Germany's defence ministry will clarify a provision in a new military service law that requires men aged 17–45 to seek approval before staying abroad for more than three months. The ministry reiterated that service remains voluntary and said it is drafting exemption rules to limit bureaucracy. Adopted to bolster Bundeswehr numbers and meet NATO targets amid tensions with Russia, the measure aims to ensure a reliable registration system; critics say it has caused confusion.
Germany To Clarify Controversial Rule Requiring Fighting‑Age Men To Get Approval Before Extended Travel
FILE PHOTO: Soldiers of the Guard Battalion of the German army Bundeswehr stand in position on the day German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presents the Chancellor's Ribbon of Honour to the Guard Battalion, which is responsible for protocol duties and the protection of the German government, at the Federal Defence Ministry in Berlin, Germany, March 23, 2026. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen/File Photo
FRANKFURT, April 5 — Germany's defence ministry said it is preparing clearer rules for a provision in a recently updated military service law that requires men of fighting age to obtain permission before staying abroad for more than three months.
The statute, which came into effect in January, contains a requirement that could theoretically apply to men aged 17 to 45 in Germany. The provision drew little public attention until a local newspaper highlighted it on Friday, prompting criticism and calls for clarification.
A defence ministry spokesperson stressed that military service in Germany remains voluntary. The spokesperson said the ministry is "currently drafting specific regulations for granting exemptions from the requirement for approval, also to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy." He declined to elaborate on how the approval process will work.
The law was adopted last year as part of efforts to rebuild Bundeswehr ranks and meet NATO targets amid growing concern in Germany about heavy reliance on the United States and rising tensions with Russia. The ministry said the legislation is designed to create a robust and reliable military registration system so authorities can identify who may be residing abroad in an emergency.
"In the case of an emergency, we must know who may be residing abroad for an extended period," the ministry spokesperson said.
Germany plans to increase the number of active soldiers to 260,000 by 2035, up from about 183,000 at the end of last year. Opposition politicians said the government created confusion with the new rule and urged clearer guidance for citizens potentially affected by the provision.
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