Voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens
If you are an EU citizen living in the UK, whether you can vote in a UK election depends on the type of election you are voting in and your citizenship.
Election changes
Following the UK's departure from the EU, the type of UK election EU citizens can vote in and stand as a candidate in has changed. These changes were introduced as part of the Elections Act.
These changes apply to the following elections:
- Local elections, mayoral elections and Greater London Assembly elections in England
- Local and Assembly elections in Northern Ireland
You will be able to register, vote or stand as a candidate in these elections 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
UK Parliamentary elections
EU citizens cannot vote or stand as a candidate in UK Parliamentary general elections.
Ireland, Cyprus and Malta
These changes do not affect the eligibility to vote of citizens of Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. Citizens of these countries living in the UK can register, vote and stand as candidates in all elections held in the UK.
Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain
The UK has mutual agreements with Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain. Citizens of these countries living in the UK can still vote and stand as candidates in UK elections, excluding UK Parliamentary elections. UK citizens living in these countries can vote and stand as candidates in elections in that country.
'Other' EU countries
To be able to register to vote in local elections in England, local and Assembly elections in Northern Ireland, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales, citizens of 'other' EU countries need to be:
- a citizen of 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
- Czechia
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- The Netherlands
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
New citizenship or changed your nationality
If you have gained new citizenship or changed your nationality since you last registered to vote, you should contact Electoral Services team. The changes to your citizenship or nationality may affect your eligibility to vote.
Contact us
Electoral Services
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Town Hall
Hornton Street
London
W8 7NX
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- telephone: 020 7361 3444
- email: [email protected]