Australia opens military enlistment to permanent residents of US, UK, Canada and New Zealand

Australia has expanded its defence recruitment to include permanent residents from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, following a policy announced in June 2024. To qualify, candidates must have resided in Australia for a minimum of one year, have no foreign military service in the preceding two years, and be eligible for Australian citizenship. The ADF accepts applications from individuals as young as 16 years and six months, though enlistment begins at 17, across all three service branches.

Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh highlighted the initiative as a response to staffing gaps and a way to reflect the nation's diversity, while Defence Minister Richard Marles emphasized the benefit to the Anzac partnership and national security. The program aligns with the National Defence Strategy’s goal of building a highly skilled defence workforce.