Overseas voters

All abroad! British citizens living abroad can now vote in UK Parliament elections, regardless of when they left the UK.

From 16 January 2024, there have been some changes to the rules regarding overseas voters. If you are a qualifying British citizen living overseas, you can:

Register to vote in UK parliamentary elections by completing a registration form at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Register no matter how long ago you left the UK (prior to 16 January 2024, there was a 15 year limit)
Register even if you were not registered to vote while you lived in the UK (you may be asked to supply proof of residency).

How do I vote?

Once you have registered as an overseas elector, you will be able to apply to vote by post or by proxy. Postal vote packs are usually sent out 2-3 weeks before an election. If you are concerned the pack won't reach you in time to be completed and returned by election day, you may wish to consider applying for a proxy vote instead. For details on how to apply, please visit our Electoral register and voting page.

How long will my registration last?

If you completed your overseas registration after 16 January 2024, your overseas declaration will be valid for up to three years. We will contact you when it is time to renew your registration.

Existing overseas electors

If you are already registered as an overseas elector, please wait until we get in touch with you before submitting an application. If you applied as an overseas elector before 16 January 2024, you will need to renew your registration after 12 months. After this renewal, you will move to the three-year renewal cycle. We will contact you when it is time to renew your registration.

Further information

You can find more information about overseas voting on the Electoral Commission's Voting if you live overseas webpage.