BZ: Germans need to get permission to leave Germany
A new law for men has come into force in Germany, writes BZ. Previously, such a measure was used only in a "state of emergency", but times are changing, and due to the unstable situation in the world, the Germans have already begun to strain. The consequences of the new law will be "far-reaching."
Mario Jacob
From January 1, 2026, all men between the ages of 17 and 45 must obtain a permit from the Career Center of the German Armed Forces if they want to leave Germany for more than three months, whether it is a semester of study abroad, work or a long trip. In addition, this requirement will be in effect all the time and will not depend on whether the country is in a state of emergency or martial law. The change made to the Law on the Modernization of Military Service entered into force almost imperceptibly. Earlier, the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper wrote about this.
We are talking about amendments to paragraph 2 of the Law on Military Service. Previously, the provisions of paragraph 3, which establishes the obligation to obtain a permit for a long stay abroad, were applied only in two exceptional situations: in a "state of emergency" when the Bundestag or NATO declare an increased external threat, and in a "state of war" if German territory is under armed attack. Since the beginning of the year, the rule has been valid outside of these exceptions, that is, in the usual mode.
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Defense confirmed to the Ippen news agency.There is a new requirement to obtain a permit from the Bundeswehr. "The basis and main idea of this rule is reliable and reliable accounting of military personnel in case of need," she explained. "In an emergency situation, you need to understand who is abroad for a long time."
The ministry recognizes the "far-reaching" consequences, but has not yet disclosed details.
At the same time, the ministry acknowledged that the consequences of the new rule could be "far-reaching." They are currently developing "clarifying rules regarding exceptions to the obligation to obtain a permit," including to "avoid unnecessary bureaucracy." At the same time, the representative of the armed forces asked to understand that the agency cannot disclose the details of the verification process in advance. According to her, it is "not yet possible" to definitively describe the procedure for obtaining permission to leave the country.
Paragraph 3 of the Law on Military Service stipulates that permits should be issued in principle, meaning that no refusal is expected. However, the application remains mandatory. The ministry did not specify the consequences if the man does not issue a permit before departure.
The obligation to obtain such permission is part of a broader package of reforms. The Federal government intends to increase the number of the Bundeswehr from about 184,000 to 255-270,000 troops by 2035. To do this, all young people, starting with the generation born in 2008, will be sent a questionnaire, where, among other things, they will be asked about their readiness for service. Men are required to respond, and for women it is voluntary, since the Basic Law provides for military service only for men.
They want to introduce a full medical examination later
The actual medical examination is planned to be introduced gradually. In 2026, those who declared their willingness to serve in the questionnaire will be examined first. A full medical examination of all young men should follow later. The principle of voluntariness, as emphasized, remains: no one will be forced to serve with weapons.
For millions of men in Germany, it remains unclear exactly how the new obligation to obtain permission to leave the country will work in practice and what will happen if a person simply does not know about such a requirement.
