Overseas voters

From January 16, 2024, there are changes for British citizens living overseas:

• British citizens living overseas can register to vote in the UK no matter how long ago they left or were last registered to vote in the UK. 
• Overseas declarations are now valid for three years, lasting until November 1 in the third year after it takes effect (for example, if the declaration takes effect on March 1, 2024, it will expire on November 1, 2026).
• British citizens living overseas can now register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

These changes apply to UK Parliament general elections, by-elections and recall petitions.

Any British citizen living abroad who has previously lived in, or been registered to vote in the UK, will have 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.

For further information about these legislative changes, please visit the Electoral Commission website.

Frequently asked questions

What is changing?

In the past, British citizens were only eligible to vote in UK Parliament elections if they had previously been registered in the UK and living abroad for less than 15 years.

From January 2024, there is no longer a time limit. Voters that have previously lived or been registered to vote in the UK now have the right to vote in UK parliament elections.

What are the eligibility rules?

British citizens, which includes eligible Irish citizens and citizens of Crown Dependencies, may register as overseas voters if they are now living abroad, providing they:

• were previously registered to vote in the UK, either before they left the UK or as an overseas voter; or
• were previously resident in the UK.

Overseas British citizens must apply to register as a voter using the address where they were last registered to vote in the UK or, if they have never been registered, the last address at which they were resident in the UK.

What if voters have been registered at more than one address in the past?

If an applicant has been previously registered at more than one address, they use the most recent address at which they were registered.

How do voters register?

Overseas voters can apply to register in the same way as any other voter. They can apply online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or by sending a paper form to Electoral Services.

Those who were previously registered will have to provide details about the address and time they were last registered.

Those who previously lived in the UK, but were not registered, will need to provide details about the address and time where they were last resident.

How do overseas voters prove those details?

Local authorities in England are responsible for the electoral register in their area. They must be satisfied that the applicant was registered or lived in the area previously, and must be able to verify an applicant’s identity.

Local authorities have a number of resources for verifying this information, including checking previous registers, or evidence provided by the applicant.

How often do overseas voters need to register?

Under the new rules, overseas voters need to provide a renewal declaration every three years. Previously, it was every 12 months. A renewal declaration confirms that the details held on the electoral register are accurate and provides an opportunity to update correspondence details if necessary.

Registration will need to be renewed before November 1, three years after the voter registered as an overseas voter, unless the voter has successfully renewed their voter registration in the meantime. So, if a British citizen living overseas applies to vote in March 2024, they will need to renew their application before November 1, 2026.

Are overseas voters allowed to donate money to UK political parties?

Yes, under electoral law, those on an electoral register are also permitted to donate to political parties and campaigners campaigning in UK elections.