Germany Clarifies Military Rule On Men Travelling Abroad For Over 3 Months

BERLIN, April 5 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- German males aged 17 to 45 may need to seek approval before leaving the country for trips abroad surpassing three months, reported Xinhua.

Under a newly implemented military service law, the Defence Ministry said permission would automatically be granted for stays of more than three months, provided military service remains voluntary, according to German broadcaster ZDF.

Although the new legislation went into effect at the beginning of this year, the specific clause had largely gone unnoticed. The clarification came after multiple media outlets brought the rule into the spotlight.

German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau reported that the law requires men to obtain permission from the armed forces before travelling abroad for more than three months.

Currently, Germany's military service remains voluntary. But if voluntary recruitment fails to meet targets to boost the country's active troop strength, or if Europe's security situation deteriorates, parliament can vote to enforce mandatory service.  

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA