A Telegraaf report says Germany has quietly begun requiring men aged 17 to 45 to get Bundeswehr approval before leaving the country for more than three months. According to German reporting, the rule has applied since January 1, 2026 and covers long stays abroad for study, work, or travel, not just wartime mobilisation.

Germany’s Military Service Modernisation Act was passed in late 2025 to strengthen the Bundeswehr and build reserves, with the government still saying service should remain voluntary for as long as possible, but legal analysis shows that §3 of the Wehrpflichtgesetz now applies even outside a formal state of tension or defense, which is why this travel permission rule now matters in peacetime.

“Young German men now effectively need a permit if they want to leave the country for a longer period. For stays abroad of more than three months, approval from the Bundeswehr is required. That applies whether the reason is study, work, or extended travel. (…) This obligation no longer applies only in a military emergency. Since January 1, 2026, it applies on a permanent basis. The change came into force quietly as part of the Military Service Modernisation Act.”

What a disgrace. There is no greater threat to liberty on this continent than conscription.

Read the entire piece in Telegraaf.