Residency requirements of British Overseas Territories Citizens (“BOTCs”) as a prerequisite for joining the Armed Forces discussed in Parliament as the government seeks to increase recruitment.
The question of whether the five year residency in the UK requirement for applicants who wish to serve in the British armed forces applies to citizens of the UK’s Overseas Territories was raised in Parliament yesterday. The query came as plans were announced to actively increase the number of recruits from Commonwealth countries.
In response, the Minister of State for Defence Mark Lancaster confirmed that BOTCs have never been subject to the five year residency criteria as they have one of six types of British nationality which already makes them eligible to apply to join the British Armed Forces. A BOTC serves as part of the British cohort.
As of April 1, 2018, there were 130 BOTCs serving in the British Armed Forces.
