People who live or work abroad
Overseas electors
If you are a British citizen living outside the United Kingdom for longer than six months of the year, you may be able to register as an overseas voter.
To register as an overseas elector you must be a British Citizen and meet one of two sets of conditions.
- Your name was previously on the electoral register for an address in the UK.
- There are no more than 15 years between the qualification date of that register and the date on your application to register as an overseas elector.
Please note with point 2 that subject to secondary legislation, the 15 year rule may be removed, to allow all British citizens living overseas to vote in UK Parliamentary elections, regardless of when they left the UK. Find out more on the Elections Act Page.
Or:
- you have reached the age of 18 whilst living abroad
- you were too young to be on the electoral roll before you left the UK or
- a parent or guardian was on that electoral register for the address at which you were living on that date
An application lasts one year and we will write to you three months before your registration is due to expire.
If your correspondence/overseas address changes, please inform us immediately by sending an email to elections@havering.gov.uk.
As an overseas voter, you are eligible to vote in elections for the UK Parliament. You cannot vote in UK local elections or the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections.
If you want to register to vote as an overseas elector, you can apply online at any time.
Register to vote as an overseas elector
Crown servants and British Council employees
If you are working outside the UK as a Crown Servants (eg in the diplomatic or overseas civil service) or an employee of the British Council, you can register to vote in the UK.
You can also register as a service voter if your spouse or civil partner is a member of the Crown Servant or British Council employee and you are accompanying them during their employment abroad.
You need to be registered at the address where you would be living if you were in the UK, or at your last registered UK address.
If your correspondence/overseas address changes, please inform us immediately by sending an email to elections@havering.gov.uk.
British citizens, Irish citizens and qualifying citizens of Commonwealth countries can vote at all elections.
Citizens of other EU countries can vote in local government elections, but cannot vote in UK parliamentary elections.
An application lasts one year and we will write to you three months before your registration is due to expire.
If you want to register to vote as a Crown Servant or British Council employee, you can apply online at any time.
Register to vote as a Crown Servant or British Council employee