Commonwealth soldiers may move to Britain for free

Servicemen and women may be allowed to settle in the UK without paying immigration fees

Commonwealth servicemen and women may be able to settle in Britain without paying immigration fees under Home Office plans.

Service personnel from non-UK nations could be offered indefinite leave to remain in the UK for free under a new public consultation launched on Wednesday by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel.

The MoD and Home Office are proposing to waive the costs of applications, saving each person £2,389 in fees.

If the proposal is approved, non-UK service personnel from across the armed forces will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain, subject to eligibility criteria, after serving at least 12 years - the length of time all service personnel initially sign up to serve.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “We owe those who showed us loyal service, our loyalty in return.

“It is right that we recognise their contribution by not only smoothing the pathway to residency and citizenship, but also by lifting the financial cost of doing so after 12 years of service.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “I am immensely proud that brave servicemen and women from around the world want to continue to call the UK their home after their service.

“It is only right that those who continue to do extraordinary work on behalf of our country are recognised and rewarded, and I am determined to support them settle in our wonderful communities right across the UK.”

The public consultation will run for six weeks from May 26  to July 7 on the government’s website. 

Priti Patel is backing the plans
Priti Patel is backing the plans Credit: PA

Financial support for indefinite leave to remain applications is only eligible to serving personnel. Any dependents would need to file, and cover costs of, separate applications.

Currently there are over 10,000 non-UK citizens serving in the UK Armed Forces from countries around the world including Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, St Lucia and South Africa.

Staff Corporal Asaeli Saurara, 40, of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, is originally from Fiji.

Having served for 21 years he intends to start the process to apply to stay in the UK.

“It’s a good thing,” he said, “not only for me, but it’s a good retention tool.”

“Having moved from Fiji to the UK, people might want to stay and provide something in return to the outside world.”

Colonel Karl Harris, 47, is Chair of the army’s BAME network. He said the issue of immigration fees, and when an individual could start the process, has been a topic of discussion for at least six years.

“The measures that have been described are very positive [and will] enable a smoother transition for service personnel to leave service and enter into their second career,” he said.

License this content