Australian Defence Force Opens Recruitment to Permanent Residents

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) announced it will accept applications from eligible foreign permanent residents, beginning with New Zealanders. This initiative aims to address workforce shortfalls and aligns with Australia's National Defence Strategy.

Starting January 2025, permanent residents from the United Kingdom and Canada will also be eligible to apply. However, a specific category of non-citizens remains ineligible: anyone who has served in a foreign military within the two years prior to their application.

According to the Australian Department of Defence, applicants must have lived in Australia for at least 12 consecutive months, meet ADF entry and security standards, and be able to attain Australian citizenship. Group Captain Chris Ellison, Director of Military Recruiting at Defence Force Recruiting, stated that this change addresses long-standing frustrations among New Zealand residents wishing to serve.

Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh described the decision as bold and necessary for reflecting the diversity of society and utilizing the talents of the entire population.