http://foreignlegion.info/joining/
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
to have a valid ID (Identity document)
ID Card or a Passport for recruits from the European Union (EU)
PASSPORT 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
to be NOT wanted by Interpol (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 have BMI between 20 and 30 – 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 7 levels)
Pull-ups (make at least 7 pull-ups) with straight arms
NEW! You have to know swimming (at least 25 meters, without any support or safety equipment)
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
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
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
