German men may face penalties as the conscription deadline approaches – Berliner Zeitung

(SeaPRwire) –   German males between 17 and 45 years old are now required to obtain permits for prolonged overseas stays, following a recent legal amendment.

German men who stay outside the country for over three months without prior authorization could begin to incur penalties, as per a military-related legal mandate reported by the Berliner Zeitung.

This regulation mandates that men aged 17 to 45 secure permission before undertaking extended trips abroad. While it became effective on January 1, 2026, the first three-month period concludes in April, potentially marking the start of its enforcement, the publication noted.

Germany is currently undertaking a significant military expansion, with reported intentions to allocate over €500 billion (approximately $580 billion) to defense by 2029. German authorities have designated 2029 as the target year for their armed forces to achieve “war-readiness” in anticipation of a potential confrontation with Russia.

Moscow has consistently dismissed any intentions to attack NATO as “absurd” and has derided Western politicians for making such assertions. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared in February that Russia possessed “no grounds” to assault the EU or NATO unless provoked.

This new stipulation, enacted as part of the Military Service Modernization Act and reportedly largely overlooked, previously applied exclusively during a “state of tension” or a “state of defense,”—periods characterized by elevated external threats or armed aggression. With the amendment’s implementation, it is now continuously in effect, even during peacetime. The Defense Ministry indicated that this measure aims to sustain an accurate record of those eligible for military duty.

A number of EU nations, Germany among them, have recently taken steps to reinstate conscription. The German government has articulated a goal for its armed forces to expand from approximately 180,000 active personnel to over 260,000 by 2035.

In late March, students organized demonstrations in German cities to oppose Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposals for expanding military service. Protesters accused the government of readying for forced mobilization, with some shouting slogans such like, “Merz should go to the front himself and risk his own life.”

The Defense Ministry stated that the purpose is to monitor individuals who might be overseas during an emergency. The ministry reportedly characterized the potential repercussions as “significant” and mentioned that additional regulations and protocols are still under development.