Foreigners living outside UK can join forces

ALLOWING FOREIGN nationals to join the Armed Forces without having lived in the UK will continue the “long tradition” of Commonwealth citizens “serving with distinction” for Britain, a Defence Minister has said.

Mark Lancaster spoke as he announced plans to remove the need for Commonwealth citizens to have lived in the UK for five years before applying for service.

An extra 1,350 personnel from overseas are hoped to be enlisted to the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force every year.

The move comes as the Armed Forces struggle to recruit enough personnel to fill a shortfall in their ranks.

Applicants from nations including India, Australia, Canada and Fiji will be considered for all roles in the forces, without having lived in the UK.

Until now, they had to have resided in Britain for five years and their recruitment was capped at a maximum of 200 per year.

The Army will begin the admissions from early next year, while the Royal Navy and RAF will commence the process immediately.

Other than the Nepalese Gurkhas and applicants from the Ireland who can enrol under a special arrangement, those from outside the Commonwealth will still need UK citizenship to apply.

In April, a National Audit Office report said the full-time military was running at a 5.7 per cent shortfall.

An extra 8,200 regulars and 2,400 engineers were needed to fill the “largest gap in a decade”, the report added, while intelligence analysts and pilots were also in demand.

Critics have called for Capita to be stripped of its contract over forces staffing shortfalls.