Leslie Massey
If you're a US citizen interested in joining the Australian Defence Force (ADF), there are a few things to consider. Firstly, as of January 1, 2025, citizens of the United States who have lived in Australia for at least 12 months and have not served in a foreign military for the previous 2 years are eligible to join the ADF. However, it's important to note that Australian citizenship is typically required for a security clearance, which is needed for most roles in the ADF. The security clearance process involves background checks and interviews conducted by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA). While there have been recent changes allowing non-Australian citizens to join the ADF and commence the citizenship process, a clearance is only granted to non-citizens in exceptional circumstances. So, while it is possible for US citizens to join the ADF, the process involves meeting specific requirements and obtaining Australian citizenship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Citizenship requirement | Must be a citizen of the United States of America or Canada, or a permanent resident of Australia |
| Residency requirement | Must have lived in Australia for at least one year immediately prior to applying to join the ADF |
| Foreign military service | Must not have served in a foreign military in the two years prior to applying to join the ADF |
| Security clearance requirement | Must obtain a security clearance through background checks and/or interviews with the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) |
| Age requirement | Must be under the age of 34 |
| Education requirement | Must be a high school graduate (12 grades) |
| Physical and mental fitness | Must be able to pass mental and physical tests |
| Number of dependents | Must have no more than two dependents (e.g., a spouse and one child) |
| Citizenship process | Once an individual has served 90 days in the ADF, they become eligible for Australian citizenship and would be expected to apply |
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility requirements for non-Australian citizens
To join the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Australian citizenship is usually required for a security clearance. However, there are some exceptions for non-Australian citizens.
As of January 1, 2025, applicants from the United States who have lived in Australia for at least 12 months and have not served in a foreign military for the previous 2 years are eligible to join the ADF. This is part of a new policy to grow the ADF, as outlined in the National Defence Strategy released in April 2024.
In addition to the residency and military service requirements, non-Australian citizens must also meet the following criteria to be eligible to join the ADF:
- Be a New Zealand citizen, a citizen of the United Kingdom, United States of America, or Canada.
- Be a permanent resident living in Australia or holding a 444 sub-class visa.
- Have lived in Australia for at least one year immediately prior to applying to join the ADF.
- Be willing to apply for Australian citizenship. Once an individual has served 90 days in the ADF, they become eligible for Australian citizenship and are expected to apply.
In exceptional circumstances, if a position cannot be filled by an Australian citizen, the citizenship requirement may be waived. This includes permanent residents who can prove they have applied for citizenship and permanent residents who are ineligible to apply for Australian citizenship, as long as they are prepared to apply for citizenship within 90 days of commencing service.
It is important to note that most roles in the ADF require a security clearance level of Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1). Some roles require a higher security clearance level of Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) or Positive Vetting (PV), which may impact eligibility for non-Australian citizens.
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Security clearance and background checks
To obtain a security clearance for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Australian citizenship is generally required. However, recent changes allow non-Australian citizens to commence the citizenship process while joining the ADF in exceptional circumstances. To be eligible, non-citizens must meet the following criteria: be a citizen of the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, or Canada; be a permanent resident of Australia or hold a subclass 444 visa; have lived in Australia for at least one year before applying to join the ADF; and not have served in a foreign military within the two years before applying.
The minimum security clearance requirement for the ADF is the Baseline security clearance. For this level of clearance, the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) conducts background checks for the five years preceding the application. For higher levels of security clearance, the background check period is longer. To obtain a security clearance, you must provide a collection of relevant information, including background checks and/or interviews, so the AGSVA can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of government resources and information.
Most roles in the ADF require a security clearance level of Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1). Some roles require higher levels of security clearance, such as Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) or Positive Vetting (PV). The required level of security clearance for a role will be specified under the Additional Requirements section. The number and complexity of the questions and supporting documents required for each level depend on individual circumstances and will be communicated once the application is made.
To meet the minimum entry-level requirement, you must have lived in Australia or have a checkable background for the past ten years.
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Citizenship requirements and waivers
Australian Citizenship is a requirement for a security clearance. However, there have been recent changes for non-Australian citizens who may be eligible to join the ADF and commence the citizenship process. A clearance will only be granted to a non-citizen in exceptional circumstances. If you are a citizen of the United States of America, you must be a permanent resident living in Australia or hold a 444 subclass visa, have lived in Australia for at least one year immediately before applying to join the ADF, and not have served in a foreign military in the two years before applying to join the ADF. In exceptional circumstances, if a position cannot be filled by an Australian citizen, the citizenship requirement may be waived. Applications may be accepted from permanent residents who can prove they have applied for citizenship and permanent residents who are ineligible to apply for Australian citizenship, as long as they are prepared to apply for citizenship within 90 days of commencing service.
To obtain a security clearance, you'll need to provide relevant information, including background checks and/or interviews, so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of government resources and information. Most roles require a security clearance level of Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1). Some roles require a security clearance level of Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) or Positive Vetting (PV).
If you are an Australian citizen, it is important to verify your citizenship by providing one of the following:
- A current Australian passport issued on or after 1 January 2000.
- An expired Australian passport issued after 1 January 2000, that is greater than two years between the date of issue and date of expiry and expired less than three years before the date of application.
To join the U.S. Military, you must be a U.S. citizen or possess a Permanent Resident Visa (aka Green Card). If you already have a Green Card, serving in the Army can reduce the residency requirement for becoming a U.S. citizen to as little as one day instead of five years. The naturalization process for citizenship can begin as soon as your first day of Basic Training. The U.S. Army has a waiver process that you can take advantage of to prove you have overcome a disqualifying issue that would otherwise prevent you from joining the Army. After submitting a waiver, a review takes place to make sure you can join. If your waiver is denied, you can also look into pursuing a civilian career within the Army. It is possible to receive an age waiver, especially if you have prior military service. You can request a waiver for asthma, vision, or hearing loss if a doctor denies your application.
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Military experience from allied countries
Australia's defence policy has historically been closely linked to Britain. However, since the Japanese crisis of 1942, Australia's security has been underwritten by its alliance with the United States. This alliance has had a significant influence on Australian strategic policy.
In 2021, Australia entered into the AUKUS trilateral security partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States. As part of this partnership, Australia will obtain nuclear attack submarines to improve the capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
In June 2024, the Australian government announced a new policy to expand the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as outlined in the National Defence Strategy. From January 2025, permanent residents from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada will be eligible to join the ADF, provided they have lived in Australia for at least 12 months and have not served in a foreign military in the previous two years.
Australian citizenship is generally required for a security clearance. However, in exceptional circumstances, non-Australian citizens may be eligible to join the ADF and commence the citizenship process. Most roles require a security clearance level of Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1), while some require Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) or Positive Vetting (PV).
The Australian Defence Force consists of three branches: the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The ADF has a strength of just over 89,000 personnel.
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Permanent residency and citizenship application process
To join the Australian military defense as a US citizen, you must first obtain Australian citizenship or permanent residency. Here is an overview of the permanent residency and citizenship application process:
Permanent Residency
To obtain permanent residency in Australia as a US citizen, you must meet certain eligibility criteria. Firstly, you must have lived in Australia for at least one year immediately prior to your application. Additionally, you should not have served in a foreign military within the two years before applying. In some exceptional circumstances, the citizenship requirement may be waived if a position cannot be filled by an Australian citizen. In such cases, permanent residents who have applied for citizenship or are prepared to apply within 90 days of commencing service may be considered.
Australian Citizenship
Once you have obtained permanent residency, you can apply for Australian citizenship. Most applicants over the age of 18 are required to pass a citizenship test, unless they are over 60 years old or have a substantial impairment. The test is designed to ensure that applicants understand Australia's values, community, and culture, promoting social cohesion and successful integration.
After passing the test, you may be invited to attend an interview as part of the application process. The time taken to process your application will depend on your individual circumstances. Once you obtain Australian citizenship, you can verify it by providing an Australian passport issued on or after January 1, 2000.
It is important to note that most roles in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) require a security clearance, which is typically only granted to Australian citizens. However, in exceptional circumstances, a clearance may be granted to non-citizens. The clearance level required depends on the specific role within the ADF.
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Frequently asked questions
You must be a permanent resident of Australia, have lived in Australia for at least a year, and not have served in a foreign military within the last two years. You will also need to pass background checks and interviews to obtain a security clearance.
Australian citizenship is generally required for a security clearance. However, there are recent changes that allow non-Australian citizens to join the ADF and commence the citizenship process.
From January 1, 2025, US citizens who have lived in Australia for 12 months and have not served in a foreign military within the last two years will be allowed to join the ADF.
You will need to provide relevant information, including background checks and interviews, so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can assess your application. Most roles require a Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1) security clearance, while some require Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) or Positive Vetting (PV).
Yes, in addition to the residency and military service requirements, you must be willing to apply for Australian citizenship. Once you have served 90 days in the ADF, you will be eligible for citizenship and will be expected to apply.
