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| British Army - Brigade of Gurkhas |
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| Nepal: Recruiting for the Gurkha regiment |
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| British Gurkhas - Settlement in the UK |
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21 May 2009
Statement
from the Home Secretary UK
Gurkhas
given right to settle in the UK
Any Gurkhas who served in the British Army for four years may now stay in the country.
Previously, not all Gurkhas who served in the Army before 1997 had the right to live in the UK.
Under the new policy, any Gurkha can apply to settle in the UK.
The revised policy refers specifically to Gurkhas who retired before 1 July 1997, as those who retired after that date were already eligible to apply for settlement.
Gurkhas are welcome
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the country would now welcome any Gurkha with four years of British military service.
'Generations of Gurkhas have served the United Kingdom with great courage, sacrifice and distinction, and they continue to make a vital and valued contribution to our operations around the world,' she said.
'We respect the will of the House of Commons on this issue, and that is why I have now announced a new policy.'
Who are the Gurkhas?
Gurkhas have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years. The soldiers compete in a recruitment contest in Nepal to win the right to join.
In the Army they serve in a variety of roles, mainly in the infantry but also as engineers, logisticians and signals specialists. They have fought for the British all over the world, including in both world wars.
The name 'Gurkha' comes from the hill town of Gorkha, from which the Nepalese kingdom grew.
All former Gurkhas who have served in the British Army for at least four years will now be eligible for settlement in the UK, the Home Secretary announced in Parliament today.
Under the new policy, those Gurkhas who retired prior to 1 July 1997 and completed four years service can apply to settle in the UK with their spouses and dependent children.
The policy introduced today refers specifically to those Gurkhas who retired before 1 July 1997 and who will now be granted settlement rights under the new scheme. Those who retired after 1 July 1997 are already eligible to apply for settlement under the current immigration rules.
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| Source: Home Office, United Kingdom of Great Britain, May 2009 |
Gurkhas given right to settle in the UK
All former Gurkhas who have served in the British Army for at least four years will now be eligible for settlement in the UK, the Home Secretary announced in Parliament today.
Under the new policy, those Gurkhas who retired prior to 1 July 1997 and completed four years service can apply to settle in the UK with their spouses and dependent children.
The policy introduced today refers specifically to those Gurkhas who retired before 1 July 1997 and who will now be granted settlement rights under the new scheme. Those who retired after 1 July 1997 are already eligible to apply for settlement under the current immigration rules.
Statement from the Home Secretary
Jacqui Smith said, 'Generations of Gurkhas have served the United Kingdom with great courage, sacrifice and distinction and they continue to make a vital and valued contribution to our operations around the world.
'We respect the will of the House of Commons on this issue and that is why I have now announced a new policy, the basis of which we have worked on with the Home Affairs Select Committee and Gurkha representatives.
'This means we can now welcome any Gurkha who has served for four years or more to settle in the UK.'
In 2004 the government granted the first Gurkhas the right of settlement in Britain if they served on or after 1 July 1997 - the point at which the Brigade's base moved to the UK. Since then, over 6,000 Gurkhas and their families have been given the right to live in the UK.
The
new policy announced will allow settlement rights to be granted to all
those who retired from the Brigade of Gurkhas prior to 1 July 1997 with
four or more years' service. The new policy reflects the fresh advice
of the Home Affairs Select Committee around the numbers of Gurkhas and
their families likely to apply under the new rules.
Statement from the Minister for veterans
Kevan Jones said, 'The British Army and the Ministry of Defence are determined to do all that we can to uphold our ongoing commitment to the welfare of former Gurkhas, whether in Nepal or the UK.
'We value greatly the bravery, commitment and dedication which they have shown over many years and continue to demonstrate on operations today.'
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| Source: Home Office, United Kingdom of Great Britain, May 2009 |
About Nepali Gurkhas
The British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas (BG) is currently around 3,800 strong and provides around three per cent of the Army's strength and eight per cent of the Infantry.
The modern day Brigade of Gurkhas was formed in 1948 when four Regiments transferred from the old Indian Army to the British Army.
There are seven Regiments in the Indian Army.
Gurkhas
are recruited in Nepal and remain Nepalese citizens throughout their service
with the Brigade of Gurkhas, which is in line with the wishes of the government
of Nepal.
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