You can get a veterans badge for regular or reserve service in any of the UK armed forces:
- Royal Navy or Royal Marines
- British Army
- Royal Air Force (RAF)
You cannot apply if you:
- only served in the cadet forces
- served in the armed forces of another country
- served alongside the UK armed forces, for example in the Canadian Navy or Royal Australian Air Force
There’s no fee if you’re applying for your first veterans badge, or if you’re replacing it for the first time.
Veterans badges are sent out automatically when someone leaves the armed forces. So if you’ve left recently, you do not need to apply. You should get your badge within 2 months.
If you’re applying on behalf of someone who’s died
You can only apply on behalf of a serviceperson who’s died if you get either:
- a War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension
- compensation under the Survivors Guaranteed Income Payment (SGIP)
How to apply
You’ll be asked for:
- service number
- dates of service
But you can still apply without this information here.
