April 8, 2026 — German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said men of military age will not need approval for extended trips abroad, suspending a provision tied to the country’s new military service law that had sparked public concern. A regulation to formally suspend the requirement will be issued this week, Pistorius said, clarifying that no permits are needed while military service remains voluntary.
The earlier provision, which received intense media attention and criticism, suggested men aged 17 to 45 would have to seek approval for stays outside Germany longer than three months. Pistorius emphasized that procedures must stay simple and practical: in peacetime there will be no approval process and no obligation to report travel. He added that different rules could apply in a crisis or defense scenario so authorities would know who is available.
Germany’s revamped service model is voluntary; the government aims to make military service more attractive while expanding the Bundeswehr from just over 180,000 personnel toward about 260,000. As part of the reform, mandatory medical screenings apply to young men from the 2008 birth cohort. The overhaul is presented as a response to security concerns linked to Russia and shifting NATO targets, but debate continues over balancing voluntariness with potential future conscription.