German men need military permit for extended stays abroad
DW.com • • world
Key Points:
- Germany's new Military Service Modernization Act, effective from January 2026, aims to increase active-duty soldiers from 180,000 to 260,000 by 2035 amid security concerns from Russia's war in Ukraine.
- The law requires men aged 18 to 46 to obtain approval from the Bundeswehr Career Center before leaving Germany for more than three months, a largely unnoticed provision intended to track potential military personnel abroad.
- Although military service remains voluntary, all men turning 18 must now complete a questionnaire on education, health, and willingness to serve, while women are exempt from mandatory participation due to constitutional protections.
- Starting mid-2027, men turning 18 will undergo a fitness test to assess draft eligibility, a measure criticized as a potential precursor to reinstating full conscription.
- The Defense Ministry stated the exit permit rule existed during the Cold War with no penalties for violations, and is working on exceptions to the requirement amid concerns over its impact.
