The German Defense Ministry will no longer require approval for men aged 17 to 45 to travel abroad, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.
“We are ending the approval requirement as long as military service remains voluntary,“ he told the DPA news agency.
The announcement comes amid criticism of changes to military service. Under a law that came into effect this year, men aged 17 to 45 must obtain approval from the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) for any trip abroad lasting longer than three months. This provision has existed before, but only during periods of “tension or defence“.
“At the moment nothing changes for men: whether they are 17 or 45, or somewhere in between, everyone, of course, has the right to travel. Nobody needs to get approval for it,“, explained Pistorius.
He also added that there is no need to report long stays abroad.