Qualifying service
On this page
- What is qualifying service
- Who has qualifying service
- Service during the Second World War
- Service after the Second World War
- Service for Commonwealth and allied veterans
- Service in bomb and mine clearance operations
- Service on submarines between 1978 and 1997
- Post Second World War Operations Table
- Warlike service
- What you can get
- When you are not eligible
- How to apply
- Important information
- What other help is available
What is qualifying service
Qualifying service is one criterion for getting a Service Pension. Having qualifying service also means that you may be entitled to the Veteran Card-All Conditions when you turn 70.
Qualifying Service requirements are contained only in the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), even where the service that gives rise to eligibility is covered for compensation purposes under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA).
Back to topWho has qualifying service
Subject to meeting relevant criteria, you may have qualifying service if you are any of the following:
- an Australian veteran of specific wars and conflicts
- an allied veteran of certain conflicts prior to 1973
- a Commonwealth veteran of certain conflicts prior to 1973
Also, you may have qualifying service if you between 2 September 1939 and 29 October 1945 you were either:
- a civilian who performed certain specified tasks in aid of the Australian war effort, OR
- a person regarded as a member of the Australian armed forces
There are different eligibility requirements for other conflicts. Depending on the conflict, to have qualifying service you may need to have requirements:
- served in operations against the enemy,
- served in a defined operational area and be allotted for duty during certain time periods,
- incurred danger from hostile forces of the enemy,
- been force assigned to the relevant operation
Service during the Second World War
You may have qualifying service if you:
- served overseas between 2 September 1939 and 29 October 1945 (inclusive) and incurred danger from hostile forces of the enemy, OR
- for a continuous three-month period in the Northern Territory above 14.5 degrees south latitude. (This covers service in and around Darwin during the period of Japanese air attacks between 19 February 1942 and 12 November 1943), OR
- in other areas of Australia that were subject to enemy attack. You will need to provide a statement describing how you incurred danger from hostile forces of the enemy.
An Australian and allied mariner who served during the Second World War may also be eligible.
Back to topService after the Second World War
You may have qualifying service from either:
- a pre-1997 deployment overseas to an operational area defined in Schedule 2 of VEA and you were allotted for duty in that area,
- a deployment or operation which the Minister for Defence has declared to be warlike service and you were assigned for duty to the activity.
Service that may count as qualifying service is listed below in the Post Second World War Operations Table. Please note that the requirements and eligibility for benefits are different for Commonwealth and allied veterans of post Second World War conflicts.
Back to topService for Commonwealth and allied veterans
You may have qualifying service if you served prior to 12 January 1973 in the armed forces of a Commonwealth or allied country and incurred danger from a hostile force in any of the following conflicts:
- Second World War
- Korean War
- Malaya Emergency
- Other war-like operations that Australia was involved in from 31 July 1962 to 11 January 1973 (this includes service in Confrontation and Vietnam)
Service in bomb and mine clearance operations
You may have qualifying service if you were awarded the Naval General Service Medal or General Service Medal (Army and Royal Air Force) with one of the following medals or clasps:
- the Mine-sweeping 1945-51 Clasp
- the Bomb-Mine Clearance 1945-53 Clasp
- the Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-49 Clasp
- the Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-56 Clasp
Service on submarines between 1978 and 1997
You may have qualifying service if you served in submarine special operations between 1 January 1978 and 12 May 1997 for which you were awarded or became eligible for the Australian Service Medal (ASM) with Clasp "SPECIAL OPS" for this operation.
Back to topPost Second World War Operations Table
The table below summarises the geographic and conflict requirements set out in Schedule 2 of the VEA (which contains more-precise descriptions of the operational areas that will be used in assessing your claim). You will need to be allotted for duty, either individually or as part of a unit.
| Description of operational areas | Period |
|---|---|
| 1. Korea | The period from and including 27 June 1950 to and including 19 April 1956 |
| 2. Malaya | The period from and including 29 June 1950 to and including 31 August 1957 |
| 3. Federation of Malaya and the Colony of Singapore | The period from and including 1 September 1957 to and including 31 July 1960 |
| 3A. Ubon in Thailand | The period from and including 31 May 1962 to and including 27 July 1962 |
| 3B. North East Thailand (including Ubon) | The period from and including 25 June 1965 to and including 31 August 1968 |
| 4. South Vietnam | The period from and including 31 July 1962 to and including 11 January 1973 |
| 5. Federation of Malaya | The period from and including 1 August 1960 to and including 16 August 1964 |
| 6. Borneo | The period from and including 8 December 1962 to and including 16 August 1964 |
| 7. Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore | The period from and including 17 August 1964 to and including 14 September 1966 |
| 8. South Vietnam | The period from and including 31 July 1962 to and including 11 January 1973 |
| 9. Namibia and adjoining countries of Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa | The period from and including 18 February 1989 to and including 10 April 1990 |
| 10. Persian Gulf and Cyprus (Gulf War) | The period from and including 2 August 1990 to and including 9 June 1991 |
| 11. Iraq and Kuwait | The period from and including 23 February 1991 to and including 9 June 1991 |
| 12. Cambodia, and bordering areas in Laos and Thailand | The period from and including 20 October 1991 to and including 7 October 1993 |
| 13. The former Yugoslavia | The period from and including 12 January 1992 to and including 24 January 1997 |
| 14. Somalia | The period from and including 20 October 1992 to and including 30 November 1994 |
| 15. Red Sea | The period from and including 13 January 1993 to and including 19 January 1993 |
Warlike service
“Warlike service” areas are listed in the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Warlike Service) Determination 2019.
Back to topWhat you can get
You may be able to receive the Service Pension and be eligible for the Veteran Card - All Conditions at age 70. If you are an Australian veteran you may also be able to receive other benefits.
Back to topWhen you are not eligible
You are not eligible for qualifying service as an allied veteran or allied mariner if you at any time:
- served in the forces of a country, or allies of a country, that was at war with Australia, OR
- engaged in hostile operations against Australia.
How to apply
You can apply for qualifying service online through MyService.
Using MyService means:
- it is simpler and faster to submit your claim
- we can access the information we need quickly
- there is no need to wait for documents through the post
Find out how to register for MyService. If you need help to register, call us on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372). To access MyService, sign in to MyGov.
If you prefer to use paper forms, you can download and complete either:
- Claim to Determine Qualifying Service by a Current or ex-Member of the ADF if you are a current or ex-member of the ADF
- Claim to Determine Qualifying service by a Commonwealth or Allied Veteran if you are a Commonwealth or allied veteran
You may also need to fill out either:
- Qualifying Service Details: Service with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam if you served with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam
- Qualifying Service details: Service with Forces in Yugoslavia during the Second World War if you served with the Forces of Yugoslavia during the Second World War
Contact us and we can send you the ones you need. There may be different forms to complete depending on your circumstances.
You may need to provide us with documentation such as:
- service records
- a discharge certificate
All documents must be supplied as certified copies.
Back to topImportant information
Qualifying service is based on actual hostilities. The dates that are accepted can differ from the formal dates of peace treaties and from the dates for operational service.
Back to topWhat other help is available
Benefits and services may be available to members and other participants involved in either:
- the British nuclear tests at Maralinga, Emu Field and Montebello Islands between 1952 and 1965
- the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan between 1946 and 1952.