Register to vote as an overseas elector

On 16 January 2024, changes to voting rights for British citizens living overseas came into force.  The 15 year limit on voting rights for British citizens living overseas was abolished, meaning that British citizens living overseas can now register for life.  

Any British citizen living abroad who has previously lived in, or been registered to vote in the UK, now has the right to vote at UK Parliamentary elections.  These voters will be registered at the constituency where they were last registered to vote, or where they lived if they were not registered to vote before.  British citizens living abroad will no longer have to register as an overseas voter every year.  Instead, they will have to renew their registration every 3 years.

If you are a UK citizen living abroad, you can apply to be an overseas elector. This means you can cast your vote in UK elections and referendums whilst still living in another country.

Register as an overseas elector

You can register online to be an overseas elector, based either on previous registration or previous residency.  If we cannot find you on the register of electors in our area, then we may need to reject your application and you will need to reapply based on previous residency.  If you are unsure if you were registered, then we would recommend applying using the previous residency route.  Please note that we only have records up to 2009, so if you left the UK any earlier than this date then we may not be able to verify your application and you may be asked to reapply under the previous residency route.   

Before you complete your registration, please ensure you have the following information ready as you will need this to register to vote:

• full name
• address
• date of birth
• National Insurance number
• passport number 

Renew your registration

To remain registered as an overseas elector, you will need to renew your application and your voting method every 3 years.  We will contact you to remind you to renew your declaration before it expires.

If you change address, return to the UK or no longer wish to be registered as an overseas elector, you must tell us.

How to vote

You can vote in one of three ways:

•    by post - apply using the online service
•    by proxy - apply using the online service 
•    in person if you are in the UK

You can only vote in person if 

• you haven't applied to vote by post
• you can get to your normal polling station on election day 

or, if you have appointed a proxy to vote on your behalf, if:

• your proxy hasn't applied to vote by post
• your proxy hasn't already voted for you at the polling station

You will be required to show ID at the polling station if you vote in person.  View a list of accepted forms of ID.   You can apply online for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, if you don't have an accepted form of photo ID, you're not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, or you're worried about using an existing form of ID for any other reason, such as the use of a gender marker.