Recruiters quote the headline number. We list it next to what you actually owe to earn it — the term length, the trade restriction, the clawback, and the tax treatment. Every figure here comes from a publicly-published defence ministry or service-branch source. Where a number isn't publicly fixed, we say so.
🇺🇸
United States — Army
Selective Reenlistment / Enlistment Bonuses (SRB / EB)Headline bonus / structure
Up to $50,000+ (critical MOS, posted periodically by HRC)
Conditions
Tied to specific MOS, term length, and ship date. Cyber, SF (18X), interpreter (09L), and select medical track historically command the highest figures.
Service commitment
3–6 year enlistment, with full payout typically deferred to completion
Tax treatment
Taxable as ordinary income unless executed in a Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE) area
Source: goarmy.com bonus pages and HRC MILPER messages
🇺🇸
United States — Navy
Enlistment Bonus / SRB / Special paysHeadline bonus / structure
Bonus amounts vary by rating; SRB tables published by NAVADMIN
Conditions
Highest historic amounts for nuclear power (NF), SEAL (SO), EOD, cryptologic technician, divers
Service commitment
Term-dependent (4–6 years); nuclear contracts longest
Tax treatment
Taxable; portion may shift to BAH/BAS exclusions during sea duty
Source: navy.com and Navy NAVADMIN bonus announcements
🇺🇸
United States — Marine Corps
Enlistment & Reenlistment Bonus ProgramHeadline bonus / structure
Generally lower base bonuses than Army/Navy; selective for cyber, intel, and certain MOS
Conditions
Marine Corps historically relies less on signing bonuses, more on tradition and MOS guarantee
Service commitment
4–5 year first term
Tax treatment
Ordinary income tax
Source: MARADMIN bonus messages
🇺🇸
United States — Air Force / Space Force
AF EB / SRB (STEM-heavy)Headline bonus / structure
Cyber, RPA sensor operator, special warfare, linguist roles published by AFPC
Conditions
Heaviest bonuses on technical AFSCs and rated officer (pilot) accession
Service commitment
4–6 years enlisted; longer for officer flying
Source: AFPC and afrecruiting.com
🇬🇧
United Kingdom
Financial Retention Incentive (FRI) — no upfront enlistment bonusHeadline bonus / structure
FRI lump sums historically paid to specific cap-badges/trades (e.g. pilots, doctors, engineers) at retention decision points — figures published in Army Briefing Notes
Conditions
UK has no traditional signing bonus; instead pays retention bonuses at 4-, 8-, 12-year points for shortage trades
Service commitment
Each FRI carries a Return of Service obligation
Tax treatment
Taxable through PAYE
Source: UK MoD Pay & Allowances regulations; Armed Forces Pay Review Body reports
🇨🇦
Canada
Recruit Allowance + Trade-Specific Recruitment AllowancesHeadline bonus / structure
CAF publishes per-occupation allowances (e.g. medical officers, pilots) on forces.ca — direct entry medical and dental have historically received the largest signing allowances
Conditions
Tied to direct-entry skilled-trade or professional intake
Service commitment
Variable Initial Engagement (typically 3–9 years)
Tax treatment
Taxable income
Source: forces.ca and CBI/QR&O references
🇦🇺
Australia
ADF Retention Completion Bonuses & Capability PayHeadline bonus / structure
ADF publishes completion bonuses for aircrew, submariners, special forces; primary up-front incentive is paid training time and immediate trade pay
Conditions
Not a traditional signing bonus model; retention bonuses awarded at career decision points
Service commitment
Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS), typically 4–6 years
Tax treatment
Bonuses taxable; some allowances tax-free on operations
Source: defence.gov.au pay and conditions manual (PACMAN)
🇫🇷
France
Primes de spécialité / Prime de lien au serviceHeadline bonus / structure
No traditional prime d'engagement; specialty bonuses (parachutist, diver, NEDEX) and the Prime de Lien au Service for shortage MOS
Conditions
Foreign Legion, paratroop, and special forces selection routes carry their own pay supplements rather than signing bonuses
Service commitment
3–5 years initial contract (variable by armée)
Tax treatment
Soumise à l'impôt sur le revenu
Source: ministère des Armées / Légifrance pay decrees
🇩🇪
Germany
Verpflichtungsprämie / StellenzulageHeadline bonus / structure
Published commitment bonuses for shortage Verwendungen — including medical service, IT/cyber, and some technical Bundeswehr trades
Conditions
Tied to specific career-field shortages; not paid to all recruits
Service commitment
Soldat auf Zeit (SaZ) contracts of 2–17 years
Tax treatment
Lohnsteuerpflichtig
Source: Bundesministerium der Verteidigung pay regulations; BesG
🇮🇹
Italy
VFP1 → VFP4 → VSP progression pay (no signing bonus)Headline bonus / structure
Italy uses a contract-progression model: VFP1 (1 year), VFP4 (4 years), then transition to permanent (VSP)
Conditions
Compensation increases at each contract stage rather than a single signing payment
Service commitment
1 to 4 to permanent
Tax treatment
Taxable under Italian IRPEF
Source: Esercito Italiano recruitment publications; Difesa.it
🇪🇸
Spain
Tropa y Marinería / Legión EspañolaHeadline bonus / structure
No general signing bonus; Legión and special units carry hardship/risk supplements (complementos de destino)
Conditions
Pay supplements activate on assignment, not enlistment
Service commitment
Initial commitment 2–3 years renewable; permanent status after qualifying period
Tax treatment
Sujeto a IRPF
Source: reclutamiento.defensa.gob.es
🇳🇱
Netherlands
Bindingspremie (retention premium) + specialty payHeadline bonus / structure
Defensie publishes binding premiums for shortage categories such as cyber, technical, and medical specialists
Conditions
Tiered by rank and shortage category
Service commitment
Tied to additional service commitment period (often 2–4 extra years)
Tax treatment
Belastingplichtig
Source: defensie.nl personeel & arbeidsvoorwaarden
🇧🇪
Belgium
Prime de fidélité / contract-completion premiumsHeadline bonus / structure
No upfront signing bonus; loyalty premium paid at end of contract period
Conditions
Awarded on successful completion of contract phases
Service commitment
Standard 8-year first contract (BDL)
Source: mil.be / Défense Belge
🇳🇴
Norway
Vervingsbonus & BeordringstilleggHeadline bonus / structure
Forsvaret runs targeted recruitment bonuses for specialist (spesialist) and skilled trades — published in vervingsannonser
Conditions
Norwegian conscript intake (førstegangstjeneste) is paid a flat dagpenger; bonuses sit on top for those continuing as vervet
Service commitment
2–3 year vervet contracts after conscription
Tax treatment
Skattepliktig
Source: forsvaret.no
🇸🇪
Sweden
GSS/T continued-service incentivesHeadline bonus / structure
Försvarsmakten pays GSS/T (continuously contracted soldiers) incentives at contract renewal milestones
Conditions
Post-värnplikt continuation pathway
Service commitment
6–8 year GSS/T continuous-service contract
Tax treatment
Skattepliktig
Source: forsvarsmakten.se
🇫🇮
Finland
Sopimussotilas bonuses (limited)Headline bonus / structure
Finland's model centres on conscription; voluntary sopimussotilas contracts carry standard military pay with limited extra incentives for shortage roles
Conditions
Pay primarily by rank/role rather than signing bonus
Service commitment
Variable fixed-term contracts
Tax treatment
Verotettavaa tuloa
Source: puolustusvoimat.fi
🇩🇰
Denmark
Fastholdelsesbonus (retention)Headline bonus / structure
Forsvaret announces retention bonuses for specific career fields when shortages emerge
Conditions
Retention model, not enlistment
Service commitment
Contract-dependent
Tax treatment
Skattepligtig
Source: forsvaret.dk
🇵🇱
Poland
Świadczenie motywacyjne / Dobrowolna Zasadnicza Służba Wojskowa (DZSW)Headline bonus / structure
DZSW recruits receive monthly stipend during initial training; additional świadczenie motywacyjne for long-serving NCOs and shortage specialties
Conditions
DZSW pathway for voluntary basic service
Service commitment
12-month DZSW followed by professional service option
Tax treatment
Częściowo zwolnione z PIT
Source: wojsko-polskie.pl
🇮🇱
Israel
Mandatory service — no signing bonusHeadline bonus / structure
IDF mandatory service is not a signing-bonus model; combat soldiers (lochem) receive a higher monthly stipend and post-service grant (ma'anak shichrur)
Conditions
Combat tiers (lochem / tomech lechima / oref) pay scales differ; release grant scales with service length and combat designation
Service commitment
32 months (men) / 24 months (women) compulsory; career-army contracts after
Tax treatment
Mostly exempt within mandatory service period
Source: IDF spokesperson / aka.idf.il
🇸🇬
Singapore
Regular Force sign-on package (post-NS)Headline bonus / structure
NSFs (full-time National Servicemen) receive standardised NS allowance; sign-on for Regulars carries scheme-specific gratuities published on mindef.gov.sg
Conditions
Officer (OCS), warrant, military expert, and pilot career schemes each carry distinct sign-on terms
Service commitment
6–12 year initial Regular contract typical
Tax treatment
Subject to Singapore income tax
Source: mindef.gov.sg / SAF career portal
🇰🇷
South Korea
부사관·장교 후보생 격려금 / 전문성 가산금Headline bonus / structure
Republic of Korea Armed Forces publishes 격려금 (encouragement allowances) for 부사관 (NCO) and 장교 (officer) candidate intakes, plus specialty supplements
Conditions
Conscript service (현역) is mandatory and not bonused; volunteer NCO/officer tracks carry the published encouragement amounts
Service commitment
NCO short-term 4–7 years; long-term to retirement
Tax treatment
Taxable under Korean income tax law
Source: mma.go.kr and ROK MND announcements
🇯🇵
Japan
JSDF 任期制隊員 completion grantHeadline bonus / structure
JSDF pays a 任期満了金 (completion grant) at end of each 2- or 3-year term for 任期制 enlisted personnel
Conditions
Completion-based, not upfront. Officers and 曹 (NCO) tracks paid differently
Service commitment
2 or 3 year terms (Army), 3 year (Navy/Air)
Tax treatment
Taxable under Japanese law
Source: mod.go.jp recruiting pages
🇳🇿
New Zealand
NZDF Trade Specific Initial Engagement BonusesHeadline bonus / structure
NZDF publishes trade-specific recruitment bonuses on defencecareers.mil.nz for shortage trades (technical, medical, aircrew)
Conditions
Restricted to identified shortage trades and direct-entry technicals
Service commitment
Initial Period of Required Service (IPRS) of 4–6 years typical
Tax treatment
Subject to NZ PAYE
Source: defencecareers.mil.nz
🇨🇿
Czech Republic
Náborový příspěvekHeadline bonus / structure
AČR offers a náborový (recruitment) contribution paid in stages over the first 36 months of service for selected shortage specialties
Conditions
Published periodically by Ministerstvo obrany
Service commitment
Min. 3 years to receive full amount
Tax treatment
Daňově zdanitelný
Source: kariera.army.cz
🇸🇰
Slovakia
Stabilizačný príspevokHeadline bonus / structure
Slovak Armed Forces stabilisation premium for selected specialties — periodically published
Conditions
Targeted at shortage trades
Service commitment
Service-period dependent
Source: mosr.sk
🇭🇺
Hungary
Honvédelmi pótlék & specialty allowancesHeadline bonus / structure
Magyar Honvédség uses specialty supplements rather than upfront signing bonuses for most categories
Conditions
Role-based supplements
Service commitment
Contract length varies
Tax treatment
SZJA-köteles
Source: honvedelem.hu
🇷🇴
Romania
Indemnizație de instalare & specialty supplementsHeadline bonus / structure
Romanian armed forces pay installation allowances on first assignment and specialty supplements; not a general signing bonus
Conditions
Targeted to commissioned/NCO entry pathways
Service commitment
Initial commitment varies
Source: mapn.ro
🇵🇹
Portugal
Regime de Contrato Especial (RCE) incentivesHeadline bonus / structure
Portugal's RCE pathway carries fixed monthly pay plus end-of-contract gratuities; targeted recruitment bonuses for shortage roles
Conditions
RCE 6–18 year long-engagement contracts
Service commitment
Variable
Tax treatment
Sujeito a IRS
Source: emfa.pt and exercito.pt
🇬🇷
Greece
Επαγγελματίες Οπλίτες (EPOP) — specialty pay onlyHeadline bonus / structure
No traditional signing bonus; EPOP track pays standard salary with role supplements
Conditions
Specialty supplements published by HNDGS
Service commitment
Career professional contracts
Tax treatment
Taxable under Greek law
Source: army.gr / mod.mil.gr
🇹🇷
Türkiye
Uzman Erbaş / Sözleşmeli Er payHeadline bonus / structure
No general signing bonus; Uzman Erbaş (specialist NCO) and Sözleşmeli Er contracts run on monthly pay scales
Conditions
Pay scales published by MSB
Service commitment
Renewable contracts to permanent uzman status
Source: msb.gov.tr
🇧🇷
Brazil
Adicional de habilitação & specialty payHeadline bonus / structure
Conscript-based system; volunteer pathways carry specialty and habilitation supplements rather than signing bonuses
Conditions
Volunteer professional tracks (Sargento / Oficial) have separate accession pay
Service commitment
Initial year conscript; volunteer continuation thereafter
Tax treatment
Imposto de renda federal
Source: eb.mil.br
🇮🇳
India
Agnipath / Agniveer Seva NidhiHeadline bonus / structure
Agniveer recruits receive a sealed corpus (Seva Nidhi) at the end of the 4-year service — composed of contributions and government match — published by MoD
Conditions
Lump sum at end of 4-year Agniveer engagement; only ~25% retained for regular cadre
Service commitment
4 years (Agniveer)
Tax treatment
Seva Nidhi tax-exempt under specified conditions
Source: mod.gov.in and Agnipath scheme publications