German men may need military approval for extended trips abroad under new rules

Germany has quietly introduced a legal change requiring men aged 17 to 45 to seek military approval if they wish to leave the country for longer than three months. This adjustment to the Wehrpflichtgesetz, Germany’s Cold War-era military service law, applies universally as of late 2025, a shift from its previous activation only during states of crisis or conflict. The German defense ministry has clarified that while the measure is rooted in contingency planning, it is not currently intended to c