List of militaries that recruit foreigners

This is a List of militaries that recruit foreign applicants. This includes any individuals who are not citizens of the nation state whose armed forces they are being recruited to join by professional recruiters. The foreigners need not be legal residents of that nation, but may gain legal residence status by joining the armed forces.

A

•  Australia
  • Australian Defence Force - The ADF routinely recruits Permanent Residents to serve in the military. Additionally, foreigners from friendly countries who have a lot of military experience can apply to join the Armed Forces. A willingness to apply for citizenship is a requirement.^[1] In certain areas of the defence, especially sensitive work that involves collaboration with ASIO or ASIS, citizenship is a requirement.

B

•  Belgium
  • Belgian Armed Forces - Any citizen of a country of the European Union is eligible to join the forces.^[2]
•  Bahrain
  • The forces in Bahrain have a handful of other Arabs and Pakistanis serving within them. This has also recently become a topic of debate; there are many Bahrainis who are not happy with foreigners following government orders to quash any Bahraini protests, especially during the Arab Spring.^[3]
•  Bolivia
  • Foreign nationals resident in Bolivia at conscription age are permitted to join the armed forces, which simplifies their naturalization process.^[4]

C

•  Canada
  • Canadian Forces - It is reported that Royal Canadian Air Force hires foreign pilots to fly front-line military aircraft on operational capacity.^[5] People who have served in the forces can then apply for citizenship if they want.^[6]

•  Cyprus
  • Cypriot National Guard - Cyprus accepts all foreign nationals of at least partial Cypriot descent as volunteers.^[7]

D

•  Denmark
  • Foreign nationals already living in Denmark may apply to join the Danish armed forces.^[8]

F

•  France
  • French Foreign Legion - The legion is a branch of the French Army, which recruits from throughout the world.^[9]

I

•  India
  • Indian Army - Recruits Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens, and the refugees from Tibet who intend to permanently settle in India.^[10] Recruits of Indian origin who have migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India may also join.^[10]
•  Ireland
  • Irish Defence Forces - Nationals of the European Economic Area member states of the European Union along with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and residents having lived in Ireland for 5 years continuously. ^[11]
•  Israel
  • Israel Defense Forces - Israel recruits non-Israeli Jews—and non-Jews with at least one Jewish grandparent—through the Mahal and Garin Tzabar programs.^[12]

L

•  Luxembourg
  • Luxembourg Army - Any citizen of a country of the European Union who has resided in Luxembourg for at least thirty-six months and is at least eighteen years old but not yet twenty-four is eligible to join the army.^[13]

M

•  Monaco
  • Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince and the Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers - Recruits Frenchmen, as well as native Monegasques.^[14][15]

N

•  Norway
  • Norwegian Armed Forces - By agreement between the two countries Icelandic citizens are accepted.^[16]

R

•  Russia
  • The Russian Armed Forces are accepting foreigners of any country to their ranks. Under a plan, posted on the ministry’s web site in 2010, foreigners without dual citizenship would be able to sign up for five-year contracts – and will be eligible for Russian citizenship after serving three years. According to the amended law, a citizen of any foreign country aged 18–30 with a good command of Russian and a clean criminal record can now sign an initial five-year contract to join the Army.^[17][18][19] Citizens of the former Soviet Union can also join.

S

•  Spain
  • Spanish Armed Forces - Spain recruits citizens of ex-Spanish colonies (except Puerto Rico and the Philippines). Citizens of Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay or Venezuela may enlist in the Spanish Legion (except as submarine personnel) with temporary/permanent residence or acquired Spanish citizenship.^[20]

•  Singapore
  • Singapore has always made use of Gurkhas to help with special military and police roles. During the colonial days, many soldiers were brought to Singapore from other British colonies. Second-generation male permanent residents are bound by Singapore's conscription laws to the same extent Singaporean citizens are, and therefore must do the standard active and reserve service in the military, police, or civil defense force.^[21]

U

•  United Kingdom
  • British Armed Forces - The British Army has continued the historic practice of recruiting Gurkhas from Nepal to serve in special Gurkha units. The Gurkhas are selected and recruited in Nepal, and are expected to keep their Nepali citizenship throughout the length of their service.^[22]
  • In 1989 previous restrictions on the enlistment of Commonwealth citizens in the British Armed Forces were lifted, following recruiting difficulties amongst British citizens. Under the new provisions Commonwealth citizens were permitted to enlist directly in any one of the British services and significant numbers did so in subsequent years. However in 2013 the previous restraints were reintroduced with immediate effect. From 2013, all Commonwealth citizens except for those from Cyprus, and Malta must have resided for 5 years in the UK before being allowed to join.^[23]
•  United States
  • United States Armed Forces - Permanent Residence/Green Card. Many have also served in the war zones and have received US citizenship after a period of service.^[24]
  • Citizens of Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands may also join the US armed forces under the Compacts of Free Association, though some officer positions may be restricted.^[25]
  • Additionally, under the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest program, skilled foreigners such as translators may be recruited as needed, along with, as of September 2014 illegal immigrants with clean records and who have graduated high school if they were brought to the United States as children.^[26]

•  United Arab Emirates
  • There are people from other Arab or nearby Muslim countries, who have served in the UAE, mainly in non-uniformed positions. This was mainly after independence from the UK in 1971, when the UAE government was still evolving.^[27] Prior to that, the UK stationed their own troops and equipment in the region (known as the Trucial States)

V

•   Vatican City
  • Vatican City's sole armed forces, The Swiss Guard, is made up entirely of Swiss Catholics; however, Swiss Guards are granted Vatican citizenship while they serve.^[28]

References