Germany Has Required Men Ages 17 to 45 to Obtain Permission to Travel Abroad-Even in Peacetime

A rule requiring permission to leave the country had already existed in German law. Paragraph 3 of the Military Service Act (Wehrpflichtgesetz) required approval from the Bundeswehr for any stay abroad longer than three months—but paragraph 2 of the same law limited its application to two exceptional situations: a “state of tension” (an officially recognized threat of attack, as determined by the Bundestag or NATO) and a “state of defense” (an actual armed attack on Germany). In other words, in peacetime the rule did not apply.

In December 2025, the Bundestag and Bundesrat voted for the Military Service Modernization Act. Among the many reforms under discussion, one detail went largely unnoticed: a single phrase was added to paragraph 2—“regardless of a state of tension or defense, paragraphs 3 [and others] shall apply.” One sentence—and paragraph 3 became permanently applicable, including in peacetime.

According to the text of paragraph 3, the obligation to obtain permission arises in three cases: when there is an initial intention to leave for more than three months; when there is a wish to extend an already approved period of stay abroad; and when a trip that was originally short-term stretches beyond three months. The requirement applies to any purpose—study, work, or tourism.

What the Bundeswehr and the Defense Ministry Said

A spokesperson for Germany’s Defense Ministry confirmed to outlets in the Ippen.Media group that the obligation to obtain permission applies “including outside a state of tension and defense.” The officially stated aim is to create a reliable military register: “We need to know who is abroad for an extended period, should that become necessary.” At the same time, the ministry acknowledged that the consequences of this rule are “quite far-reaching” (tiefgreifend) and promised to develop “clarifying rules” on exemptions from the obligation to file an application—in order to avoid “excessive bureaucracy.” However, the ministry added that “a final process design is not yet possible,” since the relevant reviews have not yet been completed.

A man planning a trip lasting more than three months must, before departure, contact the territorially responsible Bundeswehr Career Center (Karrierecenter der Bundeswehr) and submit an application. The contact details for the centers and the filing procedure are available on the Bundeswehr’s official website. German lawyers advise doing so well in advance.

In theory, no. Paragraph 3 states explicitly that permission is to be granted for the period during which the person in question “is not subject to conscription for military service.” In other words, a refusal is not formally предусмотрed. The law also includes a clause on “undue hardship” (besondere Härte): if a refusal would create exceptional circumstances for the applicant, permission must be granted beyond the usual period. Even so, the application procedure itself remains strictly mandatory.

This is the main legal uncertainty at present. The Defense Ministry did not respond to direct inquiries about sanctions for non-compliance. Neither Berliner Zeitung nor Frankfurter Rundschau received an official answer. German lawyers say a violation could lead to a fine and, in theoretically extreme scenarios, to the confiscation of a passport or a travel ban. None of these consequences has been officially confirmed. Frankfurter Rundschau notes that most German men under 45 “probably do not know about this requirement at all.”

Part of a Broader Reform

The rule requiring permission to leave the country is only one element of a gradual overhaul of the Bundeswehr’s entire recruitment system. Since January 2026, all men turning 18 are required to fill out a questionnaire on their willingness to perform military service; ignoring the questionnaire can result in a fine of up to 1,000 euros. In 2026, medical examinations will be conducted for those who indicate a willingness to serve; the phased inclusion of all men of conscription age, beginning with those born in 2008, is planned for a later stage. Officially, the principle of voluntariness remains in place—no one is being forced into military service. At the same time, the law provides for a mechanism of “conscription as needed” (Bedarfswehrpflicht): if the number of volunteers proves insufficient, the Bundestag may introduce conscription by selection or lottery. By 2035, Berlin plans to expand the Bundeswehr from its current strength of about 184,000 to 255,000-270,000 service members.

It is important to bear in mind that universal conscription in Germany was never abolished—it was merely suspended in 2011 under Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. In the event of a direct military threat, it would be reinstated immediately and extended to men up to the age of 60.