Men are No Longer Allowed to Leave Germany without Permission, Reports the Berliner Zeitung
Now, all men aged between 17 and 45 must obtain permission from the Bundeswehr Career Center if they intend to leave Germany for more than three months – regardless of whether they are going abroad for study, work, or a long trip.
The amendment to the Military Service Modernization Act came into force largely unnoticed. According to the amendment, millions of men must obtain permission from the German Armed Forces before extended stays abroad.
Since January 1, 2026, all men between the ages of 17 and 45 must obtain permission from the Bundeswehr Career Center if they intend to leave Germany for more than three months – regardless of whether it’s for a semester abroad, a job, or an extended trip. This requirement now applies permanently and is no longer limited to situations of tension or defense, i.e., a concrete military threat. The change came into effect largely unnoticed as part of the Military Service Modernization Act. The Frankfurter Rundschau previously reported on it.
Specifically, Section 2 of the Compulsory Military Service Act (WPflG) has been revised. Previously, the provisions of Section 3, which regulates the requirement for approval for extended stays abroad, applied exclusively in two extreme situations: a state of tension, i.e., an increased external threat as determined by the Bundestag or NATO, and a state of defense , when the federal territory is actually attacked with armed force. Since the beginning of the year, however, the regulation also applies outside of these exceptional situations – i.e., under normal circumstances.
A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Defense confirmed the new authorization requirement to Ippen.Media. “The background and guiding principle of this regulation is to create a reliable and informative military register for when needed,” she explained. It is necessary “to know, in case of emergency, who might be staying abroad for an extended period.”
Ministry acknowledges “profound” consequences – details remain unclear
At the same time, the ministry acknowledged that the consequences of this regulation were “profound.” They are currently working on “more specific regulations for granting exemptions from the approval requirement,” also to “avoid unnecessary bureaucracy.” However, the spokesperson asked for understanding that they could not anticipate the ongoing review process. A final description of the procedure is “not yet possible.”
Paragraph 3 of the Military Service Act stipulates that permits must generally be granted – a refusal is not provided for. Nevertheless, submitting an application remains mandatory. The ministry left unanswered what consequences a man faces if he fails to obtain the permit before leaving the country.
The requirement for approval is part of a larger reform package. The German government intends to increase the troop strength of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) from its current level of approximately 184,000 to between 255,000 and 270,000 soldiers by 2035. To this end, all young people born in 2008 or later will receive a questionnaire that, among other things, asks about their willingness to perform military service. Completion is mandatory for men and voluntary for women, as the Basic Law (German Constitution) stipulates conscription only for men.
Comprehensive surveying will take place later.
The actual conscription process will be introduced gradually. In 2026, those who indicated their willingness to serve in the questionnaire will be the first to undergo medical examinations. A comprehensive conscription process for all young men will follow later. The principle of voluntary service remains unchanged: no one will be forced to serve in the armed forces.
For millions of men in Germany, it remains unclear for the time being how the new requirement for a travel permit will be implemented in practice – and what happens if they simply don’t know about it.
