Military service

1. Overview

Since 1 January 2026, all men in Germany born in 2008 or later must take part in military registration. The basis is the Wehrdienst-Modernisierungsgesetz (WDModG), BGBl. 2025 I No. 370 of 29 December 2025. Women can volunteer. For the obligation, the gender entry in the civil status register is decisive. Persons with the entry divers complete the questionnaire voluntarily.

Military service itself remains voluntary. Anyone who does not want to serve does not have to. However, men are obliged to answer the questionnaire truthfully (§ 15a subsection 1 WPflG). There is currently no civilian service as an alternative.

Key figures (nationwide)

2. Questionnaire – military registration

• Who: Men born in 2008 or later after their 18. birthday. Women and persons with a different gender entry complete the questionnaire voluntarily.
• How: Letter with QR code → online form (bundeswehr.de/de/menschen-karrieren/neuer-wehrdienst/fragebogen)
• Obligation: Yes, for men. They must answer the questions truthfully.
• Deadline: One month after receiving the letter (§ 15a subsection 2 WPflG). If the person does not respond, another request follows with a new deadline. If this deadline is also not used, administrative offence proceedings begin.
• Sanctions for failing to respond: Administrative offence under § 45 WPflG. In May 2026, the Ministry of Defence announced a maximum fine of 250 EUR. The general statutory maximum for administrative offences is 1.000 EUR (§ 17 Absatz 1 OWiG), as the WPflG itself does not specify an amount.
• Responsible authority: Bundesamt für das Personalmanagement der Bundeswehr (BAPersBw), Cologne

3. A Assessment & invitation

• Bundeswehr assesses the questionnaire internally
• Anyone deemed potentially suitable and who has expressed interest: invitation to medical assessment
• No service without a medical assessment
• Timeframe between questionnaire and invitation: OPEN

4. Medical assessment / assessment

• Location: Bundeswehr career centres (+ new medical assessment centres from 2026)
• Content: Medical examination, fitness test, psychological test and aptitude test
• Duration: typically 1–2 Tage
• Result: Fitness category T1–T5

5. Fitness categories

Typical conditions for T4 and T5

T4 – temporary or not yet clarified conditions:

• Recent injuries (fractures, operations) with a positive recovery trajectory
• Acute illnesses where the long-term course cannot yet be assessed
• Conditions likely to improve through treatment

T5 – severe chronic or permanent illnesses (selection):

• Severe asthma with significant functional impairment despite treatment
• Epilepsy
• Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus (poorly controlled)
• Cardiovascular diseases, for example hypertension requiring treatment or arrhythmias
• Scoliosis over 30° according to Cobb, severe kyphosis or pronounced osteochondrosis
• Severe visual impairment or severe joint changes
• Life-threatening allergies, for example wasp allergy
• Severe chronic mental disorders with permanent functional impairment

Objection to the medical assessment notice

• Deadline: 2 W weeks after receiving the notice, in writing with a handwritten signature (§ 33 WPflG)
• Addressee: The issuing authority (usually Wehrbereichsverwaltung or BAPersBw)
• Suspensive effect: Yes. No call-up may take place during the objection proceedings.
• Decision: Bundesamt für das Personalmanagement der Bundeswehr (BAPersBw)
• Legal action: If the objection decision is negative, before the administrative court, deadline 1 month after notification

6. Complete service

Voluntary military service as a special form of civic engagement.

• Duration: 6–11 Monate
• Pay: from 2.600 EUR/month gross
• Health insurance: military medical care free of charge during service, no health insurance contributions
• Family insurance is extended by the duration of service (maximum extension 12 Monate)

Extension options after basic service:

• From a commitment period of 12 Monaten: status as a Soldat auf Zeit (SaZ), with pay then starting at around 2.700 EUR/month gross
• Maximum service period as SaZ: 25 Jahre, not beyond the age of 62.
• Various career paths: other ranks, non-commissioned officers, officers, in some cases with study at Bundeswehr universities

Effect on university study and BAföG:

• University study can be interrupted for the duration of service and resumed afterwards
• BAföG: income limit for additional earnings 603 EUR/month (2026). The precise offsetting of pay during service still needs to be verified.
• Statutory health insurance family cover: income limit for contribution-free family insurance 565 EUR/month (2026)

7. Conscientious objection to military service (KDV)

• Right under Art. 4 A para. 3 GG
• Application: in writing to the Bundesamt für das Personalmanagement der Bundeswehr (BAPersBw), Militärringstraße 1000, 50737 Köln
• Components: covering letter, CV in tabular form and personal statement of conscience
• Procedure: BAPersBw receives the application and assesses medical fitness as part of the medical examination. It then forwards the application to the Bundesamt für Familie und zivilgesellschaftliche Aufgaben (BAFzA). BAFzA decides on recognition.
• Processing time: several weeks to a few months, currently sometimes longer due to the high volume of applications. For applications from people born before 01.01.2010, which are forwarded to BAFzA without a prior medical examination, BAFzA decides within 9 Monate months of receipt by BAPersBw (§ 13 A para. 2 KDVG, source: bafza.de).
• The KDV application is free of charge. Legal fees arise only if it is rejected and legal action is taken.
• There is currently no civilian service as a substitute. This is still being discussed politically.
• If rejected: legal action before the Administrative Court possible

8. Authorities involved

9. Legal basis