This guide is for internationals who have just moved to the United Kingdom and want to know whether they can get on the electoral register. By the end, you will understand how the rules depend on your nationality and on which part of the UK you live in, how registration works, and what happens once you are registered.
- Who can register: nationality and nation
- Which elections the register covers
- What to have ready
- How to register online or on paper
- After you register
- FAQ
Who can register: nationality and nation
The GOV.UK Register to vote page sets out who can register. The rules depend on where in the UK you live, so the first thing to establish is which nation you live in.
England and Northern Ireland
In England and Northern Ireland, you must be aged 16 or over to register. British citizens and Irish citizens can register. People of other nationalities can also register if they have permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (or do not need permission) and they are one of the following:
- a Commonwealth citizen, which includes citizens of Cyprus and Malta
- a citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain
- a citizen of another EU country who, on or before 31 December 2020, had permission to enter or stay (or did not need permission), where this has continued without a break
Scotland and Wales
In Scotland and Wales, you must be aged 14 or over to register. British and Irish citizens can register, and so can anyone who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who does not need permission. In these two nations there is no list of qualifying nationalities and no 2020 cut-off date.
Registering before voting age
GOV.UK states that you can register up to 2 years before you reach voting age. The registration page does not give the voting age for each election. Instead, it links to the wider rules on voting in the UK.
These pages do not explain whether a particular visa or immigration status counts as “permission to enter or stay”. For a question about your own immigration status, the right people to ask are an immigration adviser registered with the OISC or a solicitor regulated by the SRA.
Which elections the register covers
Being on the register does not automatically mean you can vote in every election. The GOV.UK page on types of election, referendums, and who can vote lists the most common elections:
- general elections and other UK Parliamentary elections
- local government elections
- Scottish Parliament elections
- Northern Ireland Assembly elections
- Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) elections
- local mayors, the Mayor of London and the London Assembly
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections
A vote on a single issue is called a referendum. GOV.UK says that different elections and referendums have different rules about who can vote, so not everyone can vote in every situation. Whether you can vote depends on four things: your age, your nationality, where you live, and whether you have registered.
The two official pages used for this guide do not say which nationalities can vote in which election. That detail is covered by the “Check which elections you can vote in” step on GOV.UK. Registration is the step that lets you vote in any election you are eligible for.
What to have ready
The online service asks for your National Insurance number. You can still register without one, which matters for newcomers who have not yet received theirs. GOV.UK also has a service to find a National Insurance number you have lost.
The official pages do not mention a fee for registering, and they do not list any documents that newcomers must provide. If your electoral registration office needs more information, it decides what to ask for.
How to register online or on paper
Online
Registering online usually takes about 5 minutes. You normally only need to register once, not before every election. You need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality. The online service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
People who live in the UK can use the same online service to opt out of the open register, and to update their details by registering again.
On paper
In England, Wales and Scotland, you can register using a paper form. You print the form, fill it in and send it to your electoral registration office. Northern Ireland has a different paper form, which goes to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI).
Anonymous registration
There is a separate process for registering anonymously, for example if you are concerned about your own safety or the safety of someone in your household.
Getting help
Your electoral registration office can help you register. You can also contact it to check whether you are already registered. GOV.UK also has an easy read guide to registering.
After you register
Once you are registered, your name and address appear on the electoral register. They also appear on the open register unless you opted out when you registered. The open register is the version of the electoral register that anyone can buy.
Registered voters can vote in one of three ways:
- In person. You need photo ID that allows you to vote. If you do not have suitable photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, or an Electoral Identity Card in Northern Ireland. Your electoral registration office can tell you where your polling station is and help with accessibility needs.
- By post. In England, Scotland and Wales, you can apply for a postal vote online or by post. In Northern Ireland, you can only apply by post.
- By proxy. A proxy is someone who votes on your behalf. You apply the same way as for a postal vote: online or by post in England, Scotland and Wales, and by post only in Northern Ireland.
The pages used for this guide do not give deadlines for postal or proxy vote applications. GOV.UK covers proxy deadlines on its separate page about voting by proxy.
FAQ
Is there a deadline to register before an election?
The official pages used for this guide do not give a registration deadline. Your electoral registration office can confirm the deadline for a particular election in your area.
Can EU citizens who arrived after 2020 register?
It depends on the nation. In England and Northern Ireland, EU citizens from countries other than Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain can register only if, on or before 31 December 2020, they had permission to enter or stay (or did not need it), and that has continued without a break. In Scotland and Wales, the only test is having permission to enter or stay, or not needing it. Questions about your own status are for an OISC-registered adviser or an SRA-regulated solicitor.
Do I need a National Insurance number to register?
The online service asks for one, but GOV.UK states that you can still register if you do not have a National Insurance number.
Do I have to register again if I move house?
Yes. You normally only register once, but you need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality. Moving to a new address means registering again.
Official sources: gov.uk · gov.uk
Last verified: 13 October 2026 against the official pages linked above. Rules and fees change; the official page always wins.
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Immigration advice in the UK may only be given by advisers regulated by the OISC or by solicitors regulated by the SRA.
Sources
- gov.uk: Register to vote, accessed 13 October 2026 (archived copy)
- gov.uk: Types of election, referendums, and who can vote, accessed 13 October 2026
The UK, for internationals
One email a week: the week's news for internationals in the UK, new practical guides and what changed in the cities. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
