dailyloe.com – German men aged 17 to 45 must now seek prior approval for stays abroad lasting longer than three months, according to a new defense law that took effect on January 1. This requirement, part of the Military Service Modernisation Act, aims to strengthen national defense registration. The change was confirmed by a defense ministry spokesman in a statement to the BBC.
The rule had gone largely unnoticed until reported by the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper last Friday. A defense ministry official stated the regulation ensures a reliable military registration system. They added that authorities must know who may be abroad during an emergency.
The legal basis stems from Germany’s 1956 Conscription Act, recently amended in December. Previously, this obligation only applied during a state of national defense or mobilization. The official noted a similar provision was in effect during the Cold War.
The ministry acknowledged the rule’s consequences for young people could be far-reaching. Regulations on exemptions are being developed to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy. Travel approvals must generally be granted under the current law.
Enforcement mechanisms for breaches remain unclear at this time. The law introduces voluntary military service alongside this registration requirement. Its passage follows heightened security concerns after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.[]
Source: BBC
