New Military Approval Requirement for Extended Stays Abroad
German men aged between 17 and 45 may now be required to seek approval for lengthy stays abroad, following changes introduced as part of a new law that established voluntary military service.
The Military Service Modernisation Act, which came into force on 1 January, aims to strengthen Germany's defenses in response to threats from Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement to the BBC, a defence ministry spokesman confirmed that males aged 17 and older must obtain prior approval for stays abroad lasting longer than three months.
Under the current legislation, travel approvals generally must be granted, but it remains unclear how the rule would be enforced if violated.
The requirement to obtain permission had largely gone unnoticed until it was reported by the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper on Friday.
The defence ministry spokesman explained that the regulation is intended to
"ensure a reliable and meaningful military registration system"and added:
"In the event of an emergency, we must know who may be staying abroad for an extended period."
The statement acknowledged that the consequences for young people could be
"far-reaching"and noted that regulations on exemptions are being developed
"in part to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy".
Legal Basis and Historical Context
The legal foundation for this requirement is Germany's 1956 Conscription Act, which has been amended multiple times, most recently in December of the previous year.
Before the latest amendment, the obligation to report extended stays abroad applied only if Germany was in a state of national defence or mobilisation.
A defence ministry official stated that a similar provision was
"in effect during the Cold War and had no practical relevance".
Military Expansion and Voluntary Service
The Military Service Modernisation Act also outlines plans to increase the number of active military personnel from approximately 180,000 to 260,000 by 2035.
In December, the German parliament approved the introduction of voluntary military service, meaning that starting in January, all 18-year-olds will receive a questionnaire asking if they are interested in joining the armed forces.
From July 2027, these individuals will also be required to undergo a fitness assessment to determine eligibility for service should war break out.
Women may volunteer for military service but cannot be compelled to serve under Germany's constitution.
Although the service is voluntary, if the security situation deteriorates or if insufficient volunteers come forward, a form of compulsory military service could be considered.
Public Reaction and Historical Military Context
When the law was approved by parliament, many young people protested against the change.
One organiser wrote on social media:
"We don't want to spend half a year of our lives locked up in barracks, being trained in drill and obedience and learning to kill."
Like other European countries, Germany reduced its armed forces during the peacetime years of the 1990s. During the Cold War, it maintained an army of nearly half a million.
Compulsory military service in Germany was ended in 2011 under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to rebuild the Bundeswehr into Europe's strongest conventional army in response to what his government describes as a more dangerous security environment in Europe.
