Germany requires young men to seek military approval for long trips abroad
Germany requires young men to seek military approval for long trips abroad
Germany's Defence Ministry requires most men from 17 to obtain prior approval for foreign stays longer than three months, a move prompting debate and questions about enforcement.
Germany's Defence Ministry has clarified a little-noticed provision of the new military service law: most young men from age 17 must obtain prior approval from the armed forces before foreign stays longer than three months. The rule has been in effect since January as part of a broader package designed to refresh military service and bolster readiness. Approval will be granted as long as no specific service as a soldier is expected during the period. The ministry says the goal is to build a reliable and informative military service record in case of need, while exemptions and a streamlined approval system are being drafted to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy.
The policy has sparked widespread social media discussion after a Frankfurter Rundschau report highlighted the rule, with many questioning whether it is real and why there was little public debate when related reforms were proposed last year. The regulation is reported to cover those up to around 45 years old, though the exact scope has been a matter of confusion in coverage.
Although conscription has been suspended since 2011, all 18-year-old men are now asked to fill out a questionnaire about military service and may undergo medical checks if requested. Berlin intends to substantially increase the size of its full-time and reserve forces as part of NATO defence plans, as European allies have boosted defence spending since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The ministry says exemptions to the exit permit will be drafted and a system for approving requests will be set up to avoid bureaucracy, with the aim of attracting more young people to volunteer for military training.
