Compulsory Military Service by Country

Dual citizens: Armenian dual-national men resident in Armenia, or entering Armenia for extended periods within the eligible age bracket, are subject to conscription. Armenia permits dual citizenship, so diaspora Armenian dual nationals (a substantial global population) are a recurring focus of Armenian conscription-compliance guidance.

New immigrants: Foreign nationals naturalising as Armenian citizens above the eligible age bracket are not conscripted retroactively. Naturalisation within the bracket, or extended residence in Armenia by diaspora dual-national men, can trigger the obligation.

Armenia's conscription regime sits alongside its unresolved conflict history with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, which has kept reservist and active-duty planning politically salient. Armenia's relatively open approach to dual citizenship (unlike neighbouring Azerbaijan) makes diaspora exposure a more commonly discussed issue.

https://www.mil.am

Dual citizens: Austrian dual nationals resident in Austria are subject to conscription on the same basis as other Austrian men. Those resident abroad are typically not actively called up but remain formally liable if they return to live in Austria before the upper age limit.

New immigrants: Foreign men naturalising as Austrian citizens after the standard call-up age are not retroactively conscripted. Naturalising before completing the obligation can trigger liability — confirm with the Bundesheer recruitment office (Stellungskommission).

Austria is one of the few Western European states that never suspended conscription. Conscientious objectors overwhelmingly choose the longer Zivildienst civilian-service track over the 6-month military option.

https://www.bundesheer.at

Dual citizens: Azerbaijani dual-national men resident in Azerbaijan are subject to conscription. Azerbaijan does not generally recognise dual citizenship for its own citizens, which complicates the position of some diaspora dual nationals.

New immigrants: Foreign men naturalising as Azerbaijani citizens above the standard call-up age are not typically conscripted retroactively. Confirm current terms with the State Service on Mobilisation and Conscription.

Azerbaijan's conscription regime sits alongside its territorial history with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, which has historically driven active reservist and mobilisation planning.

Dual citizens: Bolivian dual-national men are required to obtain a libreta de servicio militar, which is needed for various civil transactions including university enrolment, public employment and some professional licensing, even for those raised abroad.

New immigrants: Foreign nationals naturalising as Bolivian citizens are not generally drawn into conscription requirements the way native-born Bolivian men are, unless resident in Bolivia within the eligible age bracket.

As in Colombia, the practical friction in Bolivia comes less from active deployment and more from the libreta militar being a prerequisite document for everyday civil and administrative transactions.

Dual citizens: Colombian dual-national men are required to resolve their military status (obtain a libreta militar) to access many services, including some passport, public-sector employment and university-enrolment processes, even if resident abroad for most of their lives.

New immigrants: Foreign nationals naturalising as Colombian citizens are not generally drawn into conscription unless resident in Colombia within the eligible age bracket. The 'only son of a family' (hijo único) exemption is a long-standing and widely used category.

The libreta militar is a practical everyday-life requirement in Colombia well beyond active service itself — men without one can face friction obtaining certain government jobs, passports, and university places, which is a common surprise for Colombian-diaspora dual nationals visiting or returning long-term.

https://www.mindefensa.gov.co

Dual citizens: Cuban dual-national men resident in Cuba within the eligible age bracket are subject to the Servicio Militar General. Cuba's approach to dual nationality and exit/entry rules has historically been restrictive and subject to change, so diaspora dual nationals should verify current status directly.

New immigrants: Foreign nationals naturalising as Cuban citizens are uncommon in practice; conscription functions primarily as a citizen-resident obligation.

Details of Cuba's conscription system are less consistently documented in accessible official sources than most entries on this page — treat the figures here as broadly indicative rather than definitive, and verify with current diaspora legal advice before relying on them.

Dual citizens: Cypriot dual nationals living abroad face deferment but not full exemption. Returning to Cyprus to live triggers obligation.

New immigrants: Foreign men naturalising as Cypriot citizens after age 26 are exempt. Naturalising before age 26 triggers full or reduced service obligation.

Greek Cypriots only — Turkish Cypriots are not subject. Cyprus CBI / Investment Citizenship route was historically attractive partly because applicants over age 26 were not subject to NG service.

Dual citizens: Egyptian dual-national men are subject to conscription if they enter or reside in Egypt within the eligible age bracket, regardless of a second nationality. Men of eligible age must obtain military-status clearance for a range of civil transactions, including some property and business matters.

New immigrants: Foreign nationals naturalising as Egyptian citizens above the eligible age bracket are not conscripted retroactively. The traditional 'only son' exemption and reduced terms for graduates are long-standing features of the system.

Egypt's conscription regime is tiered by educational attainment, with graduates serving materially shorter terms than those without qualifications. Egyptian-diaspora dual-national sons are a recurring naturalisation-planning consideration for expatriate Egyptian families.

Dual citizens: Estonian dual nationals may be subject if they reside in Estonia. Outside-residents typically not called up.

New immigrants: Naturalised Estonian men over age 27 are exempt.

Estonia maintains active conscription as a Russia-bordering NATO member. NATO-membership commitments and Russia's 2022 invasion have increased training intensity and reservist obligations.

Dual citizens: Finnish citizens including duals living abroad are typically not called up unless they reside in Finland. Returning to Finland in age range may trigger obligation.

New immigrants: Naturalised Finnish men over age 30 are exempt. Naturalised men aged 18-29 are subject to the full conscription regime. Conscientious objectors may opt for Civilian Service at 347 days.

Finland is one of the few EU countries with a genuinely active conscription regime. Annual intake is approximately 22,000 men. Refresher training (kertausharjoitukset) continues until age 50 (60 for officers). Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine has driven significant volunteer increase.

https://intti.fi/en

Dual citizens: Greek dual nationals living abroad face conscription if they enter Greece for more than 6 months in any 12-month period. The Permanent Resident Abroad (Mόνιμος Κάτοικος Εξωτερικού) status reduces but does not eliminate exposure.

New immigrants: Naturalised Greek men over age 35 are typically exempt. Permanent Resident Abroad status (proof of 11+ years abroad) reduces service to 3 months and provides longer entry-to-Greece allowance before triggering full obligation.

The Permanent Resident Abroad status is critical for Greek-Americans / Greek-Australians considering temporary Greece relocations. Greek-descent claimants under 35 should consult a Greek consulate before naturalising; the 7-year naturalisation track may not have factored in conscription consequences.

https://www.mod.mil.gr/

Dual citizens: Yes — Israeli citizens including dual nationals are subject to conscription regardless of where they live, with limited exceptions for those educated abroad until enrolment ages.

New immigrants: Aliyah immigrants (Olim) over age 22 face reduced service: 4 months (women) or 4 months (men 22-26) with progressive reduction by age. Olim arriving over age 28 (men) or 26 (women) typically receive full exemption. Education-track exemptions apply to yeshiva students under specific conditions.

IDF service is among the most globally well-defined and consequential conscription regimes. Aliyah candidates with diaspora-resident children who turn 17-18 should plan carefully — minor children entering Israel before age 18 are subject to standard conscription rules. Sephardic / non-Israeli-citizen converts to Judaism via Aliyah do not face automatic conscription until citizenship is granted.

https://www.idf.il/en/

Dual citizens: Kazakhstani dual-national men resident in Kazakhstan are liable for the twice-yearly draft. Kazakhstan does not generally recognise dual citizenship for its own nationals, which limits formal diaspora dual-citizen exposure relative to countries that do.

New immigrants: Foreign men naturalising as Kazakhstani citizens above the call-up age are not conscripted retroactively. An alternative civilian service option has existed since 2018 for those with qualifying grounds.

Kazakhstan runs a fairly conventional Soviet-successor conscription model, with a defined spring/autumn call-up cycle and a still-developing alternative-service track.

Dual citizens: Kuwaiti dual-national men resident in Kuwait are subject to National Service. Kuwait does not generally recognise dual citizenship for its own nationals, which limits the diaspora dual-citizen population in practice.

New immigrants: Kuwaiti citizenship by naturalisation is rare and discretionary; National Service functions primarily as a citizen-only obligation rather than one with a standard immigrant naturalisation on-ramp.

Kuwait's National Service Law reinstated compulsory military service in 2017 after a 16-year suspension. Exact service lengths and categories have changed more than once since reinstatement — confirm current terms directly with Kuwait's Ministry of Defence before relying on specific duration figures.

Dual citizens: Latvian dual-national men born in 2004 or later are subject to State Defence Service if resident in Latvia. The obligation was reintroduced in 2023 and phased in from January 2024, explicitly linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

New immigrants: Foreign men naturalising as Latvian citizens above the eligible age bracket are not conscripted retroactively. Naturalisation of younger men brings them within the standard State Defence Service framework.

Latvia reintroduced compulsory service after roughly a 15-year gap (conscription was suspended in 2007). The reintroduction is explicitly tied to NATO frontline-state defence planning following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

https://www.mod.gov.lv

Dual citizens: Moroccan dual nationals resident in Morocco within the eligible age bracket are subject to service under the 2018/2019 reinstatement law. Diaspora Moroccans (a very large global population, particularly in France, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands) resident abroad are generally not actively called up but remain formally liable if resident in Morocco.

New immigrants: Foreign nationals naturalising as Moroccan citizens above the eligible age bracket are not conscripted retroactively.

Morocco reinstated compulsory military service in 2018/2019 after a 2006 suspension, notably applying to both men and women — a departure from most conscription regimes in the region.

Dual citizens: Myanmar's military government activated the long-dormant 2010 People's Military Service Law in February 2024. Enforcement and eligibility criteria, including treatment of dual or foreign-resident nationals, have been inconsistently applied and reported to change with little notice.

New immigrants: This is an active-conflict conscription drive rather than a settled peacetime regime with defined naturalisation on-ramps; foreign-resident and diaspora Myanmar nationals should treat any exemption claim as unverified pending the current political situation.

The 2024 activation triggered a large wave of young Myanmar nationals leaving the country or going into hiding to avoid call-up, widely reported internationally. Given the fluid, conflict-driven enforcement, treat all specifics here as a snapshot rather than a stable legal framework — verify independently before relying on this for any decision.

Dual citizens: Singaporean men with dual citizenship cannot avoid NS by exiting Singapore — dual-citizen children must serve unless they renounce Singapore citizenship before age 11 (and before any deferment is sought after age 11).

New immigrants: Permanent Residents (PR) men aged 16.5-21 are typically required to serve NS unless they enter PR after age 21. Foreign men naturalising after NS-eligibility age are exempt. PR status acquired during childhood typically commits the child to NS.

Singapore NS is one of the most strictly enforced conscription regimes. Bonded arrangements bind families — children granted PR status as minors cannot easily reverse the PR status to avoid NS. Reservist (NS-Men) obligations continue annually until age 40 (50 for officers) with up to 40 days/year of training.

https://www.cmpb.gov.sg/

Dual citizens: Korean dual nationals (men) face conscription unless they renounce Korean nationality before age 18 (specifically, by 31 March of the year they turn 18). After that age, they cannot renounce until completing service.

New immigrants: Foreign men acquiring Korean nationality after age 18 are typically exempt. Naturalised Korean men under 25 may be subject to service. Foreign-born ethnic Koreans (F-4 visa holders, hyundoongpo) are not subject if they have not held Korean citizenship.

South Korea's dual-nationality renunciation deadline is the most well-known conscription compliance trap globally. Korean-American boys with both citizenships face the choice annually for several years before age 18. Service evasion has serious legal consequences including travel bans and asset penalties. K-pop and football-star deferment scandals have driven recent enforcement tightening.

https://www.mma.go.kr/eng/

Dual citizens: Swiss men with dual citizenship are subject to Swiss service unless they have served in another country's military and that country has a treaty with Switzerland recognising the equivalence (US, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Canada).

New immigrants: Foreign men naturalising as Swiss citizens after age 25 are typically subject to reduced or alternative service obligations. Swiss-born children of foreign parents naturalising are subject to the same rules as native Swiss men. Conscientious objectors may opt for Civil Service (Zivildienst) at 1.5x duration.

Swiss service is unique in being spread across multiple years (Recruit School + 6-7 annual refresher courses). Men ineligible for service pay an additional 3% income tax (Wehrpflichtersatzabgabe / military exemption tax) until age 30 if they have not served. Long-term Swiss residents acquiring citizenship at older ages typically pay this tax in lieu of service.

https://www.vbs.admin.ch/en.html

Dual citizens: Thai citizens including duals are subject to the annual lottery. Thai men with dual citizenship who never reside in Thailand may avoid service in practice but legally remain liable until age 30.

New immigrants: Foreign men naturalising as Thai citizens after age 30 are exempt. Naturalised men aged 21-29 face the lottery.

The annual Sri Sa Ket lottery on 1 April is a national event — names of all 21-year-old Thai men are drawn from a pool with the unlucky third randomly selected for full 24-month service. Service deferral is possible for university students.

Dual citizens: Turkish dual nationals are subject to conscription. The Bedelli Askerlik (paid exemption) regime allows men over 21 living abroad for 3+ consecutive years to pay TRY 75,000+ and complete a 1-month basic-training course in lieu of full service.

New immigrants: Foreign men naturalising as Turkish citizens after age 22 are typically exempt. The Bedelli Askerlik route is widely used by Turkish-diaspora dual nationals (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, US).

The Bedelli Askerlik fee is the most-used dual-citizen exit valve globally — millions of Turkish-Germans and Turkish-Dutch use this annually. Fee adjusted periodically; 2025 figure approximately TRY 75,000 (~$2,300).

https://www.msb.gov.tr/

Dual citizens: Ukrainian dual-national men aged 18-60 are, with limited exceptions, barred from leaving Ukraine under martial law and subject to mobilisation if resident in the country. Dual nationals resident abroad face a more complex position that has been subject to repeated legal change — seek current legal advice before relying on any specific rule.

New immigrants: This is a wartime mobilisation framework rather than a standard peacetime conscription regime with naturalisation-based on-ramps — it applies to existing Ukrainian male citizens under martial law.

Ukraine's wartime mobilisation rules have changed repeatedly since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, including the 2024 reduction of the minimum mobilisation age from 27 to 25. Rules are politically and legally fluid — verify current status directly with a Ukrainian consulate before relying on any detail here.

https://www.mil.gov.ua

Dual citizens: National Service applies to Emirati citizens, including dual nationals, under the National Service Law introduced in 2014. It does not apply to the UAE's large foreign resident population, who make up the majority of the country's population but are not Emirati citizens.

New immigrants: UAE citizenship by naturalisation is exceptionally rare and discretionary, so National Service functions almost entirely as a citizen-only obligation rather than one with a common immigrant on-ramp.

The UAE's National Service Law was a significant policy shift when introduced in 2014, reflecting a broader Gulf-state move toward formalised citizen military obligations. It is administered separately from the country's large expatriate labour population.

Dual citizens: Vietnamese dual-national men resident in Vietnam within the eligible age bracket are liable for the annual call-up. Vietnam does not generally recognise dual citizenship for its own nationals outside specific historical exceptions, which limits the diaspora dual-citizen population in practice.

New immigrants: Foreign nationals naturalising as Vietnamese citizens above the eligible age bracket are not conscripted retroactively; Vietnamese naturalisation of foreign adults is uncommon in practice.

Vietnam maintains an active annual conscription cycle with defined deferment categories for students and certain occupations.

https://mod.gov.vn

Dual citizens: Brazilian dual-national men are required to register (alistamento militar) in the year they turn 18, regardless of residence. In practice the large majority receive a dispensation (dispensa) and never serve; only a small selected minority are called for active duty.

New immigrants: Naturalised Brazilian men are generally not swept into the registration requirement the way native-born Brazilian men are, since registration is tied to the year of turning 18 as a citizen; naturalisation later in life typically falls outside the operative window.

Brazil's conscription is compulsory in law but selective in practice — most eligible men are dispensed on medical, educational, or 'sufficient volunteer numbers' grounds, with only a small share actually serving, similar in effect to Norway's or Sweden's selective systems.

https://www.eb.mil.br

Dual citizens: Danish citizens including duals are formally liable for the draft lottery (session) if resident in Denmark. The system has long relied heavily on volunteers, with conscripts filling remaining places by lottery among those who register but don't volunteer.

New immigrants: Naturalised Danish citizens are subject to the same lottery framework as native-born Danes once resident, though in practice most places are filled by volunteers rather than active call-up.

Denmark's 2024 parliamentary defence agreement extends compulsory service length and, for the first time, includes women in the lottery pool from 2026 — a genuine change to a system that had drifted toward near-total volunteer fulfilment. The reform is being phased in; verify current terms before relying on specific duration figures.

https://www2.forsvaret.dk

Dual citizens: Lithuanian dual-national men resident in Lithuania are subject to the annual call-up. Volunteers fill most places; a lottery draft selects remaining conscripts from the registered pool if the volunteer quota is not met.

New immigrants: Naturalised Lithuanian men outside the 19-26 call-up bracket are not conscripted. Naturalisation within the bracket brings the individual into the registration pool alongside native-born citizens.

Lithuania reintroduced conscription in 2015 following Russia's annexation of Crimea, after having suspended it in 2008. It functions as a hybrid volunteer-first, lottery-backfill system rather than universal call-up.

https://kam.lt

Dual citizens: Mexican dual-national men are required to register for the Servicio Militar Nacional and obtain a cartilla militar in the year they turn 18, which is needed for some passport, public-sector, and identity processes even if resident abroad most of their lives.

New immigrants: Naturalised Mexican men are not generally drawn into the registration requirement the way native-born Mexican men are, since registration is tied to the calendar year of turning 18 as a citizen.

Mexico's SMN has long functioned as a lottery-selected, largely part-time Saturday-training obligation for the majority of the small annual conscript intake rather than a full-time service commitment, distinguishing it from most Latin American neighbours' conscription models.

https://www.gob.mx/sedena

Dual citizens: Norwegian citizens including duals are formally subject to Vernepliktig service, but selection is competitive — only 9,000 of 60,000+ eligible per year are called up. Residence abroad reduces likelihood of selection.

New immigrants: Naturalised Norwegians not commonly conscripted in practice given selective system. Formal rules apply but the small annual intake means service is volunteer-like in practice.

Norway formally has gender-neutral conscription (since 2015) but selection is so competitive that fewer than 15% of conscription-eligible citizens actually serve. Effectively a selective-service regime with mandatory registration but rare actual conscription for most.

https://forsvaret.no/

Dual citizens: Swedish citizens including duals are subject to the lottery. Sweden re-introduced selective gender-neutral conscription in 2018 after a 7-year suspension.

New immigrants: Naturalised citizens under age 30 may be selected; over age 30 typically exempt in practice.

Sweden re-introduced conscription in 2018 in response to Russian assertiveness. Annual intake is small (~6,000-8,000) selected from ~100,000 eligible — the system functions effectively as a selective service.

Dual citizens: Ecuador's 2008 Constitution ended obligatory military conscription, converting the Servicio Militar into a voluntary programme. Dual-national Ecuadorian men face no compulsory service obligation.

New immigrants: Not applicable — there is no compulsory regime for naturalised citizens to be exempted from.

Ecuador is a notable Latin American exception: obligatory conscription was formally abolished under the 2008 constitutional reform associated with the Correa government, converting military service to a fully voluntary system.

Dual citizens: Saudi Arabia has no compulsory service or mandatory registration requirement, so dual nationals face no conscription exposure. Saudi law does not generally permit dual nationality without special approval in any case.

New immigrants: Not applicable — there is no conscription regime for naturalised citizens to be exempted from. Saudi naturalisation itself is rare and discretionary.

Saudi Arabia's armed forces are entirely volunteer-based. Periodic proposals to introduce national service have not been enacted as of the current reference date.

Dual citizens: US dual nationals (men) must register for Selective Service at age 18-25. Failure to register is a federal misdemeanour with implications for naturalisation, federal jobs, and federal financial aid.

New immigrants: All male US citizens including naturalised men aged 18-25 must register. Permanent residents (green-card holders) aged 18-25 must also register.

Although the US has had no active draft since 1973, Selective Service registration remains mandatory and is a hidden compliance trap for naturalised US citizens, immigrants, and Americans returning from abroad. Registration is via SSS-1 form online. Failure to register has bitten naturalised Americans seeking federal employment, FAFSA aid, and certain government clearances.

https://www.sss.gov/

France suspended military conscription in 2001. The 1-day Journée Défense et Citoyenneté (JDC) youth-citizenship day remains a formal requirement for French citizens at age 16-25. The Service National Universel (SNU) introduced under Macron is a 2-week voluntary civic programme — not compulsory military service.

Germany suspended Wehrpflicht (compulsory military service) in 2011. The Federal Constitutional Court has ruled the law remains formally on the books but inactive. Some political proposals to reactivate post-2022 invasion of Ukraine have not advanced.

Italy suspended military conscription in 2005. Italian Armed Forces are entirely volunteer.

Netherlands suspended conscription in 1997. Limited mandatory civic-service proposals (Diensttijd) under recent governments have not advanced.

Spain abolished compulsory military service in 2001 (formally suspended) and the Spanish Armed Forces are now entirely volunteer.

UK National Service abolished 1960. UK Armed Forces are entirely volunteer. No reserve registration requirement.