Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to review the annual cap of 1,350 Commonwealth recruits, in light of continued high demand from eligible applicants across the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth citizens are, and always will be, an important and valued part of the UK Armed Forces and we have never stopped recruiting them. Citizens of over 40 Commonwealth countries are currently serving in the UK Armed Forces, and as at 1 October 2025, there were 5,510 Commonwealth personnel in the Trained and Trade Trained strength of the Regular Armed Forces.

Commonwealth citizens applying to join the UK Armed Forces must have valid immigration permission to be in the UK during the selection process. For those not already in the UK, the Home Office allow Armed Forces applicants who have been invited to undergo selection, to enter the UK on the visitor route either via a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation depending on their country of origin. Once successful applicants are recruited and begin their training, the Home Office exempts them from immigration control for the duration of their Regular service.

The national security vetting (NSV) process is owned by the Cabinet Office, and the MOD must comply with it. As part of this, a UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) footprint is an integral part of the NSV process for joining the Armed Forces, and clearance levels vary depending on the Service, rank and role applied for.  Where an applicant, regardless of nationality, has not resided in the UK continuously for the required period prior to their application additional checks may be needed.   Each Service keeps these requirements under review.

Due to an unprecedented volume of applications in August 2024, the Army is not currently accepting new applications from Commonwealth citizens, other than for those who wish to be musicians, whilst it processes those who have already applied. It is not possible at this stage to say when the application window will fully re-open, but Commonwealth citizens are continuing to join the Army. The Royal Navy continues to accept Expressions of Interest and the Royal Air Force continues to accept applications from Commonwealth citizens.

There are currently no plans to review the maximum 1,350 Basic Training Start limit for Commonwealth citizens each Recruiting Year (1 March – 30 April). The number of Commonwealth citizens who are recruited each year within the 1,350 limit and for the Army, the additional 15% limit on the number of Commonwealth personnel serving in each cap badge, is adjusted as necessary by the three Services to meet their Service and operational needs.

Commonwealth citizens serve on largely the same Terms of Service as their British and Irish counterparts including pay and pensions and have the same access to service accommodation and welfare support. The Ministry of Defence also works closely with the Home Office to ensure that non-UK personnel including Commonwealth citizens and their families benefit from specific immigration rules which enable them to enter, live, work and settle in the UK and become British citizens.