FACT BRIEFCan noncitizens serve in the US military?
Yes.
Non-citizens are eligible to serve in the military as long as they are lawful permanent residents of the United States and are fluent in English. Undocumented immigrants and foreign nationals living abroad cannot join the armed forces.
U.S. military veterans who have not been naturalized may also be subject to removal from the United States if they commit deportable offenses, such as possessing certain controlled substance or breaking certain firearm laws.
As of February 2026, nearly 50,000 foreign nationals were serving in active and reserve components of the Armed Forces per the Congressional Research Institute. In 2024, there were an estimated 125,000 foreign nationals who were veterans.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
The Nevada Independent partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Sources
- Congress.gov Foreign Nationals in the U.S. Armed Forces: Immigration Issues
- U.S. Embassy in Austria Enlistment in the U.S. Armed Forces for Non-U.S. Citizens
It’s up to all of us to spread the truth.
The Nevada Independent is always on the lookout for claims that could use a fact check. But we could use your eyes and ears too. If you're on social media or consuming news and come across a statement that raises questions for you — let us know.
In the meantime, if you think this work is important, please show your support by making a donation of any amount today. Your contributions help us devote more reporters and editors to finding and checking claims, ensuring that Nevadans have the best information possible during this important time in our state’s history.