Berlin, Germany – German males aged 17 to 45 may now need prior approval for extended stays abroad, under changes introduced as part of the Military Service Modernisation Act, which came into force on 1 January. The legislation also introduces voluntary military service as Germany seeks to bolster its defence posture in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
A defence ministry spokesman told the BBC:
“In the event of an emergency, we must know who may be staying abroad for an extended period. The regulation is intended to ensure a reliable and meaningful military registration system.”
Under the new rule, German males are required to obtain permission for overseas stays longer than three months. The ministry acknowledged that the rule could have “far-reaching consequences” for young people, but said that exemptions are being developed “in part to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy.”
The legal basis for the requirement is Germany’s 1956 Conscription Act, most recently amended in December. Previously, the obligation to report extended stays abroad applied only if Germany was in a state of national defence or mobilisation.
“A similar provision was in effect during the Cold War and had no practical relevance,” the ministry official said, underscoring that enforcement of the new rule remains unclear.
The Military Service Modernisation Act also sets out ambitious plans to expand the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, from roughly 180,000 active personnel to 260,000 by 2035. The law introduces voluntary service for all 18-year-olds, who will now receive a questionnaire asking if they wish to join the armed forces. From July 2027, young volunteers must also undergo a fitness assessment to determine eligibility in the event of war.
Women may volunteer but cannot be conscripted under Germany’s constitution. While service is currently voluntary, the government has said that compulsory service could be considered if security threats increase or insufficient volunteers come forward.
The law has prompted protests among Germany’s youth. 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.”
Germany scaled back its armed forces during the 1990s, and compulsory military service was abolished in 2011 under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel. Current Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to rebuild the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest conventional army, citing a “more dangerous security environment in Europe.”
“We need a modern, capable, and ready military to safeguard Germany and its allies,” Merz said during a parliamentary debate on the law.
The changes signal a broader shift in German defence policy, reflecting heightened tensions in Europe and a desire to restore readiness after decades of peacetime downsizing.
