A little-noticed clause in Germany's military service law has sparked controversy after it emerged that men aged up to 45 must obtain permission from the armed forces before any significant stay abroad, even in peacetime. The legislation, which took effect on 1 January, aims to bolster the military but stops short of reintroducing conscription.
The defence ministry confirmed the requirement, first reported by the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper. A ministry spokesperson said the law obliges males aged 17 and over to seek prior approval from the Bundeswehr career centre for stays abroad longer than three months. The obligation ends at age 45.
The clause revives a decades-old rule, but the ministry stressed it has no practical relevance and is not subject to sanctions. The spokesperson indicated that approval for periods abroad would be routine as long as military service remains voluntary, adding that administrative regulations would clarify that authorisation is deemed granted under current conditions.
The policy is part of broader efforts to increase Germany's military to 460,000 personnel by 2035, amid heightened security concerns following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Compulsory military service was suspended in 2011 under then-chancellor Angela Merkel.
