Is military service in Germany voluntary or compulsory in 2026? The short answer is that the service itself is designed to be voluntary, but some obligations already apply. Knowing where voluntariness ends and obligation begins helps you plan deadlines, studies and travel with confidence.
Short answer: According to the Federal Government, the new military service has applied since 1 January 2026 and is aimed at being voluntary. For men, the questionnaire is mandatory, and the Bundeswehr states that the medical screening will also become mandatory. A compulsory service would require a new law passed by the Bundestag (status: December 2025).
Key points at a glance
- The new military service has been in force since 1 January 2026 and is designed on a voluntary basis.
- The questionnaire goes to 18-year-olds. Men must answer it, while answering is voluntary for women.
- Men of the 2008 birth cohort are screened first. The Bundeswehr describes screening as mandatory in future.
- A conditional compulsory service is provided for in the law, but it is not switched on automatically. The Bundestag would have to decide it.
- Whether a study place justifies a deferral is not set out by the Federal Government or the Bundeswehr. Ask the responsible authority.
What applies in 2026
The Federal Government reports that the law modernising military service has been in force since 1 January 2026. It describes the service as one that is aimed at being voluntary. Voluntariness is therefore the goal of the law, not a guarantee without exceptions.
A statutory build-up corridor runs until 2035. Only if personnel numbers fall short of this corridor could a conditional compulsory service come into consideration. The next section explains how that procedure would work.
Which obligations apply right now?
The difference between service and registration matters. The questionnaire and the medical screening are compulsory parts of the process, even if you do not want to take up the service itself. The table below summarises what the Federal Government and the Bundeswehr each state.
| Area | Who is affected? | What applies, according to the sources | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questionnaire | 18-year-olds, men and women | Mandatory for men, voluntary for women | Since early January 2026 |
| Medical screening | Men, first the 2008 cohort | Mandatory in future, regional centres still being set up | Page dated 10 March 2026 |
| Military service | Volunteers | Aimed at being voluntary, at least six months | December 2025 |
| Conditional compulsory service | Men aged 18 and over | Only by a law passed by the Bundestag, not automatically | December 2025 |
The Bundeswehr names the medical screening explicitly as an obligation, including for people who want to refuse military service. An application for conscientious objection therefore does not release you from the questionnaire or the screening. Our guide on conscientious objection after screening (in German) covers this in more detail.
When could voluntary service become compulsory?
A conditional compulsory service is the point where voluntariness and obligation meet. According to the Federal Government, it is possible if the defence-policy situation or the personnel situation requires it. The Bundestag would have to adopt it by law, so it does not switch on by itself.
In practice, this means that neither the passage of time nor the questionnaire alone creates a duty to serve. Whether and when the Bundestag adopts such a rule can only be seen from the current legislative state. The triggers and conditions are explained in our article on conditional compulsory service (in German).
What this means for students
Students usually ask whether their studies can postpone military service. The Federal Government and the Bundeswehr do not set out a rule for deferral because of a study place. Anyone affected should therefore clarify the question with the responsible authority before deadlines pass.
An overview of the options around study and deferral is in the article on applying for deferral because of studies (in German). How to answer the questionnaire is covered in the article on the questionnaire obligation (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to do military service in 2026?
According to the Federal Government, the new service is aimed at being voluntary. A duty to serve is not currently in force. That could change if the Bundestag adopts a conditional compulsory service.
Is the questionnaire compulsory?
For men who are 18, answering the questionnaire is mandatory according to the Federal Government. For women it is voluntary. The obligation applies even if you do not intend to take up the service.
Does the medical screening also apply to women?
According to the Bundeswehr, screening is mandatory for men. Women can register voluntarily and then take part in the selection process. Our separate article covers the details for women.
What would a conditional compulsory service change for me?
A conditional compulsory service would only take effect through a new law passed by the Bundestag. Its consequences depend on the wording of that law. Check the current text and its status on the Bundestag’s pages.
Who is affected? Four typical cases
Obligations depend on sex, birth cohort and place of residence. The overview shows typical constellations as the Federal Government and the Bundeswehr describe them. It does not replace an individual check, but it helps you place your own situation.
| Situation | Questionnaire | Screening | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Man, 2008 cohort, living in Germany | Mandatory | Mandatory in future, according to the Bundeswehr | Aimed at being voluntary |
| Woman, 18, living in Germany | Voluntary | Voluntary registration possible | Aimed at being voluntary |
| German national with livelihood abroad | Not required, according to the Bundeswehr, while the obligation is suspended | Suspended, according to the Bundeswehr | Not affected while the obligation is suspended |
| Man of an older birth cohort than 2008 | Not provided for, according to the Bundeswehr | Not provided for, according to the Bundeswehr | Voluntary application possible |
The third case matters for students planning time abroad. If your main livelihood is outside Germany, clarify your position with the responsible authority before you leave, because the exemption is tied to where your livelihood is, not only to where you study.
Why the questionnaire is a registration, not an application
The questionnaire registers people. According to the Bundeswehr, it is used to record people interested in the service and men who are suitable. Answering it does not mean that you apply to become a soldier. This difference is easy to overlook, so keep it in mind before you fill in the form.
Answer it completely and truthfully. Note the date you returned it and keep a copy, so you can later check what you reported. Handle health information with particular care.
Why moving house matters
If you move, update your address promptly so that letters from the Bundeswehr reach you. A letter that never arrives does not remove an obligation that already applies. The questionnaire deadlines and reminders article (in German) covers the timing in detail.
What to do now
- Check whether you belong to the 2008 cohort or a younger one, and note whether the questionnaire or screening applies to you.
- Answer the questionnaire on time if you are a man obliged to do so, and keep a copy.
- Clarify any deferral question with the responsible authority before you plan studies around a service.
- Follow the legislative process on conditional compulsory service through the Bundestag and Bundeswehr websites.
Related guides
- Military service and studies 2026: the overview for men and women (in German)
- Military service 2026: the questionnaire is compulsory for men aged 18 (in German)
- Medical screening 2026: procedure, duration and what to bring (in German)
- Conditional compulsory service: when conscription could return (in German)
- Applying for deferral from military service because of studies (in German)
Sources: Federal Government: questions and answers on the new military service (page dated December 2025); Bundeswehr: medical screening in the new military service (published 10 March 2026)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
