Since 1 January 2026 German men aged 17‑45 must obtain approval from a Bundeswehr career centre before leaving the country for more than three months. The requirement, introduced by a December 2025 military‑reform bill, applies in peacetime and affects students, expatriates, and anyone planning an extended stay abroad.
Legal basis
- Wehrpflichtgesetz (Conscription Act), § 3 para 2 – any male who has reached 17 years must request exit permission from his assigned Bundeswehr career centre for trips exceeding three months, or for extensions that push a stay past the three‑month threshold.
- The previous exit‑permission rule applied only during a declared state of tension or defence (Articles 80a and 115 of the Basic Law). The reform moved the clause into ordinary law.
- Permission must be granted unless refusal would cause “particular hardship” for the applicant. In practice the Bundeswehr has no legal basis to deny requests, but the formal request is still required.
Who is affected
| Category | Obligation |
|---|---|
| Residents in Germany planning a temporary stay abroad (≥ 3 months) | Must apply for exit permission |
| Men already living permanently abroad with established livelihood | Exempt |
| Dual nationals (e.g., German‑Turkish, German‑American) | No exemption; must still apply |
| Recognised conscientious objectors | Still subject to the exit‑permission rule |
| Women | Not subject to the rule (questionnaire is voluntary) |
A second passport does not change the obligation. The law defines “German” according to the Basic Law, and dual citizenship is explicitly covered. The 2024 citizenship reform, which broadened dual‑nationality rights, means an increasing share of the affected cohort holds another nationality—about one in six German men born in 2008 already have a second passport (Federal Statistical Office).
Practical implications
- Application process – The Defence Ministry has not published forms, guidelines, or a timeline. Early inquiries to career centres have yielded vague answers.
- Enforcement – No official consequences have been outlined for travelling without permission. The Bundeswehr can neither reject nor process applications efficiently, leaving the legal obligation in limbo.
- Permanent relocation – Under § 1 para 3 of the Conscription Act, a man who moves abroad permanently without permission does not benefit from the “dormancy clause” that normally suspends conscription for expatriates; his conscription status remains active.
Constitutional concerns
- Freedom of movement – Article 11 of the Basic Law guarantees the right to choose one’s place of residence. Conditioning departure on military approval, even if nominally automatic, may conflict with this provision.
- Personal liberty – Article 2 protects broader personal freedoms. Critics compare the German rule to Norway’s Cold‑War practice, where only post‑departure notification was required.
- No legal challenge has been filed yet, but the issue has attracted attention from constitutional scholars and civil‑rights groups.
Context within Germany’s defence buildup
- The reform is part of a broader plan to expand the Bundeswehr from roughly 184 000 active personnel to 255 000‑270 000 by 2035.
- Voluntary recruitment has lagged behind targets, prompting the government to re‑introduce mandatory questionnaires for men born from 2008 onward, and to reinstate medical examinations (starting with volunteers in 2026, expanding to all eligible men thereafter).
- If volunteer numbers remain insufficient, the Bundestag can enact “needs‑based conscription” through separate legislation.
Open questions
- Administrative capacity – With about 20 million men in the 17‑45 age bracket, the Bundeswehr’s career centres (originally recruitment offices) are not equipped to process potentially millions of exit‑permission requests.
- Legal enforceability – The lack of a clear enforcement mechanism and the constitutional tension raise doubts about the rule’s practical impact.
Bottom line for affected individuals
- Before travelling – Verify whether your planned stay exceeds three months and, if so, submit a request to your local Bundeswehr career centre, even though guidance is sparse.
- If you already left – Be aware that you may be in technical non‑compliance; monitor official communications for any forthcoming regulations or enforcement actions.
- Dual nationals – Do not assume exemption; the obligation applies regardless of additional citizenships.
The rule introduces a new bureaucratic step for German men travelling abroad, but its ultimate effect will depend on how quickly the Ministry develops concrete procedures and whether the courts address its compatibility with constitutional freedoms.
