



UPDATE OF 15 JULY 2020: The recruiting runs as usual again!



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This is NOT an official recruiting website of the French Foreign Legion. This is an information page.

So, how to join the French Foreign Legion? The ONLY solution to join the French Foreign Legion is to go to mainland France (in EUROPE) and knock on the door of one of the Foreign Legion recruiting centers (once you are in, free accommodation, food and clothing are immediately provided by the Legion).

There is NO OTHER WAY! No online applications, no letters of invitation, no French embassy’s documents are providing to join the French Foreign Legion. Keep in mind.

You will be enlisted as a single man, even if you are married. The first contract you sign up is for 5 years.

The entire recruiting & selection process takes 2 – 5 weeks (in most cases, the exact period depends on every candidate individually). The process starts when you pass your passport to a serving legionnaire in a recruiting center (either an information office or a preselection center – you will see the list below).

The process ends when you are officially accepted or rejected. During the whole period (from passing the passport to a legionnaire until your acceptance or rejection), free accommodation, food and clothing are provided by the Legion.

The candidates having passed all the tests are officially accepted or rejected every working Thursday afternoon. As a volunteer, you are allowed to ask to go home every morning during the entire selection process.

French Foreign Legion: Entry Requirements

What DOES matter to join the Legion

to be a man between 17.5 and 39.5 years – read more here:

Age limits for joining the French Foreign Legion

– read more here: Age limits for joining the French Foreign Legion to have a valid ID (Identity document)

(Identity document) ID Card or a Passport for recruits from the European Union (EU)

or a for recruits from the (EU)

PASSPORT for recruits from all over the world

for recruits from all over the world to have a birth certificate verified copy ( translation into English or French languages prefered )

– confirmation of the certificate’s copy not older than 6 months while enlisting

– you are allowed to enlist in the Legion without the certificate as well, nonetheless, the document will facilitate your engagement

verified copy ( ) – confirmation of the certificate’s copy not older than 6 months while enlisting – you are allowed to enlist in the Legion without the certificate as well, nonetheless, the document will facilitate your engagement to be NOT wanted by Interpol (NO murders, NO drug trafficking…)

(NO murders, NO drug trafficking…) to be physically fit to serve at all times and in all places around the world, for at least 5 years

to serve at all times and in all places around the world, for at least 5 years to have BMI between 20 and 30 – read more:

Height and weight requirements for joining the French Foreign Legion

– read more: Height and weight requirements for joining the French Foreign Legion to be able to write and read in your native language

What does NOT matter to join the Legion

your citizenship (if you are a Brazilian, Indian, Russian, Japanese citizen etc…) doesn’t matter

your race origin doesn’t matter

your religion doesn’t matter

your knowledge / ignorance of the French language doesn’t matter

your educational background doesn’t matter

your qualifications doesn’t matter

your social status doesn’t matter

your professional status doesn’t matter

your marriage / marital status or family status doesn’t matter

your previous military or non-military background doesn’t matter

French Foreign Legion: Entry Tests

Psycho-technical tests

IQ tests

Personality tests

Sports tests

Beep test (Luc léger in French, see Multi-stage fitness test; a rhythmic running between two points that are 20 meters apart from side to side; running speed is determined by audio beeps at set intervals with increasing frequency – you have to complete at least 5 levels )

(Luc léger in French, see Multi-stage fitness test; a rhythmic running between two points that are 20 meters apart from side to side; running speed is determined by audio beeps at set intervals with increasing frequency – you have to complete at least ) Swimming (you have to swim at least 25 meters, without any support or safety equipment)

(you have to swim at least 25 meters, without any support or safety equipment) Pull-ups (doing with straight arms) – no more elimination part of tests; however, still an important element of the selection

Medical tests

you will pass a medical visit

be sure you have healthy teeth (or treated)

maximum number of missing teeth between 4 and 6, depending on the value of the teeth



masticatory coefficient (to have quite healthy teeth) greater than or equal to 40%

provide medical documentation concerning your previous medical surgery to assure there are currently no side-effects, as a result of such surgery – if not, you risk to be sent to the hospital in Marseille to get this documentation at your own expense

provide medical documentation (health certificate) concerning your previous grave illness to assure there are currently no side-effects, as a result of such illness

for eyesight / vision problems, read here:

Eyesight: French Foreign Legion vision requirements

Eyesight: French Foreign Legion vision requirements Examples of the reasons for disqualification :

: tuberculosis



hepatitis



cancer



HIV



diabetes



overload weight



a psychiatric disorder during treatment



to have very poor eyesight ( see the post linked above )

)

bad hearing ( you pass a sound hearing test – it tests your ears at different frequencies )

)

total loss of a finger



laxity ( instability ) of the knee

) of the knee

recurrent dislocation of the patella



hernia recovery with after-effects (recurrent hernia problems)

What to take with you to the French Foreign Legion

The number-one rule in packing for an enlistement to the Legion is to pack light.

You HAVE TO take with you:

all documents already stated above (ID card, …)

3 T-shirts, 3 briefs and 3 pairs of socks

a pair of trainer/sneaker

about 10-50 euros

vanity case/toiletries:

soap/shower gel



razor + lather



toothbrush



toothpaste



bath towel



bath shoes/slippers

You SHOULDN’T take with you:

computer/laptop/tablet

camera

big amount of money (300+ euros/400+ USD)

credit cards

valuables, jewellery

You MUST NOT take with you:

weapons: gun, knife…

car or motorcycle keys

house keys

Getting a visa to France

Traveling and visa (if needed) expenses are YOUR responsibility.

If you need a visa to travel to France, apply for a tourist visa (or a short stay visa).

To get the visa, see France Diplomatie – Getting a visa. The page is in English and contains all the information you need for.

Tattoo and the French Foreign Legion

For more detailed information about the tattoo policy in the Foreign Legion see:

French Foreign Legion Tattoo and Tattoo Policy

Enlisting in the French Foreign Legion

The first contract you sign up is for 5 years.

You will be enlisted as a single man, even if you are married.

Once you are enlisted (the same day you knocked on the door), the preselection & selection process starts.

Free accommodation, free food and free clothing are provided by the Legion during the whole preselection & selection process.

The whole recruiting & selection process takes (in most cases) 2 – 5 weeks. The process starts when you pass your passport to a serving legionnaire in a recruiting center (either an information office or a preselection center – see the list below).

The French Foreign Legion accepts recruits from all over the world. The Foreign Legion’s recruiting centers should be open 24/7/365 (yes, all year long) officially. However, whatever is stated on the Legion’s official website, enlisting in the Legion during Monday to Friday between 08:00 AM – 05:00 PM (08.00 – 17.00 h) will be a good option for you. The smaller recruiting centers might be closed during nights.

You can be enlisted in mainland France only! There is no other way.

You must travel at your own expense to continental France (in Europe) and knock on the door of one of the Legion’s recruiting centers (see the list below) to be enlisted in. This is the ONLY solution how to join the Foreign Legion!

NO online applications, NO letters of invitation, NO documents at French embassies around the world are providing to join the Legion.

Recruiting centers: Where to enlist in the French Foreign Legion

You can be enlisted in the Legion in its preselection centers (Paris, Aubagne) or in its information & recruiting offices (smaller recruiting centers called PILE). Usually, these centers should be open all the year, every day, 24/7. That means, you should be enlisted in the Legion in this center every day of the year (including weekends and holidays). However, some smaller offices in smaller towns could be closed on weekends and during night hours… Once you are allowed to be enlisted (once your passport/ID cart and your clothes are taken away), free accommodation, free food and free clothing are immediately provided to you by the Legion.

Get the address, contacts and Google map location of each of the Foreign Legion’s recruiting centers. Note that these centers are the only places, where you can be enlisted in the French Foreign Legion.

Foreign Legion preselection centers

You might stay 3-14 days in preselection centers (Paris, Aubagne) before joining the main selection process in Aubagne (yes, a preselection center and the selection center of the Legion, both are run within the Legion HQ of Aubagne).

Foreign Legion information & recruiting offices belonged to Paris

If a new candidat/volunteer has chosen to enlist himself in the Legion in one of these smaller recruiting centers (PILE) belonged to Paris, he will pass an initial interview and would be lodged there for free. Within 1-7 days, these candidats are sent with a free train ticket to Paris, to join an initial preselection.

Foreign Legion information & recruiting offices belonged to Aubagne

If a new candidat/volunteer has chosen to enlist himself in the Legion in one of these smaller recruiting centers (PILE) belonged to Aubagne, he will pass an initial interview and would be lodged there for free. Within 1-7 days, these candidats are sent with a free train ticket to Aubagne, to join an initial preselection and (if they passed), the crucial selection process.

Career in the French Foreign Legion

Any legionnaire can build a career not on school diplomas or professional or civilian qualifications, but by taking military or technical examinations throughout his service. If you have good potential, if you are motivated, hard working and serious, the following careers are possible.

Combat specialities

sniper

tank driver

paratrooper

sapper

machine gunner

anti-tank rocket launcher

armoured vehicle driver

and other…

Administration

secretary

accountant

data-processing support

computer support

and other…

Signals

radio operator

radio mechanic

telephone exchange operator

and other…

Control

light vehicle driver

truck driver

articulated truck driver

bus driver

dredge driver

and other…

Maintenance

mechanic

electrician

welder

painter

small arms expert

and other…

Miscellaneous

paramedic

data processing specialist

physical education instructor

graphic designer

musician

photographer

cook

and other…

25% of legionnaires will become the non-commissioned officers (N.C.O.). All NCOs in the Legion started as simple legionnaires (except for a few NCOs from the French Army, assigned to some regiments as well-trained specialists).

10% of Legion officers started their career as simple legionnaires and worked up through the ranks.

Pay in the French Foreign Legion

A legionnaire is clothed, fed, accomodated, and medically cared for. Your salary also depends upon your rank, qualifications and time of service.

Foreign Legion pay examples (most basic monthly earnings; various tax deductions already included):

RANK SERVICE 1°RE 2°REP * 3°REI ** Foreign theater *** Legionnaire 10 months 1205 € 1460 € 1433 € 3567 € Caporal 03 years 1226 € 1480 € 1452 € 3626 € Caporal-chef 10 years 1303 € 1607 € 1600 € 3939 € Sergent 07 years 1351 € 1648 € 1650 € 3929 € Sergent-chef 10 years 1779 € 2095 € 1945 € 4186 € Adjudant 17 years 2007 € 2140 € 2180 € 4748 € Adjudant-chef 21 years 2078 € 2427 € 2477 € 4818 €

* Parachute bonus

Parachute bonus ** Overseas allowance (French territories)

Overseas allowance (French territories) *** Foreign theater operations – Overseas allowance (abroad)

The Pay examples (the most basic salary), dating back to 2010, are increased by 8-10 % now

According to 2018, you could start collecting a regular retirement pension after 17 years and 6 months of honorable service.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q: Do I need to speak French before joining the French Foreign Legion?

A: No. The vast majority of candidates do not speak French.

2. Q: How about my chances to be selected?

A: You will be selected only if you are good enough for the Legion. And it is the Legion itself to decide who is good enough to be selected. From around 100 candidates asking to serve in the Legion, only 10-15 are accepted. So, you have to be better than the rest of candidates in all aspects to get a chance (NOT the right) to be selected… There are no “bring this or that, pass this or that, make this or that” tricks to be accepted. The candidates are selected by the commission consisting of around 15 members of the Legion’s HQ, who verifies individually all aspects and results of every single candidate. Than, the majority of these senior members have to find consensus and vote for the candidate to be accepted in the Legion.

3. Q: How about tricks to pass the tests and get into the Legion?

A: You have to be good enough for the Legion to be selected. As stated above, it’s not only about the tests. The recruiting process is far more complex. It is focused on your entire personality. Your real behavior, your real attitude, your real motivation. The Legion must want you. Then you will be selected. There are no tricks to get in.

4. Q: How about contacting my family?

A: You are allowed to contact your family once you have started your basic training in Castelnaudary, by mail or payphone. Once you are serving as an ordinary legionnaire in a regiment, you can contact your family by mail, phone or internet during your free time. Nevertheless, there are specific rules for contacting your family during overseas deployments and operations.

5. Q: How about evenings, weekends, holidays in the Foreign Legion?

A: After finishing your four-month basic training, you are allowed to leave your military base during your free time.

6. Q: How about using mobile phones, laptop or notebook computers?

A: After finishing your four-month basic training, you are allowed to buy them and use them during your free time.

7. Q: How about annual leave (vacation/holiday)?

A: The Legion offers you 20 working days during your first year of service, 25 working days during your second year of service, and, since your third year of service, you will be provided with 45 working days of annual leave (vacation/holiday) per year.

8. Q: How about visiting/seeing my family?

A: You have to be a “recognized person” (called RSM) to be allowed to visit your family officially in your home country during your annual leave. You can get that status within 1-3 years. If you are a “bad guy” with some a little bit complicated justice problems at home, just ask your family to arrive in France to meet together during your free time. They can also meet you at your regiment directly, during holidays like Camerone Day (April 30).

9. Q: How about the visa and flight tickets for joining the Legion?

A: The shortest French visa (for turism) is for 90 days… It is your responsibility solely to find, pay and obtain all required travel documents and visas (tourist or short stay visa) to go to France. The Legion offers you no refunds, no money, no scholarships, no online applications, no letters of invitation, no French embassy’s documents to get to France.

10. Q: How about the Second (or Third) chance for re-entering the Selection process?

A: In some cases, the Foreign Legion offers you a chance to return back, if you failed entry tests during the selection process in Aubagne. If the Legion gives you the second (or third) chance, you receive a paper document with the title “INAPTE TEMPORAIRE” stating that you can return back after 3, 6, 12 or 18 months. Who is able to return back and after how many months, that is up to the Legion solely. If the Legion do not give you another chance, you receive a paper document with the title “INAPTE DEFINITIF”. That means the Legion is closed to you forever.

11. Q: How about the naturalization/getting a French citizenship?

A: After 3 years of service, you are allowed to ask for the naturalization. You have to serve honorably and you have to be “rectified” (to serve under your real identity recognized by the French government) to be qualified to get the French citizenship. Be sure, that you have to pass more than 5 years of service to be naturalized. The second eventuality of being naturalized/getting the French citizenship is to be seriously wounded during a military operation.

The French Foreign Legion offers you a chance to start a new life… Good luck!

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Information source:

Légion étrangère, the Legion’s official recruiting website

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The page was updated on: August 03, 2020

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