Become a member

In order to join the 501st Legion and the Imperial Fortress, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Own an approvable "bad guy" costume from the Star Wars universe

There are no fees to become a member of the Legion. The only requirements are a minimum age and a quality costume.

Please note that the Imperial Fortress covers the territory of the Province of Quebec. If you do not live in Quebec, you can consult the list of other garrisons, squads, and outposts of the 501st Legion.

To assist you in choosing your costume, have a look at the Costume Reference Library (CRL) on the 501st Legion website. All the approved costumes are there, with their respective requirements.

Here are a few things to consider when doing your research and choosing your future costume:

• Financial investment: A quality costume always means an investment. A Darth Vader costume, for example, costs a few thousand dollars. It is important to choose a costume that fits your budget.
• Your building skills: Some costumes require specialized skills, such as sewing, painting, and other manual work.
• Physical considerations: If you have back problems, you should consider a "soft" costume over an armoured one (which prevents bending and sitting).
• Recognizability: A costume from the expanded universe will probably be unknown to most people, unlike costumes from the main movies.

Where can I get a costume?
As a general rule, our members make their own costumes. Depending on the type of costume, you may find ready-to-build kits, as is the case for most armoured costumes.

But before you buy anything, you should do a lot of research.
Ask around before buying something on eBay or in a store. Be wary of claims that a costume is eligible for 501st approval. NO costume or piece of equipment is automatically "501st approved". Many sellers will mention this as a means to sell you poor-quality outfits. If you have any doubt, do not hesitate to ask our GML (the Garrison Membership Liaison officer in charge of member approval) before you buy.

Also, be careful before buying a costume from another member.
A costume that was approved for a member will not automatically be approved for you. The reason is that each costume is made to fit the builder. It might fit someone who is heavier than you, but will look odd if you wear it. A costume that is already made will usually require adjustments so that it fits you properly. Furthermore, approval criteria evolve and are subject to change. A costume that was approved 2 years ago might not be today.

Once you have decided on a costume, it is time to start looking for what you need. Start by examining the Costume Reference Library (CRL) for your specific costume. The approval process will be based on the information you will find there.

Finding the necessary components for your costume is half the work. The 501st Legion created Detachments that encompass the various costume groups. They can be your best sources of information for building your costume. By registering on their forums, you will have access to resources that will help you during your build process. You can ask questions and view what other members are doing.

Although many costume components can be found through contacts within the Legion, making them yourself can be fun, cheaper, or sometimes necessary. On the detachment websites, you can sometimes find videos from other members that explain how to make various parts. But, as a general rule, the more unusual the costume, the harder it will be to find information about it. Being resourceful can go a long way.

You have built your costume! It is now time to take pictures and submit your application for the 501st Legion. Your approval pictures must:

• Show you alone, on a plain background. Do not use convention pictures. Try having a background that contrasts with your costume. A stormtrooper in front of a white wall is not ideal.
• Show your entire costume from head to toe, with views from the front, back, and both sides. If the costume has many details, close-ups on these details may be required.
• Be well lit and have a high resolution. We need to be able to clearly see the details of your costume.
• Do not wear accessories that are not appropriate to the Star Wars universe (like glasses, jewellery, earrings, personalized weapons, unit markings, etc.).
• If you wear a mask or a helmet, you should also include a picture without it so we can see your face.
• Be as careful with your approval pictures as you were in building your costume.

Once your pictures are ready, you must fill out the admission form online. Once it is submitted, our GML will contact you to request your pictures, check that your costume meets the requirements, and guide you through the approval process. It is possible that the GML will recommend changes or adjustments to make it better. You can then work on them and submit new pictures to show the issues have been fixed.

Congratulations! You have received your Legion ID and are now a proud citizen of the Empire. Now, start trooping!

Do not forget to join the forums, where you'll find all the information you need on our events, other members, etc.