Additional benefits for non-UK nationals

Am I eligible?

These benefits are available to non-UK nationals (Commonwealth, Gurkhas and Nepali citizens, British National (Overseas) citizens, British Overseas Citizens and British Overseas Territory Citizens)  serving in the Armed Forces

What do I get?

• Family members. Once you have completed initial training you will be earning enough to bring your spouse or partner plus one child to the UK, subject to them meeting the criteria set out in the immigration-rules-appendix-armed-forces.  As your earnings rise, you will be able to bring additional qualifying children to join you, subject to them meeting Home Office criteria. The additional benefits that are then available to those family members can be found on the family members benefit page

• Immigration Control status exemption. You are exempt from UK immigration control for as long as you remain in Regular service, which means that you do no have to pay visa fees during your service.

• Credit Union savings scheme towards visa costs for self and family. There are Armed Forces credit unions to help you save for the cost of travel and visas for you and your family. Loans are also available, subject to status. Go to the joining forces credit union  website for more information.

• Leave to travel to your home country. Domiciled Collective Leave (DOMCOL) and DOMCOL Substitute allow you to visit your country of origin for an extended period of leave, of up to 45 working days (instead of 30 days annual leave allowance) every five years, with travel at public expense in the case of DOMCOL (but not DOMCOL Substitute). You can find out more on the Domiciled Collective Leave benefit page or by checking JSP760 Part 1 Chapter 9.

• Compassionate Travel. If you need to travel back to your country of origin for compassionate reasons when posted overseas, you may be able to travel directly to your country of origin at public expense  You should check JSP751 Part 1 Volume 3, Section 6 for the rules. 

• Waiver of settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain/Enter) fee on discharge if you meet all the Home Office criteria and: have served at least six years at your point of discharge from service; or

  • are discharged on medical grounds with a condition attributable to service irrespective of length of service; or

  • as a veteran who has served for at least six years or was discharged on medical grounds with a condition attributable to service and is currently living in the UK and has not yet regularised their immigration status.

Need more information

If you need more information about any of these benefits, then speak to your local Unit HR or admin office in the first instance. For Army personnel, further detail may also be found in Part 2 of the Guide for non-UK Nationals and Unit Support.