Overseas electors

British citizens living abroad can register to vote in the UK Parliamentary elections. Overseas elector registrations are valid for up to three years and must be renewed when they expire.

Postal and proxy vote applications are linked to the same three-year registration period.

How to register to vote

Overseas voters can apply to register in the same way as any other voter.

You'll need to provide details of your last UK address. If you were previously registered to vote, give the address where you were last registered. If you were not registered, give the address where you last lived, along with the relevant dates.

How to renew your registration

Overseas voters need to provide a renewal declaration every three years before 1 November, which is the default renewal date.

We'll send you a reminder about three months before your registration expires if you want to stay registered as an overseas voter.

The reminder will include a renewal declaration. You'll need to complete this to confirm your details are correct and update your contact details if needed.

Overseas electors cannot renew their registration by submitting a new register to vote application.

How to vote

As an overseas elector, you should think about how you will vote in elections, which can sometimes be called at short notice. You can vote in person at your assigned polling station or you can have an absent vote where there are two options:

• Vote by post
• Vote by proxy

Further information

• Voting if you live overseas (The Electoral Commission) (opens in new tab)
• Voting if you move or live abroad (GOV.UK) (opens in new tab)

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