Gurkhas are nationals from Nepal who are recruited to serve in the British Army in The Brigade of Gurkhas. They remain nationals from Nepal throughout their military service but in all other respects are full members of HM Forces. Except in exceptional circumstances, Gurkhas are always discharged from the British Army in Nepal.
In 2009 the Home Office announced that all Gurkhas who retired before 1 July 1997, with four years service, would be able to settle in the UK.
DWP has been working with other Government Departments on plans for their arrival. The Pension, Disability and Carers Service and Jobcentre Plus have been closely involved in this work, helping to smooth the process for claiming benefit.
MoD has established a Gurkha Settlement Office in Nepal to simplify the transition to move to the UK.
To speed up the benefit process when a Gurkha arrives in the UK, a “fast track” system for allocating National Insurance Numbers has been set up by DWP and the Settlement Office.
Pre-1997 Gurkhas will not have to satisfy the usual Habitual Residence Test - they will have immediate access to income-related benefits provided they meet the normal entitlement conditions (income and capital, for example).
Any other Gurkha not meeting the above criteria will need to meet the requirements for persons from abroad and should be dealt with accordingly. The majority being allowed in the UK under the Indefinite Leave to Enter and Remain rules.