Young Germans will have to request permission from the military to stay abroad for more than 3 months.

The new law on military service in Germany, which came into effect on January 1, 2026, requires young German men aged 17 to 45 to seek permission from the army if they plan to leave Germany for more than three months. The German Ministry of Defense is trying to ease concerns as military service in the country remains voluntary.

For extended stays of more than three months outside of Germany, young German men must now request permission from the Bundeswehr, the national army, as reported by the newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau. This new law, effective since January 1, 2026, aims to modernize and make German military service more appealing to young individuals by mandating this permission to leave German territory.

The law specifies that “male persons must, after reaching the age of 17, obtain authorization from the competent career center of the Bundeswehr if they wish to leave the Federal Republic of Germany for more than three months.”

The German Ministry of Defense seeks to reassure the public following unclear communication about this new regulation for travels outside of Germany. A spokesperson mentioned to Euronews that “for trips abroad, a simple procedure is being sought.” German authorities are aware of the potential challenges this request may pose for young Germans wishing to spend a semester or year abroad.

The ministry also emphasized that military service remains voluntary and, therefore, this authorization to leave the country for more than three months is considered to be accepted by default.

The main goal of this new law is to have a broader census of young German men and introduce new legal tools to act when necessary. It is closely linked to events in the Ukraine conflict, which Germany continues to monitor closely.

Additionally, the law aims to increase the number of active military personnel from 180,000 to 270,000 soldiers by 2035. Germany aims to have the largest regular army in Europe by this date to address potential threats. Chancellor Friedrich Merz envisions the German army becoming “the most powerful in Europe.”