Military service obligations for bi-nationals

ok,
I am 15 and currently living in the UK (england specifically),as I have been for the last ten to twelve years.
Now I am starting to have a a few questions about my future etc.
I do not want to do German National Service when I turn 18.So my first question is; Even though I am living in england,will they make me do National Service?
And if I was to be able to..and I did,what would happen if I went to Germany in a few years? Would they arrest me or what?
I would like to go for Dual Nationality,I was wondering if that was possible at all? My now late father(passed away),was Welsh (therefore British) so that may help.
The only reason I am asking is,as I have searched and I can't understand all of the stuff (laws,regualtions etc.) and if I can or not.
To be honest,if I have to do National Service even though I am in England or if I go over there,then I will just apply for just UK citizenship.
Any help would be great?

AFAIK, you do not have to do national service when you are resident outside of Germany. You can get UK citizenship and keep your German citizenship (it should have no effect on any requirement for German national service).

as long as you stay outside of Germany until you become ineligible (ie too old) for conscription you will be ok. I forget the age now but it isn't that old any more.

Here's a related thread: Getting exemption from German National Service.

ok, I just checked the law and living abroad doesn't necessarily mean you aren't liable for service HOWEVER the Bundeswher get the details of kids turning 18 from the Einwohnermeldeamt so if you aren't registered as living in Germany the Bundeswehr doesn't know you exist so can't call you up for service. Once you have turned 23 (25 in your case since you are living abroad) they can't call you up any more. There are no consequences if they don't call you up since not all men living in Germany get called up for military service.

The current quota is something like 15% Wehrdiesnt and 33% Ersatzdienst, so the chance of not getting called up at all are well over 50%. I woudlnt worry.

andy M

You're completely omitting that 40-45% are "unfit for service" (2007: 46.2%) - note: about half of those would have counted as "fit" 5 years ago, before they removed the T3 group from service.

Of those that are fit, 90-95% are called up. Wehrdienst and Ersatzdienst is about 50/50 between those (1982 birth year: GWDL 24%).
The number of GWDL spots in the army is also being adjusted upwards in order to minimize the number of people not serving.

Thus you are "British by descent". However, having British citizenship does not remove the obligations of any other citizenship you have.


This didn't help my son (born in Germany, my wife is German). Hes currently doing his Grundwehrdienst.
Actually he is quite happy with it - seen here (today) with his sister...

Note, if you have lived in the UK for the number of years you have do, you are probably eligable to be registered as "British otherwise than by descent". This means you can pass on your citizenship to your children.

See this post for further deails on the differences between "British by descent" and "British otherwise than by descent".

(this all assumes that you have not yet been registered as British in anyway...)