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Check if you can register to vote and which elections you can vote in

Who can register to vote in England

To register to vote, you must be aged 16 or over (but you can’t vote until you’re 18 years old), and one of the following:

  • a UK or Irish citizen 
  • a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK
  • a qualifying EU citizen living in the UK

Find out more about registering to vote

The definition of a 'Commonwealth' citizen includes citizens of British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories. A 'qualifying' Commonwealth citizen is someone who has leave to enter or remain in the UK, or who doesn't require that leave.

Commonwealth countries

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • The Bahamas
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Fiji Islands
  • Gabon
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • India
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Kingdom of Eswatini
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Samoa
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • St Kitts & Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent & The Grenadines
  • The Bahamas
  • The Gambia
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • Vanuatu
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

This list doesn't include the UK.

Please note:

  • Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus and Malta are eligible to be registered to vote in all elections held in the UK.
  • Citizens of Fiji and Zimbabwe retain their voting rights despite the countries having been suspended from the Commonwealth.
British crown dependencies
Isle of Man
The Channel Islands (including Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, Herm and the other inhabited Channel Islands)
British overseas territories
Anguilla
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Monserrat
Pitcairn Island
St Helena and dependencies (Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Sovereign base areas on Cyprus
Turks and Caicos Islands
Hong Kong
Former residents of Hong Kong who hold a British Overseas Territories, British Nationals (Overseas) or British Overseas passport qualify for registration.

You can register to vote if you are a citizen of:

  • Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain who is resident in the UK, has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who does not need permission
  • any other EU country who on or before 31 December 2020 was legally resident in the UK, had permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who did not need permission, and this has continued without a break

The other EU countries are:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden

Qualifying EU citizens (excluding Cyprus, Malta and Ireland) can register to vote in local elections, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus, Malta and Ireland are eligible to be registered to vote in all elections held in the UK.

Who can register to vote in Wales

To register to vote, you must be aged 14 or over (but you can’t vote until you’re 16 or 18 depending on the election) and one of the following: 

  • a UK or Irish citizen
  • a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK 
  • a qualifying EU citizen living in the UK 
  • a qualifying foreign citizen

Find out more about registering to vote

The definition of a 'Commonwealth' citizen includes citizens of British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories. A 'qualifying' Commonwealth citizen is someone who has leave to enter or remain in the UK, or who doesn't require that leave.

Commonwealth countries

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • The Bahamas
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Fiji Islands
  • Gabon
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • India
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Kingdom of Eswatini
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Samoa
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • St Kitts & Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent & The Grenadines
  • The Bahamas
  • The Gambia
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • Vanuatu
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

This list doesn't include the UK.

Please note:

  • Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus and Malta are eligible to be registered to vote in all elections held in the UK.
  • Citizens of Fiji and Zimbabwe retain their voting rights despite the countries having been suspended from the Commonwealth.
British crown dependencies
Isle of Man
The Channel Islands (including Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, Herm and the other inhabited Channel Islands)
British overseas territories
Anguilla
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Monserrat
Pitcairn Island
St Helena and dependencies (Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Sovereign base areas on Cyprus
Turks and Caicos Islands

 

Hong Kong

Former residents of Hong Kong who hold a British Overseas Territories, British Nationals (Overseas) or British Overseas passport qualify for registration.

If you don't have one of these passports, you may still be able to register to vote as a qualifying foreign citizen in Wales.

All European Union citizens can register to vote in Senedd and local council elections in Wales.

To register to vote in Police and Crime Commissioner elections, you need to be a citizen of:

  • Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain who is resident in the UK, has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who does not need permission
  • any other EU country who on or before 31 December 2020 was legally resident in the UK, had permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who did not need permission, and this has continued without a break

The other EU countries are:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden

Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus, Malta and Ireland are eligible to be registered to vote in all elections held in the UK.

A qualifying foreign citizen is a citizen of another country who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need such permission.

Who can register to vote in Scotland

To register to vote, you must be:

  • a UK or Irish citizen, or
  • a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK, or
  • a qualifying foreign national who is living in Scotland and has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need such permission, including EU citizens.

You must also be aged 14 or over (but you can’t vote until you’re 16 years old).

Find out more about registering to vote

The definition of a 'Commonwealth' citizen includes citizens of British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories. A 'qualifying' Commonwealth citizen is someone who has leave to enter or remain in the UK, or who doesn't require that leave.

Commonwealth countries

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • The Bahamas
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Fiji Islands
  • Gabon
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • India
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Kingdom of Eswatini
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Samoa
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • St Kitts & Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent & The Grenadines
  • The Bahamas
  • The Gambia
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • Vanuatu
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

This list doesn't include the UK.

Please note:

  • Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus and Malta are eligible to be registered to vote in all elections held in the UK.
  • Citizens of Fiji and Zimbabwe retain their voting rights despite the countries having been suspended from the Commonwealth.
British crown dependencies
Isle of Man
The Channel Islands (including Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, Herm and the other inhabited Channel Islands)
British overseas territories
Anguilla
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Monserrat
Pitcairn Island
St Helena and dependencies (Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Sovereign base areas on Cyprus
Turks and Caicos Islands
Hong Kong

Former residents of Hong Kong who hold a British Overseas Territories, British Nationals (Overseas) or British Overseas passport qualify for registration.

If you don't have one of these passports, you may still be able to register to vote as a qualifying foreign citizen in Scotland.

A qualifying foreign national is a citizen of another country who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need such permission. This includes EU citizens.

Who can register to vote in Northern Ireland

To register to vote, you must be aged 17 or older (or will be 17 by 30 November) (but you can’t vote until you’re 18 years old, and be one of the following:

  • a UK or Irish citizen
  • a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK
  • a qualifying EU citizen living in the UK

Find out more about registering to vote

The definition of a 'Commonwealth' citizen includes citizens of British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories. A 'qualifying' Commonwealth citizen is someone who has leave to enter or remain in the UK, or who doesn't require that leave.

Commonwealth countries

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • The Bahamas
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Fiji Islands
  • Gabon
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • India
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Kingdom of Eswatini
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Samoa
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • St Kitts & Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent & The Grenadines
  • The Bahamas
  • The Gambia
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • Vanuatu
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

This list doesn't include the UK.

Please note:

  • Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus and Malta are eligible to be registered to vote in all elections held in the UK.
  • Citizens of Fiji and Zimbabwe retain their voting rights despite the countries having been suspended from the Commonwealth.
British crown dependencies
Isle of Man
The Channel Islands (including Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, Herm and the other inhabited Channel Islands)
British overseas territories
Anguilla
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Monserrat
Pitcairn Island
St Helena and dependencies (Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Sovereign base areas on Cyprus
Turks and Caicos Islands
Hong Kong
Former residents of Hong Kong who hold a British Overseas Territories, British Nationals (Overseas) or British Overseas passport qualify for registration.

You can register to vote if you are a citizen of:

  • Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain who is resident in the UK, has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who does not need permission
  • any other EU country who on or before 31 December 2020 was legally resident in the UK, had permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who did not need permission, and this has continued without a break

The other EU countries are:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden

Qualifying EU citizens (excluding Cyprus, Malta and Ireland) can register to vote in local and Assembly elections in Northern Ireland.

Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus, Malta and Ireland are eligible to be registered to vote in all elections held in the UK.

Who can register to vote as an overseas voter

To register as an overseas voter, you must be a UK or eligible Irish citizen and have either:

  • previously registered to vote in the UK 
  • or, previously lived in the UK (including if you left the UK before you were old enough to register to vote)

If you were too young to register to vote when you left the UK, you can still register to vote if you previously lived in the UK. 

Find out more about registering to vote

The definition of a 'Commonwealth' citizen includes citizens of British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories. A 'qualifying' Commonwealth citizen is someone who has leave to enter or remain in the UK, or who doesn't require that leave.

Commonwealth countries

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • The Bahamas
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Fiji Islands
  • Gabon
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • India
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Kingdom of Eswatini
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Samoa
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • St Kitts & Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent & The Grenadines
  • The Bahamas
  • The Gambia
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • Vanuatu
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

This list doesn't include the UK.

Please note:

  • Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus and Malta are eligible to be registered to vote in all elections held in the UK.
  • Citizens of Fiji and Zimbabwe retain their voting rights despite the countries having been suspended from the Commonwealth.
British crown dependencies
Isle of Man
The Channel Islands (including Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, Herm and the other inhabited Channel Islands)
British overseas territories
Anguilla
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Monserrat
Pitcairn Island
St Helena and dependencies (Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Sovereign base areas on Cyprus
Turks and Caicos Islands
Hong Kong

Former residents of Hong Kong who hold a British Overseas Territories, British Nationals (Overseas) or British Overseas passport qualify for registration.

If you don't have one of these passports, you may still be able to register to vote as a qualifying foreign citizen in Scotland or Wales.

An "EU citizen" is someone with citizenship of one of these EU member states.

EU countries
AustriaBelgiumBulgaria
CroatiaCyprusCzech Republic
DenmarkEstoniaFinland
FranceGermanyGreece
HungaryIrelandItaly
LatviaLithuaniaLuxembourg
MaltaNetherlandsPoland
PortugalRomaniaSlovakia
SloveniaSpainSweden

Please note:

  • Although also EU member states, citizens of Cyprus and Malta are eligible to be registered to vote in all elections held in the UK.

A qualifying foreign citizen is a citizen of another country who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need such permission.

Which elections can you vote in

The elections you can vote in depend on:

  • your citizenship
  • your age
  • where you live

Find out more about which elections you can vote in

Voting if you have a second home or you're a student

If you are a student or you split your time between two homes, you may be able to register to vote at both addresses.

Voting if you don’t have a fixed address

Find out how to register to vote if you are experiencing homelessness.

Voting if you live overseas

British citizens living overseas who have previously lived or been registered to vote in the UK can register to vote in UK Parliamentary elections.

Voting if you're an EU citizen living in the UK

Your voting rights as an EU citizen living in the UK depend on the type of election and your citizenship

Crown servant voter

If you're a Crown servant or British Council employee, you can register as a Crown servant voter.

Register as a service voter

If you're a member of the Armed Forces, you can register as a service voter.

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