German men 18-45 need military permit to leave country for longer than 3 months (dw.com)

Germany’s Military Service Modernization Act, effective in 2026, requires men aged 18 to 46 to obtain approval from a Bundeswehr career center if they want to stay outside the country for more than three months, including for study, work, or travel. A Bundeswehr spokesperson said the rule is meant to help the military understand how many men live abroad long-term, and that permits are generally to be granted unless no military service is expected. The Defense Ministry said it is developing new exception rules and noted there appear to be no practical penalties for violating the requirement.