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Part of Vote in UK elections

Voting if you move or live abroad

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Overview

You can register as an overseas voter if you move or live abroad.

You must have previously lived in the UK and be either:

  • a British citizen
  • an eligible Irish citizen registering to vote in Northern Ireland

The rules are different if you’ll be abroad temporarily on election day.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

How to register as an overseas voter

To vote in England, Scotland or Wales, register to vote in the usual way.

To vote in Northern Ireland, register with a paper form.

There are different ways to register if you’re working abroad in the armed forces, as a crown servant or as a British Council employee.

Renewing your registration 

You must renew your registration every 3 years to keep voting in UK elections while living abroad.

You’ll get a reminder from your UK electoral registration office when it’s time to renew.

If you do not renew your registration, you’ll be removed from the register. You’ll need to register to vote again as an overseas voter.

Updating your registration details

Contact the electoral registration office where you registered as an overseas voter if you need to change:

  • your name
  • your address
  • your nationality

What elections you can vote in

You can vote in UK Parliament elections if you’re registered as an overseas voter. 

You may be able to vote in referendums. Each referendum has different rules on who can vote in it. 

Ways you can vote as an overseas voter

If you’re registered to vote in England, Scotland or Wales, you can either:

If you’re registered to vote in Northern Ireland, you can either:

You cannot vote by post if you’re registered to vote in Northern Ireland.

If you want to vote in person

You can vote in person at the polling station you used when you lived in the UK. If you were not registered to vote when you lived in the UK, you can vote at the polling station that applies to where you used to live.

You’ll need to show photo ID to confirm your identity. 

If you’re not sure which polling station you should go to, contact the electoral registration office for where you used to live.

View a printable version of the whole guide

This page is Part of Vote in UK elections

  1. Step 1 Check if you can vote

    1. Check which elections you can vote in

  2. Step 2 Register to vote

    You’ll need to be registered to vote to take part in elections and referendums. You’ll need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality.

    1. Register to vote - apply online
    1. Register to vote - apply by post

  3. Step 3 Decide if you want to vote in person, by post, or by proxy

    1. Find out the different ways you can vote

  4. Step 4 Get ready to vote in person

    1. Check what ID you need to vote

    If you do not have photo ID that allows you to vote, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (or an Electoral Identity Card in Northern Ireland) .

    1. Apply for a photo ID to vote

    Contact your electoral registration office to find your polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility needs.

    1. Contact your electoral registration office

  5. or Apply for a postal vote

    In England, Scotland or Wales:

    1. Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
    1. Find out more about voting by post

  6. or Apply for a proxy vote

    In England, Scotland or Wales:

    1. Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
    1. Find out more about voting by proxy - including when you must apply by

  7. or Get ready to vote as a proxy

    1. Check what ID you need to vote

    Contact the electoral registration office of the person you are a proxy for to find their polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility issues.

    1. Contact the electoral registration office

  8. Step 5 Vote in person

    1. Vote in person

  9. or Vote by post

    1. Vote by post

  10. or Vote as a proxy for someone else

    1. Vote as a proxy for someone else