Germany prepares reserves: men now need the Bundeswehr's permission for extended trips abroad

A reform of military registration is gaining momentum in Germany, presented as part of a broad overhaul of the Bundeswehr’s staffing system. After the law on the modernization of military service takes effect on 1 January 2026, men upon reaching the age of 17 must obtain permission from the relevant Bundeswehr career centre if they plan to leave the country for more than three months. The same requirement also applies when a person wants to extend their stay outside Germany beyond an already agreed period.

At the same time, the story is not reducible to the simple formulation “Germany is preparing for war”. Formally, it concerns changes within military legislation intended to strengthen the registration and control of those liable for military service “in case of need”. The German Ministry of Defence has separately explained that as long as military service remains voluntary, the procedure for applying this rule is planned to be written so that permission is effectively considered granted if there is no real need for conscription.

The reform itself is part of a broader course to strengthen the Bundeswehr. The Federal Government of Germany has stated directly that the new law is needed to reinforce both active forces and the reserve, as well as to attract more people to service. The Bundestag approved the respective law on 5 December 2025, the Bundesrat gave it the “green light” on 19 December, and most provisions came into force at the start of 2026.

Another important detail concerns the age limits. The law on military obligation provides that basic military obligation lasts until the end of the year in which the person liable for service reaches 45 years. That is why the new rules on long-term departures primarily concern men of conscription and reserve age, not all residents of Germany without exception.

So, the new provision does exist, but it should be presented without simplifications. Today it is not about a general ban on travel or the immediate introduction of mandatory service, but about expanding the military registration system within the Bundeswehr reform, which Berlin explains by the need to be ready for a possible deterioration of the security situation.

Previously we wrote:

• Former US General Kellogg proposes a new defense bloc with Ukraine, Japan and Australia as an alternative to NATO
• “Did someone decide to pay with Ukrainians to ‘weaken’ Russia for the sake of security in Europe?” — Tymoshenko
• “Russia will attack Europe!” — Head of German intelligence
• Opposition in Germany called for the deployment of German peacekeepers in Ukraine
• IRIS-T is already in Ukraine: Germany continues to support the front