Douglas Olsen
International students in the UK may be eligible to vote in national and local elections, as long as they are registered to vote. To vote in the general election, international students must meet certain criteria, including being 18 years or older on polling day and being resident at a UK address. The eligibility criteria for voting in local elections vary across the UK, with some areas allowing foreign nationals to register to vote. Students can register at both their term-time and home addresses but can only vote once, at one of those addresses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can register to vote in the UK | British citizens, Irish citizens, citizens of another EU country, qualifying Commonwealth citizens, and citizens of the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and British overseas territories |
| Age requirement | 14 or older in the UK (16 in England and Northern Ireland, 14 in Wales and Scotland) |
| National Insurance number requirement | Required, but there are other ways to check identity |
| Photo ID requirement | Required, but a Voter Authority Certificate can be applied for if one does not have photo ID |
| Registering at multiple addresses | Possible, but can only vote once at one of the addresses |
| Voting as an overseas voter | Possible, with a different process for those registering to vote in Northern Ireland, as a Crown servant or British Council employee, or as a member of the armed forces |
| Renewing registration | Every 3 years, with reminders sent when it's time to renew |
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What You'll Learn
International students' eligibility to vote in the UK
In terms of nationality, British citizens, Irish citizens, and qualifying Commonwealth citizens are generally eligible to vote in all UK elections. Citizens of other countries, including EU citizens, may have limited voting rights or be restricted to voting in local or devolved elections in certain parts of the UK. For example, citizens of Cyprus, Malta, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands can vote in UK elections if they live in the country.
International students must be 18 years or older on polling day and be resident at a UK address to be eligible to vote. It is important to note that students can register to vote at both their term-time and home addresses but can only vote once at one of those addresses during national elections.
To register to vote, individuals can apply online and provide their personal details, including their name and address, and National Insurance number. It is worth noting that registration is required only once, and it usually takes about five minutes. However, individuals need to register again if they change their name, address, or nationality.
While most elections require photo ID, student IDs are generally not accepted as valid voter ID. Therefore, it is essential to have other accepted forms of photo identification, such as a passport or driving licence.
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Registering to vote as an international student
International students from more than 70 countries and territories across the world can vote in UK General Elections. To vote in the general election, international students must meet the following criteria:
- You must be 18 years or older on polling day.
- You must be a resident at an address in the UK.
- You must be a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland. Citizens of any other country, including EU citizens, are generally not eligible to vote in UK general elections. However, there are some exceptions, such as citizens of Cyprus, Malta, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, who can vote if they live in the UK.
- You must be registered to vote by the deadline, which is usually a few weeks before the election.
To register to vote, you can go online to the government website and fill out a form. You will need to provide your personal details and National Insurance number. If you don't have a National Insurance number, there are other ways to check your identity, such as by contacting the Electoral Commission. You can register at both your term-time and home addresses, but you can only vote once, at one of those addresses.
It's important to note that you will need to show accepted photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence, to vote. Student ID cards are not accepted as valid voter ID. You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if you don't have photo ID that allows you to vote.
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Voting at two addresses
International students from more than 70 countries and territories across the world can vote in UK General Elections. To be eligible, international students must meet the following criteria: they must be 18 years or older on polling day, be resident at an address in the UK, and be a British, Irish, or qualifying Commonwealth citizen. Students from British overseas territories are also eligible to vote.
If you are registered at two addresses, you must choose one address and vote in that area. Voting in more than one location is a criminal offence. However, there are exceptions for certain elections. For local council elections in Northern Ireland, you can choose to vote in either or both areas, as long as the addresses are in different council areas. If one of your addresses is in Scotland and the other is in another part of the UK, you can vote in the council election in Scotland and the local election in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
If you split your time between two homes, you may be able to register to vote at both addresses. If you apply to register to vote from your second home, your application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, depending on the amount of time you spend at each address. Students can register at both their term-time and home addresses, but they can only vote once, at one of those addresses.
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Accepted forms of photo ID
International students in the UK are eligible to vote in general elections if they meet certain criteria. These include being 18 years or older on polling day, being a resident at a UK address, and being a citizen of an eligible country. To vote, eligible international students must register and provide accepted forms of photo ID.
- A passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or a British Overseas Territory.
- A passport or passport card issued by an EEA state or a country whose citizens are Commonwealth citizens.
- A UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional).
- A driving licence issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man, or any of the Channel Islands.
- A Scottish National Entitlement Card issued for the purpose of concessionary travel (including a 60+, disabled, or under-22 bus pass).
- Ministry of Defence Form 100 (HM Armed Forces Veteran Card), which can be used at elections taking place on or after 1 May 2025.
- A Disabled Person's Bus Pass funded by the UK Government.
- A 60+ London Oyster Photocard funded by Transport for London.
- Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card), for example, a Young Scot card.
It's important to note that the photo ID must be the original version and not a photocopy or digital version. Only a digital version of an eVisa is accepted. Additionally, the address on the ID does not need to match the voter's current address, and an expired ID can still be used as long as the photo resembles the voter.
If an individual does not have any of the accepted forms of photo ID, they can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. This is a free paper document with their photo on it, which can be used as proof of identity when voting in England, Scotland, or Wales. The Voter Authority Certificate is not accepted as proof of identification for other purposes, such as proving one's age.
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Registering to vote from abroad
If you are a British citizen living abroad, you can apply to register as an overseas voter. You can register as an overseas elector regardless of how long ago you left the UK or were last registered to vote in the UK. Your overseas declaration is valid for three years.
If you are registering to vote in Northern Ireland, as a Crown servant or British council employee, or as a member of the armed forces, there is a different process to follow. You will need to register with a paper form.
You will need to provide your personal details and National Insurance number (although you can still register if you do not have one). You will also need to give the postcode of the last UK address you lived at or were registered to vote at.
If you are an international student, you may be eligible to vote in UK elections if you meet certain criteria. You must be 18 years or older on polling day and be resident at a UK address. If you are a British, Irish, or qualifying Commonwealth citizen, you are eligible to vote. Citizens of Cyprus, Malta, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands can also vote if they live in the UK.
If you are an international student who is eligible and chooses to register to vote, you can register at both your term-time and home addresses. However, you can only vote once, and you will need to show accepted photo ID, such as a passport or driving license.
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Frequently asked questions
International students can register to vote in the UK if they meet the following criteria: they must be 18 years or older on polling day, be a resident at an address in the UK, and be a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland. Students from British overseas territories are also eligible to vote.
To register to vote in the UK, international students can go online to register at their term-time address. They will need to provide their personal details and National Insurance number. It is important to note that students can register at both their term-time and home addresses but can only vote once, at one of those addresses.
To vote in UK elections, individuals must be registered to vote and may need to provide photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence. Student ID cards are not accepted as valid voter ID. Additionally, voters must be aged 18 or older and not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote, such as being a prisoner serving a sentence for a conviction.
