New laws on mandatory military service will not affect anyone currently living or studying abroad, defence ministry notes

No one studying or living abroad will be adversely affected by measures included in a draft bill entitled “Map of the Armed Forces’ Transition to a New Era” tabled in Parliament, the defence ministry announced.
The law seeks to establish a new national service model that rationalises the framework for postponing or getting exemptions from national service on health grounds, National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said during its presentation.

For those abroad, defence ministry sources pointed out that the new laws apply those who reach age 18 after the law is passed and therefore do not affect anyone currently living or studying abroad, with a 15-year transitional period until the new laws apply.

Under the new rules, in order for someone to be considered a resident abroad, they must begin their time of residence from the age of 16, at least, and this status must be updated every three years. Their right to buy off national service is postponed until the age of 40 and the cost is increased to 1,500 euros per month from 810 euros. According to ministry sources, the new rules essentially penalise those who choose to avoid national service by combining studies abroad with the start of a professional career.

For expatriate Greeks born abroad, the rules for three-month national service and the right of residence in Greece for six months until its completion continue to apply.

amna.gr