‘Wartime’ regulation in Germany: Men aged 17–45 must now obtain permission

German media recalled that the Military Service Modernization Act has entered into force, noting that the amendments carry serious implications for men of conscription age and include a provision that came into effect without attracting public attention.

Under the legal regulation that took effect on 1 January, Article 3 states that men who have reached the age of 17 must obtain permission from the relevant career center of the Bundeswehr if they wish to leave Germany for more than three months.

It was reported that men in this age group who plan to study abroad, start working overseas, or travel for extended periods will also be affected.

The reports emphasized that the law stipulates such permission should be granted as long as the individual is not being called up for military service. While rejection is not foreseen, obtaining permission is mandatory.

According to coverage by the German television channel NTV, citing a spokesperson from the Federal Ministry of Defence, these permissions should, in principle, be granted since military service currently remains entirely voluntary under existing laws.

The report added that the Defence Ministry needs to know who is abroad for extended periods in case of emergencies. It also noted that concrete measures are being prepared to introduce exceptions to the permission requirement in order to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy.

It remains unclear what consequences individuals may face if they leave the country without obtaining the required permission.

Germany aims to increase the total number of troops to 460,000 by 2035 due to the perceived threat from Russia and changes in NATO planning. Within this framework, men will initially be called up on a voluntary basis under the revised military service system. However, if recruitment targets are not met through voluntary applications, a needs-based form of compulsory military service could be introduced to fill the gap.

Source: Anadolu Agency / NTV