If you are a British citizen living abroad, you can register as an overseas voter.

This allows you to vote in general elections, referendums and European elections in the constituency you last lived in, for 15 years after you were last entered on the electoral register.

You cannot vote in local elections.

When registering, you will need your National Insurance number, the address at which you were last registered in the UK (your qualifying address) and you may need your passport number.

Register to vote as an overseas voter

Once registered as an overseas voter, you may either appoint a person to vote on your behalf at the polling station (vote by proxy) or vote yourself by post.

• Vote by proxy – you appoint a person to vote on your behalf at the polling station linked to your qualifying address. If they don’t live near your qualifying address, they can apply for a postal proxy vote once appointed.
• Vote by post – if a postal vote is chosen, you should bear in mind the length of time taken for post to travel in either direction.