The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that citizens from the British Overseas Territories (BOTs) are already eligible to apply for Army officer training in the UK, but additional security vetting requirements may apply depending on their residency status.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Andrew Rosindell MP, Defence Minister Louise Sandher-Jones stated that “British Overseas Territory Citizens are already eligible to apply to join the British Army and there are no restrictions on the numbers who can serve as Officers or Other Ranks.”
However, she explained that a UK footprint remains “an integral part of the national security vetting process for joining the Armed Forces,” with clearance levels depending on the role and rank sought. Applicants who have not lived continuously in the UK for the required period before applying may therefore face additional checks.
For BOT applicants, this issue can be mitigated through the use of a residency waiver. Sandher-Jones said such waivers “would include additional documentation being provided by individuals,” adding that each case is assessed on its own merits. Successful applicants would typically receive clearance for a shorter initial period, with eligibility extended once they have established a UK residency record through service.
The Minister noted that once BOT citizens begin their military careers in the UK, “they will build up a UK footprint which will then allow the necessary checks to take place should their clearance need to be extended, or they wish to be considered for further roles where a higher clearance level is required.”
The MOD’s current recruitment guidance confirms that all BOT citizens may apply to join the British Army, subject to meeting standard eligibility and security criteria. Those not resident in the UK will undergo additional vetting to ensure compliance with national security requirements.
The British Overseas Territories covered by this policy include Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus.
