The short answer
conscription law can become a passport problem
The German Passport Act contains several grounds for refusal that are directly linked to the law on conscription.
The permit requirement under § 3(2) of the Conscription Act (Wehrpflichtgesetz) is especially important.
If someone is required to obtain a permit for a stay outside the territory where the Act applies and does not hold that permit, this can also have consequences under passport law.
A question about military service then becomes a question about a valid travel document.
For families with grown-up sons, the timing of when an additional citizenship can be acquired is therefore crucial.
A second passport does not lift German conscription duties or permit rules. But it creates another citizenship and with it another country you belong to.
A law nobody worried about for years takes on new meaning
For decades, the conscription part of the Passport Act barely played a role in the everyday lives of most families.
Conscription was suspended.
The permit rules that came with it had little practical relevance.
But the legal provisions did not simply disappear.
Since 2026, it has become clear once again that the link between conscription law and the passport can matter for young men and their families.
If you have a son who has just turned eighteen, you should know which legal duties apply and what they mean for any plans to spend time abroad.
How a missing permit can turn into a passport problem
§ 7(1) of the Passport Act lists the grounds on which a passport must be refused.
Four of the numbered grounds there relate to the law on military service.
One rule that matters in the current situation concerns people who need a permit for a stay outside the territory where the Act applies but do not hold it.
The consequences can reach well beyond the original permit question.
The passport can be refused. A passport already issued can also be affected under § 8.
On top of that, the measures are immediately enforceable.
What this means in practice is explained in the article “One stroke of a pen. And your world gets smaller.”
For families affected, the key is to understand the requirements in good time.
Even a restricted passport can have serious consequences
§ 7(2) of the Passport Act contains a proportionality rule.
A passport is not to be refused completely where that would be disproportionate, in particular because restricting where it is valid or how long it is valid would be enough.
For the person concerned, however, even a restriction like this can have serious consequences.
Imagine your son is studying abroad. Perhaps he wants to work there. Perhaps he already has a relationship, a flat and firm plans for the future.
A passport with restricted validity can make all of that far harder.
An additional travel document from another state widens his options as a citizen. His legal obligations in Germany remain unaffected.
Your sons are grown up. That is exactly why the choice of passport matters so much.
One particularly important point is often overlooked in family applications.
Many citizenship by investment programmes allow you to include spouses and minor children.
But what about the son who is nineteen? Or twenty-two?
This is precisely the age group that falls outside many standard family applications.
There are basically two options:
- A programme with a broader definition of family. Antigua and Barbuda also allows siblings to be included.
- A separate application for your adult son. With the other programmes this is often necessary. It adds to the cost.
The age of your children can therefore have a major influence on which programme you choose.
The parents' citizenship and the time available also play a part.
For one family with two adult sons, exactly this line of thinking led to a combination of Vanuatu, Sierra Leone and a residence permit in Serbia.
You can read their story in the case study “Two sons. Two plans for the future. And suddenly every day counts.”
When time is short, the right order decides
Acquiring a second citizenship by investment takes preparation.
In many cases, the whole process takes months.
One major reason is the documents required: getting hold of them and having them legalised.
A legal permit requirement, on the other hand, can become relevant from a specific cut-off date.
That is exactly why it pays to decide early.
Vanuatu is known for its particularly fast procedures.
Sierra Leone offers a broader definition of family, which can be especially valuable for families with adult children.
Other programmes, such as Dominica or Antigua and Barbuda, need to be considered in the light of their own family rules.
Planning in good time can spare a family from looking at its options only once serious time pressure has already set in.
For German, Austrian and Swiss citizens
Germany: since 2024, a second passport is possible on top of your first
The link between conscription and passport law is direct.
Since 27 June 2024, multiple citizenship has been the rule.
A second citizenship therefore no longer automatically means losing your German one.
The German conscription rules nevertheless remain relevant.
Austria: your children's citizenship is at stake too
Austria has its own conscription rules and its own registration system.
On top of that comes § 27 of the Austrian Citizenship Act (Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz).
Anyone who voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship by application generally loses their Austrian citizenship by operation of law.
Minor children can also lose their Austrian citizenship together with the parent.
That is why residence permits and travel documents that do not involve acquiring another citizenship are often the option for Austrian families.
More on this in the article “A second passport could cost you your Austrian one.”
Switzerland: a second citizenship and existing service duties
Switzerland has both compulsory military service and the military service exemption tax.
Multiple citizenship is permitted there without restriction.
A second citizenship is therefore possible in principle. It does not automatically cancel existing service duties.
Your children's future deserves more than the hope that the legal framework will turn out favourably. With the right second citizenship, you can open up extra options for your family while you can still make the decision calmly. Let's talk about which programmes include adult children and which solution suits you.
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