Overview
British Gurkha recruitment selects young Nepali men and women to join the Brigade of Gurkhas in the British Army, run by British Gurkhas Nepal (BGN) through recruiting camps in Nepal. Selection is staged and highly competitive, narrowing a large pool of applicants down to a few hundred recruits through successive rounds.
Who can apply
Applicants must be Nepali citizens, generally aged between 17.5 and 21 years, and meet medical, educational and physical fitness standards set by the British Army. Candidates register online and must later present original documents, including citizenship papers and education certificates, at the recruiting stage.
Exam pattern
Selection runs in stages:
Regional selection (registration and initial screening): candidates whose names appear on a call-forward list attend in person with original documents, and undergo basic checks including overarm heaves, a medical screening, and written tests in English and mathematics.
Initial selection, held at British Gurkha Pokhara: higher-level physical testing, including around 14 overarm heaves, an 800m run, and repeated lift-and-carry tasks within set time limits, alongside further academic and medical checks.
Central (final) selection, held exclusively at British Gurkhas Pokhara: an intensive, roughly two-week assessment that produces a final Order of Merit ranking, from which the small number of final recruits is selected.
How to apply
Candidates register online through the Gurkha recruitment portal (gurkha.defencegateway.mod.uk), providing their district, National Identity (NPP) number, and name, before attending the in-person stages according to the published call-forward list.
After the exam
Selected recruits travel to the UK for initial training before joining a Brigade of Gurkhas unit.
Preparation tips
Because physical standards (overarm heaves, the 800m run, and lift-and-carry tasks) are assessed at every stage and get progressively harder, sustained physical training well before registration, alongside basic English and mathematics practice for the written tests, is the standard preparation approach.
How many stages does British Gurkha selection have?
Three main stages: regional selection, initial selection at British Gurkha Pokhara, and central (final) selection, also at Pokhara.
What nationality is required to apply for British Gurkha recruitment?
Nepali citizenship.