
09/10/2025
Call for 10,000 PNG Recruits into ADF with Australian Citizenship Pathway
Papua New Guinea and Australia are poised to enter a landmark defense agreement that would allow up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to enlist in the Australian Defense Force (ADF) with a pathway to Australian citizenship.
Under the proposed treaty:
📌PNG citizens would be eligible to join the ADF.
📌Recruits would need to meet Australia’s eligibility and security requirements, including medical exams and police clearances.
📌 Those accepted would apply for Australian citizenship, with citizenship being a requirement for service.
📌The treaty intends to tightly integrate the militaries of the two nations, enabling shared recruitment and operational cooperation.
📌It also includes mutual defence clauses requiring both parties to come to each other’s aid in times of external attack.
At present, no official recruitment date of “January 2026” has been confirmed in public sources. The treaty is expected to go through parliamentary ratification in both countries, which could delay or adjust the implementation timeline.
Earlier proposals had suggested recruitment of around 1,000 PNG defense personnel annually into the ADF, but the new treaty significantly increases that figure under the new bilateral framework.
Experts have raised concerns about the plan, including issues around sovereignty, brain drain from PNG’s military, and whether it is ethical to ask citizens of one country to fight for another nation.
Advice for Potential Applicants (Subject to Official Announcement):
Prepare for standard military eligibility checks: medical examinations, police clearances, certification of education/experience.
Ensure your national identity documentation (e.g. passport, national ID) is current.
Have educational certificates ready (e.g. high school, tertiary).
Stay alert for formal recruitment announcements from PNG or Australian defense authorities.