Requirements to join the Spanish Legion
The Spanish Legion (Legión Española) is one of the most emblematic units of the Spanish Army. Known for its physical demands and operational nature, it represents one of the most sought-after paths for those who wish to begin a military career in Spain.
Por ello, la unidad de élite exige una serie de requisitos estrictos para garantizar que sus futuros legionarios estén a la altura tanto física como psicológicamente.
Nationality: one of the most demanding filters
One of the most frequently asked questions is whether foreign citizens can enter. The answer is yes, but with some caveats. Only those who hold Spanish nationality or come from countries with historical ties to Spain, such as Latin American countries or Equatorial Guinea, are eligible.
For Latin American citizens, the list includes the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela. In specific cases, such as Peru, additional authorization issued by their country of origin is required.
It should be noted that all of them must reside legally in Spain, have a valid passport and not have been expelled or had legal conflicts with the Spanish State.
Age, education and record
Regarding age, applicants must be between 18 and 29 years old on the day they join the training center. If they are under 18, they will need to submit a Parental/Guardian Authorization form.
Regarding academic qualifications, a Secondary Education Certificate (ESO) or its equivalent is required. However, for other specific positions within the Legion, more specialized studies may be necessary.
It is also mandatory to have no criminal record, to be in full exercise of civil rights and not to have been previously expelled from the Armed Forces or security forces, according to the Ministry of Defense.
Medical requirements
The application process includes a medical examination and passing physical tests designed to measure the endurance, strength, and agility of the applicants.
In previous calls for applications, criteria regarding weight, height, and vision were established within the medical exclusion criteria. Specifically, the body mass index (BMI) had to be between 18 and 29. However, if an applicant exceeded this figure due to marked muscular development, they could be accepted if they did not present risk factors or pathologies.
Regarding height, applicants were required to be at least 1.55 meters tall and no more than 2.03 meters. Vision problems could also be an impediment: those with more than four diopters of myopia, four of hyperopia, or two of astigmatism were ineligible.
Furthermore, it is strictly forbidden to have tattoos that violate constitutional values or the image of the Army.
Physical tests
Candidates who pass the medical examination must pass physical tests. The required standards will depend on the position they are applying for and their gender. These tests are as follows:
Upper body strength test: push-ups (nine repetitions for men and five for women).
Abdominal muscle strength test: isometric plank (40 seconds for both).
Agility-speed circuit (15.4 seconds for men and 17.1 seconds for women).
Endurance test: 2000-meter continuous run (11 minutes 54 seconds for men and 12 minutes 58 seconds for women).
This combination of requirements demonstrates that joining the Spanish Legion is not for just anyone, as it requires good physical preparation, a lot of discipline, a clean legal situation and commitment to the values of the Army.