UK announces relaxation of recruitment criteria for Commonwealth nationals to apply for jobs in armed forces

The UK government on Monday announced relaxation of recruitment criteria for Commonwealth nationals to apply for jobs in its armed forces. 

The decision has been taken in order to meet the shortage in its ranks. 

Commonwealth is an association of 53 independent states, including India.

The Ministry of Defence statement said the government has now decided to remove the five-year UK residency criterion for Commonwealth citizens and increase recruitment to 1,350 across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. 

This would open up the forces to recruits who have been based in countries



like India, Australia, Canada and Kenya. However, applicants under 18 years of age would not be eligible to apply. 

The RAF and Navy have begun recruitment of Commonwealth applicants right away and the Army will accept such applications from early next year.

Special rules already allow citizens of Ireland and Gurkhas from Nepal to join the British armed forces. The five-year UK residency requirement for Commonwealth recruits was first waived in 1998, before being reintroduced in 2013.

Britain currently employs close to 9000 Commonwealth citizens in its armed forces.