An authorization from the army to stay abroad? According to Frankfurter Rundschau, men aged 17 to 45 must now obtain authorization from the German army, the Bundeswehr, for extended stays outside of Germany.
The German daily reported that an article in this new law, adopted at the end of last year, regarding military service states that “men must obtain authorization from the competent recruitment center of the German armed forces after reaching the age of 17 if they plan to leave the Federal Republic of Germany for more than three months.”
“The same applies if they plan to stay outside the Federal Republic of Germany beyond an authorized period or extend a stay outside the Federal Republic of Germany that does not require authorization beyond three months,” the same text mentions.
An authorization always granted?
This regulation has sparked controversy in Germany. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense then tempered by explaining that as long as military service remained voluntary, this authorization was considered granted. “For trips abroad, a simple procedure is being sought,” he specified, reported by Euronews, which specifies that young men, for example, who wish to spend a semester abroad or take a gap year must obtain this authorization. The consequences for those who do not request authorization are currently unknown.
The Belgian daily Le Soir estimates that this regulation allows the Bundeswehr to have an overview of people staying abroad.
Enacted on January 1, 2026, this law on military service aims to increase the personnel of the German army, increasing the number of active military personnel from 180,000 to 270,000 by 2035. It also serves as a response to threats from Russia.
