German males aged between 17 and 45 may need to seek approval for lengthy stays abroad, under changes introduced as part of a new law which formed voluntary military service.
The Military Service Modernisation Act, which came into force on 1 January, aims to boost defences following threats from Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement submitted to the BBC, a defense ministry spokesman confirmed that males aged 17 and older were required to obtain prior approval for stays abroad lasting longer than three months.
Under the current law, travel approvals must generally be granted, and it remains unclear how the rule would be enforced if breached.
This requirement for approval had gone largely unnoticed until it was reported by the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper on Friday.
The defense ministry spokesman stated that the regulation was intended to ensure a reliable and meaningful military registration system, adding: In the event of an emergency, we must know who may be staying abroad for an extended period..
The change acknowledges the potential for far-reaching consequences for young people and mentions that regulations on exemptions are being developed to minimize unnecessary bureaucracy.
Legally, the requirement stems from Germany's 1956 Conscription Act, which has been modified numerous times, most recently last December.
Previously, the obligation to report extended stays abroad only applied if Germany was under national defense or mobilization.
Prior to the latest amendment, the obligation to report extended stays abroad applied only if Germany was in a state of national defense or mobilization.
A defense ministry official reflected that a similar provision was in place during the Cold War and was largely irrelevant.
The Military Service Modernisation Act outlines plans to increase the number of active personnel from around 180,000 to 260,000 by 2035.
In December, parliament voted to introduce voluntary military service, meaning all 18-year-olds will receive a questionnaire to express interest in joining the armed forces.
Starting in July 2027, individuals must undergo a fitness assessment to determine eligibility for service in the case of war.
While women can volunteer for military service, they cannot be mandated to serve according to Germany's constitution.
The intention is to maintain voluntary service, but if the security situation deteriorates or if there aren't enough volunteers, a form of compulsory military service could be reconsidered.
The law's approval spurred protests from many young people, opposing the notion of spending time in military training. As noted by one organiser on social media, We don't want to spend half a year of our lives locked up in barracks, being trained in drill and obedience and learning to kill.
Germany, like other European nations, reduced its armed forces during the peacetime era of the 1990s. During the Cold War, the army nearly approached half a million personnel.
Compulsory military service was eliminated in 2011 under then-chancellor Angela Merkel.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to restore the Bundeswehr into Europe's strongest conventional military, responding to what his government perceives as a more hazardous security environment within Europe.
