Germany eases travel rules for men, defence chief clarifies confusion

This week, the German government will remove the requirement for Bundeswehr approval for stays abroad exceeding three months, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced.

The move is administrative and aimed at streamlining procedures, Pistorius explained, Der Spiegel reports.

He stressed that for men, the change does not affect their rights: regardless of age—whether 17 or 45—they can travel abroad without seeking approval or notifying authorities of extended stays.

“We are introducing an exception to the general reporting requirement provided by law specifically for this purpose,” Pistorius said.

The minister also clarified that the law on long-term stay approval does not apply to voluntary military service in Germany. However, reservists subject to conscription remain obligated to report their current whereabouts.

By Vafa Guliyeva