Latvia reinstated conscription in 2024, Croatia will follow in 2026, and Germany approved a hybrid voluntary‑and‑mandatory service law on 5 December 2025, with the first mandatory questionnaires sent in January. Between 60 and 85 countries still draft at least part of their citizenry, ranging from Israel and South Korea to Greece, Türkiye, Brazil and most of the post‑Soviet states. For families that move internationally, the key question is whether a second passport can shield a son from military service.
A second passport does not cancel the original obligation
Most conscription regimes tie service to citizenship, not residence. Holding a passport from a non‑conscripting country therefore does not extinguish the duty owed to a country that does conscript.
- Germany – The Wehrdienstmodernisierungsgesetz (approved 5 Dec 2025) requires German men 17‑45 to obtain permission from a Bundeswehr Career Center before staying abroad more than three months. The law applies to all German citizens, regardless of any additional nationality.
- South Korea – Under the Nationality Act, male dual nationals must renounce Korean citizenship by 31 March of the year they turn 18. Missing the deadline blocks renunciation until service is completed or the individual ages out in his late thirties.
- Russia – Male citizens 18‑30 are liable; dual nationals remain subject, and wartime mobilisation has heightened the risk for those of fighting age.
- Israel – All citizens, including new immigrants under the Law of Return, are liable for IDF service; a foreign passport does not override the obligation.
- Greece – Service applies to male citizens 19‑45, including naturalised citizens.
Thus, the “destination” country’s lack of conscription is a feature of that country, not a legal exemption from the origin country’s duties.
What a second passport can achieve
A passport from a non‑conscripting jurisdiction can facilitate three practical outcomes, none of which are automatic:
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Establish permanent residence abroad – Some origin countries grant indefinite postponement to citizens who have lived abroad continuously.
- Greece: men who have lived abroad ≥ 11 years or worked abroad ≥ 7 years may obtain a Certificate of Permanent Resident Abroad, postponing service until age 45. The certificate is issued once and does not need annual renewal (subject to a possible 2028 law change).
- Germany: permanent expatriates are exempt from the new exit‑permission rule under §1(2) of the Conscription Act, provided the move occurred before the questionnaire is issued.
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Create a viable relocation destination – Acquiring a second passport before the son reaches the conscription age (typically 18) allows the family to build a durable life in a non‑drafting jurisdiction, satisfying the “permanent‑resident‑abroad” criteria where applicable.
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Enable renunciation – Most countries require proof of another citizenship before accepting renunciation. A second passport therefore opens the possibility of formally abandoning the original citizenship, though this carries additional consequences (loss of EU settlement rights, US exit tax, etc.).
Dual‑national rules in the major conscripting states
| Country | Age range | Key provisions for dual nationals |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 17‑45 | Exit‑permission required; permanent expatriates exempt under §1(2). |
| Greece | 19‑45 | Indefinite postponement via Certificate of Permanent Resident Abroad after 11 years residence abroad or 7 years work abroad. |
| Türkiye | 20‑41 | Service can be discharged by dövizle askerlik (foreign‑currency payment). First half of 2026 fee: TRY 333,089.04 (paid in euros at the central‑bank rate). Eligibility requires three consecutive years of legal residence abroad. |
| South Korea | 18‑35 (approx.) | Dual nationals must renounce by 31 Mar of the year they turn 18; otherwise renunciation is blocked until service is completed or the individual ages out. |
| Israel | 18‑26 (standard) | All citizens liable; deferments exist for certain olim based on age at aliyah, but a foreign passport does not exempt. |
| Russia | 18‑30 (raised from 27 on 1 Jan 2024) | Dual nationals remain liable; mobilisation measures increase practical risk. |
Jurisdictions without conscription
A small set of citizenship‑by‑investment (CBI) and other passports lie outside the conscription equation:
- Caribbean CBI programs – Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada. No conscription. Saint Kitts and Nevis offers citizenship for a US$250,000 contribution (or US$325 000 real‑estate investment), with a residency requirement slated for 2026.
- Vanuatu, Nauru, São Tomé and Príncipe – All operate CBI schemes and have no draft. São Tomé’s program launched Sept 2025 with a US$90 000 donation threshold. Nauru’s contribution is US$115 000, reduced to US$90 000 until 30 June 2026.
- Mauritius, Ireland – No conscription; Ireland also provides EU citizenship and rights under the UK Common Travel Area.
- Latin America – Argentina (suspended active conscription since 1995), Uruguay (no compulsory service), Costa Rica (no military since 1948), Panama (no draft), Paraguay (new Investor Pass grants residency for US$150 000 and citizenship after three years; conscription rules are selective and largely unenforced).
For families seeking to relocate sons before they become liable, the Caribbean CBI programs offer the fastest path to a passport, while the Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay) provides residency‑to‑citizenship routes within Mercosur, a bloc that lacks meaningful military service obligations.
Timing is decisive
Conscription triggers are usually tied to a specific age:
- Germany – questionnaire for men born 2008 or later (effective 2025).
- South Korea – renunciation deadline 31 Mar of the year the male turns 18.
- Greece – liability begins at 19.
- Türkiye – at 20.
If a son is 14, a five‑year residency‑to‑citizenship program can be completed before he reaches the liable age. If he is 17, only a fast‑track CBI (processing time 6 weeks‑6 months) can be used, but the passport alone does not remove the origin‑country obligation unless renunciation is part of the plan. Acquiring a second passport in the year the son turns 18 is generally too late to affect conscription liability.
Renunciation considerations
Renouncing the origin citizenship is the cleanest way to exit the conscription system, but it carries significant trade‑offs:
- EU citizenship – loss of free movement, residence, and work rights across the EU.
- US citizenship – triggers the exit tax for covered expatriates.
- Korean citizenship – after missing the March 31 deadline, long‑term Korean visas are unavailable until age 40, even for ethnic Koreans.
Many investors prefer to keep the original citizenship, document permanent residence abroad, and let the conscription age pass. This preserves the option to return later while still avoiding service.
Key takeaways for investors
- A second passport is not an automatic exemption – it does not cancel conscription obligations tied to the original citizenship.
- It expands legal options – enabling permanent‑resident‑abroad status, qualifying for postponement mechanisms, or providing a route to renunciation.
- Map each family member’s obligations – understand the specific rules of every citizenship held before assuming a passport will solve the problem.
- Prioritise timing – establish the alternative status before the son reaches the conscription age; acquiring a passport after that point is usually ineffective.
- Treat the passport as an entry ticket, not a substitute – use it to build a credible life in a non‑conscripting jurisdiction, then rely on that jurisdiction’s residency or renunciation pathways.
With European conscription expanding but unlikely to reverse in the current decade, families that plan ahead and secure a non‑drafting citizenship now will retain options that later‑comers will lack.
Source article: www.imidaily.com
