The German government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has enacted a new military reform law requiring German men aged 17 to 45 to obtain approval from the military if they plan to reside abroad for more than three months. This aims to prepare the military registration system to respond to threats from Russia.
The German Ministry of Defence confirmed that under the "Military Service Modernisation Act," effective since 1 January, German men aged 17 to 45 must obtain prior official approval if they intend to reside abroad for longer than three months.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said this regulation aims to "establish a reliable and efficient military registration system," emphasizing that in emergencies, the military must know who is residing where for extended periods to rapidly mobilize forces if national defense is declared.
Previously, the requirement to notify overseas residence was part of the 1956 conscription law but applied only during mobilization or wartime. However, the December amendment expanded its scope to apply in peacetime as well, similar to measures used during the Cold War.
Currently, the law states that such travel approval requests are generally granted, but penalties for violations remain unclear. Authorities are working to develop regulations to reduce bureaucratic complexity for younger Germans.
Under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government, Germany aims to rebuild its army into the strongest in Europe, planning to increase personnel from 180,000 to 260,000 by 2035.
Additionally, since January, Germany has begun sending surveys to all 18-year-olds to assess willingness to join the military. Starting July 2027, these youths must undergo physical fitness evaluations to determine suitability for service if war occurs. Although currently voluntary, the government has not ruled out reinstating mandatory conscription should security conditions deteriorate.
These measures have sparked protests among many youths, who stated on social media that they do not want to spend part of their lives in military camps learning how to kill or undergo strict discipline. Germany had abolished mandatory conscription in 2011 under former Chancellor Angela Merkel but has tightened military policies again following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
. BBC