Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether observer status will be provided for countries which have expressed an interest in joining the Commonwealth during the Commonwealth Summit in London in April 2018.

The only category of Commonwealth membership is that of full membership, which is only open to sovereign states. Any decision to create a new membership status would need to be agreed by consensus of Commonwealth Heads of Government. In 2007 the Heads of Government endorsed the recommendation of the Commonwealth committee on membership not to establish any other membership status.

The UK welcomes applications to join the Commonwealth where countries can demonstrate the necessary requirements and dedication to the Commonwealth's core values, particularly in relation to human rights, good governance and the rule of law. Countries wishing to join the Commonwealth should express their interest to the Commonwealth Secretariat. Decisions on membership are made by consensus of all Commonwealth member states.