Only independent (sovereign) countries can be members of the Commonwealth, but self-governing states associated with member countries and dependent territories of member countries are also embraced within the Commonwealth family of nations.

They take part in many Commonwealth activities, including programmes of technical co-operation and are eligible to seek Commonwealth membership on becoming independent.

1. DEPENDENCIES OF AUSTRALIA

• Ashmore and Cartier Islands
• Australian Antarctic Territory
• Christmas Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Island
• Coral Sea Islands
• Heard and MacDonald Islands

2. DEPENDENCIES OF NEW ZEALAND

• The Ross Dependency
• Tokelau Islands

3. OVERSEAS TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

• Anguilla
• Bermuda
• British Antarctic Territory
• British India Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Falkland Islands
• Gibraltar
• Montserrat
• Pitcairn Islands Group
• St Helena and dependencies (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha)
• South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
• Turks and Caicos Islands

4. ASSOCIATED STATES OF MEMBER COUNTRIES

• Cook Islands (Associated State of New Zealand)
• Niue (Associated State of New Zealand)
• The Channel Islands and The Isle of Man

The Channel Islands and The Isle of Man are dependencies of the Crown and do not form part of the United Kingdom. They have their own legislative assemblies and legal and administrative systems.