New German law limits extended travel for men: Military authorization required

Reviving old customs

Times are changing in Germany. While Angela Merkel abolished mandatory military service in 2011, the current chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has reinstated it. However, for the time being, it is voluntary.

A return to mandatory military service is not ruled out

And we say "for now" because, as Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed, if enough volunteers cannot be recruited, Parliament does not rule out reinstating mandatory military service.

Mandatory questionnaire

On January 1, 2026, the new legislation came into effect, requiring all 18-year-old men to complete a questionnaire that assesses their suitability to serve if needed and asks whether they are willing to join the Armed Forces.

The hidden controversy

Now, at one point in this new regulation, there was a controversial clause that no one had noticed until early April, when the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper brought it to light.

If you leave Germany, you need permission

This law requires that men aged 17 to 45 obtain permission from the Armed Forces before any stay outside the country exceeding 3 months, even in times of peace.

From ignorance to controversy

This point of the regulations had gone virtually unnoticed during the first quarter of the year, but once it came to light, the controversy was on the table.

A handicap for many Germans?

Basically, this rule would affect millions of German men who want to undertake any kind of project outside the country, from studies to work to a long vacation.

Youth protests

As expected, media coverage of the issue has been massive and has been accompanied by street protests from thousands of young people who oppose this new law.

Questionable motives

The Ministry of Defense cites the need to know the whereabouts of potential recruits in the event of an armed conflict.

The legal basis dates back to 1956

The legal basis for this requirement, as reported by the BBC, lies in Germany's Compulsory Military Service Act of 1956, which has been amended several times, most recently in December 2025.

Recovering old customs

Prior to this latest amendment, the obligation to report prolonged stays abroad only applied if Germany was in a state of national defense or mobilization.

Cold War: 1945-1991

"The regulations were already in place during the Cold War and had no practical relevance; in particular, they are not subject to sanctions," commented a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.

In principle, permission will be granted (but you have to ask for it)

" We will clarify through administrative regulations that authorization will be considered granted as long as military service is voluntary. Since military service under current legislation is based exclusively on voluntary participation, such authorizations must, in principle, be granted," he added.

Military Service Modernization Act

The Military Service Modernization Act, as it has come to be called, a regulation based on a 70-year-old law, aims to increase the number of active-duty personnel from 182,000 to 260,000 by 2035.

Target: 460,000 military personnel

This figure would be supplemented by 200,000 reservists, bringing the total to 460,000 personnel. Currently, Germany has 50,000 reservists, so the goal is to quadruple that number.

Physical assessment from July 2027

On the other hand, from July 2027, 18-year-old men will also have to undergo a physical fitness assessment to determine whether they are fit for service in the event that Germany enters armed conflict.

And what about women?

And what about women? Well, according to the German Constitution, they can volunteer for military service but cannot be forced to perform it.

No confirmed figures

At the moment, there are no figures on how many people have applied for permission to leave Germany so far this year.

The Trump effect

Obviously, this measure is driven by the Russian threat, the war in Ukraine, and growing doubts about the United States' commitment to European security. For this reason, Friedrich Merz declared his intention to create the most powerful conventional army in Europe.