been unable to accept their applications," he said.

"I am very pleased that ADF Careers can now help New Zealanders who have made a clear commitment to call Australia home to make their impact through service in the ADF."

What is the age limit to join Australia's military?

The ADF has certain age requirements for people interested in joining the military. According to the ADF Careers portal, prospective recruits can begin submitting applications at 16 years and six months. However, applicants must be at least 17 years old to enlist and commence military service.

These age thresholds apply across all three branches of Australia's armed forces: the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force. Candidates must also meet the relevant educational, medical, fitness and other eligibility requirements for their chosen role.

Why is Australia expanding military recruitment?

The Australian Government said the expanded recruitment policy aims to address personnel shortages and widen the pool of potential recruits. Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said the government was adopting a broader approach to increase the size of the military.

"We're being bold in order to grow the Australian Defence Force," he said. "Recruiting from a wider pool of people will help ensure our Australian Defence Force reflects the full diversity of Australia and is able to draw on the talents of the entirety of Australian society."

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the policy would also strengthen ties with close allies. He highlighted the opportunity to deepen the Anzac bond with New Zealand while building the military workforce needed to address Australia's security challenges over the coming decade and beyond. The government said the initiative aligns with the National Defence Strategy's objective of developing and retaining a highly skilled defence workforce.