A new military service law that came into force at the start of 2026 includes a little-noticed requirement that German men aged 18 to 45 obtain approval from their local Bundeswehr Career Center before leaving the country for more than three months. The rule covers long-term stays abroad for study, work or travel.
A Bundeswehr spokesperson confirmed the provision to the DPA news agency, saying the armed forces need to know how many men are living abroad long-term in case of war. Under the law, men must request a permit; the career center is obliged to grant it if “no specific military service is expected during the period in question.” The spokesperson noted that because military service remains voluntary under current rules, permissions are generally granted.
The Defence Ministry said it is preparing guidance on exceptions to the exit-permit requirement and acknowledged that the amended conscription law has wide-ranging implications. It was not clear what penalties, if any, men might face for leaving Germany for more than three months without approval; the ministry pointed out that a similar regulation existed during the Cold War but “had no practical relevance; in particular, there are no penalties for violating it.”
The Military Service Modernization Act is intended to strengthen the Bundeswehr by increasing active-duty personnel from roughly 180,000 to about 260,000 by 2035. The law has reignited debate over mandatory service — conscription was suspended in 2011 — and sparked protests. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition ultimately kept service voluntary for now while creating mechanisms to boost readiness and facilitate a rapid expansion of forces if needed.
Among other changes, all men turning 18 must now complete a form detailing their education, health and willingness to serve; the same questionnaire is voluntary for women, as the constitution bars compulsory service for them. From mid-2027, all 18-year-old men will also be required to take a fitness test intended to identify those who could be called up in a conflict. Critics say the test could be the first step toward reinstating full conscription.