The recruitment of non-Australian citizens into the Australian Defence Force (ADF)
commenced on 1 July 2024, with New Zealand permanent residents living in Australia the first to be eligible to apply. The government expects ADF numbers grow under the new policy and has set an initial target of 350 non-citizens. From January 2025, ADF recruitment will extend to eligible permanent residents living in Australia from the UK, the US and Canada.

Australia’s allies support similar policies. Around ‘45,000 foreign-born’ personnel serve in the US military and the British Armed Forces include ‘nearly 12,000’ personnel from foreign and Commonwealth countries. Worldwide, over 20 countries recruit foreigners into their militaries.