From 16 January 2024, changes to the electoral arrangements for British citizens living overseas were introduced.
British citizens living overseas can now register to vote in the UK no matter how long ago they left or were last registered to vote in the UK. The previous 15-year rule has been removed.
Overseas declarations are now valid for up to three years instead of one.
Overseas electors can now register online.
Any British citizen living abroad who has previously lived in, or has 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.
Postal and proxy vote arrangements for Overseas Electors will be linked to their three year overseas declaration.
Overseas Elector Declaration Renewals
Overseas electors have to renew their declaration every three years. This includes renewing any postal or proxy vote (absent vote) that is in place for their overseas registration.
Overseas electors who need to renew their declaration and absent vote will be contacted by email or letter in July of the relevant year, explaining how to renew the declaration.
When you receive your overseas declaration renewal it must be completed by 1 November. You will receive a reminder if you do not respond to our first email or letter.
If a new declaration is not completed by 1 November, the overseas registration will cease and entries on the electoral register will be removed.
If an entry is removed from the register because a renewal is not completed, a new application would have to be made to be registered as an overseas elector again.
Further information on renewing your overseas registration
If you receive a renewal declaration and you are no longer living overseas, please contact Electoral Services using the details at the bottom of the page.
Overseas electors who have an absent vote in place will be contacted to advise on how they can renew their absent vote arrangement. This must be renewed as well as the overseas declaration.