Germany Requires Military Clearance for Men Under 45 Seeking Extended Stays Abroad

Berlin — April 4, 2026
Germany has introduced a sweeping new military service regulation requiring all men under the age of 45 to obtain formal approval from the Bundeswehr before spending more than three months outside the country.
The measure, part of a broader overhaul of national defence legislation, reflects growing security anxieties across Europe amid the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict. Berlin argues the policy is essential to ensure adequate troop availability in the event of a rapid mobilisation. Germany joins a number of European nations revisiting compulsory military service frameworks not seen since the Cold War era.
Civil liberties groups have raised sharp concerns, warning the law represents a significant restriction on freedom of movement — a right enshrined in both German constitutional law and European Union treaties. Legal challenges are expected.