Membership

Membership

Online Membership Application Form!

(You can download the form in Adobe Acrobat PDF form, then complete as required and submit to your local branch)

Download Membership Form in Adobe Acrobat Format!

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 Forces or Her Majesty's Forces (regular force or reserve force with class "C" service); or
the Forces or underground forces of any of Her Majesty's allies in any war, conflict 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, for not less than one year; or
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police or The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary for not less than one year; or
the Forces of a country while that country was a member of NATO or NORAD; or in alliance with Canada; or
the United States Forces; or
the Vietnam War with the 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.
the Canadian Coast Guard as an officer or crew member, and who has two or more years of active service on the high seas or inland waterways; or
a city, municipal or provincial police force for not less than one year.

Associate Membership

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

is the child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, niece/nephew, widow/er, parent or spouse of person who is or was eligible for Ordinary membership; or
is the child of an Associate member; or
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
served below the rank of officer, in the Polish Forces after WWll and whose services were terminated under conditions other than dishonourable or for reasons of misconductI; or
is the spouse, parent or sibling of an associate member who qualified subject to the above criteria.

Affiliate Non-Voting Membership

Affiliate non-voting membership is open to any Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary or associate membership and who supports the purposes and objects of The Royal Canadian Legion. Affiliate non-voting members shall have the same rights as all other members except the rights to vote and hold office. After 24 months service an affiliate non-voting member may apply for affiliate voting status.

Affiliate Voting Membership

Affiliate voting membership is open to any Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary or associate membership and who has 24 months or more on continuous service as an affiliate non-voting member.

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 Branches/Post

Notwithstanding the provisions of the following articles, any person who was qualified and became an ordinary, associate or affiliate member of a branch in Canada shall retain such qualification notwithstanding that the member has become a citizen of the United States of America.

If you have served or are serving in:

Her Majesty's Forces in conflict in which Canada was involved; or
the Forces or underground forces of any of Her Majesty's allies in a conflict in which Canada was involved; or
the United Nations or Commonwealth police action in Korea, Congo, Gaza, Cyprus; in any other area that may be specified by Dominion Command or
the Forces of the United States in a theatre of war under the command of a Commonwealth Naval, Military or Air Force Commander, for not less than three months.
the Forces of the United States and who is the parent, spouse or child of a person who is or was eligible to ben an ordinary member.

Associate Membership - USA Branch/ 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.
A member admitted under this section is not permitted to transfer membership to a branch of the Legion in Canada.

Affiliate Non-Voting Membership - USA Branch/Post

Affiliate voting membership is open to any USA citizen who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary or associate membership and who supports the purposes and objects of The Royal Canadian Legion. A member admitted under this section is not permitted to transfer membership to a branch of the Legion in Canada.

For further information, please contact your nearest Legion Branch or USA Post.