Yes, foreigners can join the U.S. Army, but you must be a Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) of the U.S., speak English fluently, meet all physical/moral standards, and be legally residing in the country before you can enlist. The Army cannot help you get a Green Card; you must complete U.S. immigration procedures first, though serving can significantly shorten the path to U.S. citizenship.
Citizenship and residency
U.S. citizens and some non-citizens can join the military. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must: Have a U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) Speak, read, and write English fluently.
All foreign visitors must be identity proofed, vetted, and have a visitor pass to gain access to installations.
Nationality and residence requirements. People applying to join the UK's armed forces must be a citizen of Britain, the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland (either as a sole or dual national). Nepalese Gurkha soldiers serve under special and unique arrangements.
Overview
Generally, felons and those with several convictions can't join the Army, but waivers are available in some cases. The offenses and moral behavior-related issues that cannot be waived include: If you are under civil restraint, including parole, confinement, or probation.
6 countries that allow foreigners to join their army
Generally, non-citizen service members wishing to naturalize must demonstrate 1) good moral character; 2) knowledge of the English language; 3) knowledge of the U.S. government and history; and 4) attachment to the U.S. and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
Royal Navy Commonwealth Applicants
To apply, you will need to hold a valid passport and meet the eligibility criteria for your chosen role. If you're an overseas applicant, you need to be age 18 or over and have a Visa. If you live in the UK, you can apply from age 16 and will need a biometric residency card.
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONVICTIONS IN LAST 5 YEARS: - Threatening to bomb a Govt building, illegal sale/distro/importation/manufacture of explosives/weapons, arson, extortion, bribery, kidnapping/hostage-taking, sexual assault/battery, registered sexual offender, armed robbery, illegal possession or use of an explosive ...
As of February 2024, more than 40,000 foreign nationals were serving in active and reserve components of the Armed Forces.
Active Duty, Guard and Reserve personnel on official orders, CAC holders (to include Contractor CAC holders), and family members 18 years of age and older are authorized to sponsor individuals onto an installation.
New enlistments sign up for a Military Service Obligation (MSO). Contracts may vary from two to six years of service in active duty, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.
Soldier pay
Private: £63.27 per day. Lance Corporal: £81.89 per day. Corporal: £95.06 per day. Sergeant: £106.73 per day.
Non-US citizen(s) must have an authorized Department of Defense (DoD) sponsor/Point of Contact (POC) that will validate an access request.
Certain medical conditions — such as asthma, diabetes, severe allergies, certain types of mental health disorders and heart problems — can disqualify individuals from joining the military due to the physical and mental demands of service.
What does it take to join the Army National Guard?
Languages include Arabic (MSA and dialects), Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Pashto, Persian-Dari, Persian-Farsi, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Serbian/Croatian, Spanish, Urdu, Vietnamese, and other languages upon request.
We estimate there are about 45,000 immigrants actively serving. The most recent government estimates report that about 5,000 legal permanent residents enlist each year. More than 148,000 immigrants have served and earned citizenship through the military in the last 20 years.
🚨SANDF / SA Army Application Forms are out for 2025 Intake - If you want to be a Soldier in South Africa, apply today More info here: https://www.clindz-careers.co. za/2024/02/08/south-african-national-defence-force -sandf-applications-for-2025-intake/ We have listed the Regional Offices where you can submit the forms.
A Legionnaire's total monthly income can vary widely—typically from ~1,500€ up to 8,000€—depending on rank, time in service, specialty bonuses, deployments, and family situation. That's why two Legionnaires rarely earn the exact same amount.
HDIP for Flying Duty: Soldiers who perform flight duties as aircrew members and meet their operational requirements are eligible for flying duty HDIP, also known as Flight Pay. HDIP for aircrew members may not exceed $250 per month. HDIP for non-aircrew members is $150 per month.
Enlisted Ranks
What are some of the highest paid military jobs?