The German army is starting to watch the men. Longer stays abroad will be by permit only.

BERLIN - German men aged between 17 and 45 must now apply for permission from the authorities if they want to stay abroad for a longer period of time. This follows changes introduced under the Military Service Modernisation Act, which came into force on 1 January and, among other things, introduces a voluntary form of military service. This was pointed out by the BBC.

The aim of the measures is to strengthen the country's defences in response to the security threats associated with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A Ministry of Defence spokesman told the BBC that men aged 17 and over must now apply for permission to stay abroad if they want to travel for more than three months. Under current law, the authorities would normally have to approve applications. However, it is not yet clear how the rule will be enforced if it is broken. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said that the regulation is aimed at ensuring a reliable and meaningful military registration system, as it is important to know who can stay abroad for a longer period of time in the event of an emergency.

The ministry also acknowledged that the measure could have far-reaching effects on young people and said rules for exemptions were being drafted to avoid unnecessary red tape. The legal basis for the requirement is the 1956 German Conscription Act, which has been amended several times, most recently last December. Before the latest amendment, the obligation to report extended stays abroad only applied to periods when Germany was on defence alert or mobilisation. According to a defence ministry official, a similar provision existed during the Cold War but was not practically applied.

The country wants more active soldiers

The law on the modernisation of military service also sets out a plan to increase the number of active soldiers to 260 000 by 2035, up from around 180 000 today. Parliament also approved in December the introduction of voluntary military service, which means that all 18-year-olds will receive a questionnaire asking if they are interested in joining the army. From July 2027, men must also pass a physical fitness test to assess whether they are fit to serve in the event of war. Women can volunteer to serve in the army. Under the German constitution, they cannot be forced to serve in the army.

Although the plan is based on voluntarism, a form of compulsory military service could be considered in the event of a deterioration in the security situation or a shortage of volunteers. When the law was passed by parliament, many young people joined protests against the changes. Like other European countries, Germany reduced its armed forces in the peaceful 1990s. At the time of the Cold War, it had an army of nearly half a million soldiers. Compulsory military service in Germany was abolished in 2011, under Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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