Who Can Join

Canadian and German Branches

You may be eligible for membership in a Canadian or German branch of The Royal Canadian Legion if you are a Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject and are of federal voting age.

All applications for membership are subject to the General By-Laws of The Royal Canadian Legion and approval by the local branch to which the application is made.

There are four membership categories, each with different qualifications. The criteria for each category are as follows:

Ordinary Membership - You may be eligible for Ordinary membership if you have served or are serving in:

• The Canadian Armed Forces or Her Majesty's Armed Forces (regular force or reserve force with class "C" service); or
• the Armed Forces or underground forces of any of Her Majesty's allies in a war or police action in which Canada was involved; or
• the Merchant Navy or non-military services in an actual theatre of war in which Canada was involved; or
• Her Majesty's reserve force including Cadet Instructors on the Cadet Cadre. Must have at least one year (12 months) service; or
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police or The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary for not less than one year; or
• the Armed Forces of a country while that country was a member of NATO or NORAD; or
• the United States Forces; or
• the Vietnam War with the Armed Forces of the United States, Australia, the Republic of Korea or South Vietnam, and were a Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject at the time of service.

Associate Membership - If you do not qualify for Ordinary membership you may be eligible for Associate membership if you:

• are the child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, niece/nephew, widow/er, parent or spouse of someone who is or was eligible for Ordinary membership; or
• are the child of an Associate member; or
• have served in The Royal Canadian Sea, Army or Air Cadets for not less than 3 years; or
• have been a cadet civilian instructor for not less than 3 years; or
• have served as an officer in the Navy League of Canada for not less than 2 years; or
• have served on a city, municipal or provincial police force for not less than 1 year; or
• have served in the Polish Armed Forces after WW II;
• are the spouse, parent or sibling of an associate member who qualified subject to the above criteria.

Affiliate Non-Voting Membership - If you do not qualify for Ordinary or Associate membership but support the aims and objects of The Royal Canadian Legion you may apply for Affiliate Non-Voting membership.

Affiliate Voting Membership - An Affiliate Non-Voting member may apply for Affiliate Voting membership after two years (24 months) of continuous membership. For further information, please contact your nearest Legion Branch.

USA Posts

You may be eligible for membership in a USA post of The Royal Canadian Legion if you are an American citizen and are of federal voting age.

All applications for membership are subject to the General By-Laws of The Royal Canadian Legion and approval by the local post to which the application is made.

There are three membership categories in USA posts, each with different qualifications. The criteria for each category are as follows:

Ordinary Membership - USA Post - If you have served or are serving in:

• Her Majesty's Armed Forces in any war or police action in which Canada was involved; or
• the Armed Forces or underground forces of any of Her Majesty's allies in a war or police action in which Canada was involved; or
• the United Nations or Commonwealth police action in Korea, Congo, Gaza, Cyprus; or
• the USA armed forces and are a relative of a person who is or was eligible to be an Ordinary member of a Canadian branch of The Royal Canadian Legion; or
• a theatre of war as a member of the armed forces of the United States under the command of a Commonwealth Naval, Military or Air Force Commander.

Associate Membership - USA Post - If you do not qualify for Ordinary membership in a USA post you may be eligible for Associate membership in a USA Post if you:

• are the child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, niece/nephew, widow/er, parent or spouse of someone who is or was eligible for Ordinary membership in a USA Post; or
• are the child of an Associate member in a USA post; or
• are the sibling, parent or spouse of an Associate member who qualified subject to the above criteria.

Affiliate Non-Voting Membership - USA Post - If you do not qualify for Ordinary or Associate membership in a USA post, but support the aims and objects of The Royal Canadian Legion you may apply for Affiliate Non-Voting membership.

NOTE: If a member qualified for membership under the USA Post criteria only, that person is not eligible to transfer membership to a branch of the Legion in Canada or Germany.

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