A permission from the army to stay abroad? According to Frankfurter Rundschau, men aged 17 to 45 must now obtain permission from the German army, the Bundeswehr, for long stays outside Germany.
The German newspaper reports that an article in this new law, adopted at the end of last year, on military service states that “men must obtain permission from the competent recruitment center of the German armed forces after reaching the age of 17 if they plan to leave the Federal Republic of Germany for more than three months.”
“This also applies if they plan to stay outside the Federal Republic of Germany beyond an authorized period or extend a stay outside the Federal Republic of Germany that does not require permission beyond three months,” the same text mentions.
Permission always granted?
This regulation has sparked controversy in Germany. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense then clarified that as long as military service remained voluntary, this permission was considered granted. “For departures abroad, a simple procedure is sought,” he said, as reported by Euronews, which specifies that young men, for example, who wish to spend a semester abroad or take a gap year must obtain this permission. The consequences for those who do not request permission are currently unknown.
The Belgian newspaper Le Soir estimates that this regulation allows the Bundeswehr to have an overview of people staying abroad.
Effective since January 1, 2026, this law on military service aims to increase the personnel of the German army, increasing the number of active soldiers from 180,000 to 270,000 by 2035. It is also a response to threats from Russia.
