Germany: men up to 45 years old would need the army's approval to travel abroad

The German legislation, which came into force on January 1, aims to strengthen the army by requiring all men aged 18 to complete a questionnaire to assess their suitability to serve in the armed forces, without introducing mandatory military service. The Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, stated that if the current model does not attract enough recruits, parliament could discuss the reintroduction of mandatory military service.

A controversial provision of the law, which has recently come to public attention, stipulates that men aged between 17 and 45 must obtain permission to leave Germany for more than three months, thus affecting millions of citizens who travel abroad for various reasons. The Ministry of Defense has confirmed this requirement, explaining that the purpose is to create a framework for mobilization, needing information about potential recruits in case of emergency. Although the obligation to obtain approval has been reinstated, the ministry emphasized that it will not have major practical consequences, and approval will generally be granted as long as military service remains voluntary. There will also be exceptions to reduce bureaucracy.