Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has announced that men of military age no longer need to report lengthy stays abroad. This announcement follows controversy over a new law that reintroduced military service in Germany.
The Military Service Modernisation Act, effective from January 1, 2026, aims to enhance Germany's defense capabilities in response to threats from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The law originally included provisions that males aged 17 or older needed prior approval for stays abroad lasting longer than three months.
Until recently, this requirement had gone unnoticed, only gaining attention after a German newspaper reported it last week, although it was not believed to have been enforced.
Pistorius clarified, Whether they are 17 or 45, or anywhere in between – everyone is, of course, free to travel and currently does not need permission to do so. He emphasized that lengthy stays abroad won't need to be reported either, stating: During this peacetime period, there will be no permission procedures. We are suspending the permission requirement as long as military service is voluntary.
The law signals a return to conscription in principle, to be invoked only if voluntary enlistments do not meet military needs. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed intentions to build Europe's strongest conventional army. As of January, all 18-year-olds are receiving mandatory questionnaires regarding their willingness to join. From July 2027, medical assessments will be required for all 18-year-old males to evaluate their fitness for potential military service.
