Australian Defence Force to recruit foreign nationals

The Australian Defence Force will open recruitment to foreign nationals who wish to fast-track their citizenship.

As part of the federal government's national defence strategy unveiled in April, the eligibility critieria will be expanded to fill critical skilled workforce shortages.

Eligible New Zealanders who live in Australia will be able to enlist from July 2024.

READ MORE: Bizarre glitch behind stocks in billionaire's company slumping 99.97 per cent

Recruitment will open to permanent Australian residents from the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada from January 2025.

To be eligible to join the ADF, permanent residents must have lived in Australia for at least one year and not served in a foreign military in the preceding two years prior to applying.

After 90 days of service they will be able to attain Australian citizenship.

At a press briefing today, Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said the changes were expected to boost enlistment by an additional 350 personnel per year.

Keogh said defence was currently facing a recruitment target shortfall of 4400 people.

READ MORE: Hundreds of reptiles, including venomous snakes, rescued from Melbourne fire

"We've been looking at a number of ways in which we can grow the Defence Force and we're very happy that the retention rate has been improving and we're now back to the sort of long-term historical average when it comes to retention," he said.

"But we do need to grow the Defence Force and so looking at permanent residents that have already clearly made Australia home, have loyalty to Australia as part of that recruitment pool is a very important way in which we can continue to grow our Defence Force as we need to."

In a statement, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the plan would both strengthen ANZAC ties and meet national security challenges over the next decade.

"Australia and New Zealand have a longstanding relationship – opening the Australian Defence Force to New Zealanders living in Australia will increase opportunities whilst strengthening our ANZAC bond," Marles said.

"The Australian Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because it is essential to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and beyond."