After setting in the UK, most common question of our clients is “Can immigrants vote in UK?”
The short answer is that most immigrants cannot vote in general elections, but many can vote in local and devolved elections depending on nationality and location. As different elections and referendums in the UK have different rules about who can vote, it is worth checking each election type carefully.
Whether you can vote in the UK depends on your nationality, where you live, your age and whether you are on the electoral register. Being legally resident is not enough on its own. Voter ID is mandatory in England since 2023 that must match the registered name to vote.
In this complete guide, we explain how voting eligibility works for foreign nationals in 2026, which elections you can take part in, and how to register to vote correctly.
Can Immigrants Vote in UK? The Quick Answer
Your right to vote depends on four factors: your age, your nationality, where you live and whether you have registered to vote. Holding a visa or even indefinite leave to remain does not automatically give you the right to vote.
| Group | General elections | Local elections | Scotland and Wales devolved elections |
|---|---|---|---|
| British citizen | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Irish citizen | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Qualifying Commonwealth citizens | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EU citizens | No | Only in some cases in England and Northern Ireland | Yes, if legally resident |
| Other foreign nationals | No | Scotland and Wales only | Yes, if legally resident |
In short, immigrants who are not British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizens cannot vote in general elections, but they may still vote in certain elections, such as local and devolved elections in Scotland and Wales.
Citizens of the British Crown Dependencies (the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey) also have distinct voting rights depending on whether they are voting in local island elections or in United Kingdom elections.
Who Can Vote in UK Elections?
UK General Elections occur every five years and the deadline to apply for voter ID is usually before elections. The following citizens are eligible for it. Note that registration deadlines are fixed for each poll: for example, the deadline to register for the 2024 General Election was 18 June 2024, and you should always check the deadline for the specific election you want to vote in.
British Citizen
A British citizen aged 18 or over who is registered can vote in every type of election, including:
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General elections
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Local elections
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Devolved elections
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Police and crime commissioner elections
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National referendums
Members of the House of Commons are elected by these voters at each general election, which is why the rules on who can register to vote matter so much.
Irish Citizen Voting Rights
An Irish citizen living in the UK has the same rights as a British citizen. The Commons Library confirms that Irish citizens who are resident in the UK have full voting rights, and that these rights derive from the historical links between the two countries. This applies across Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, as well as in general elections.
Qualifying Commonwealth Citizens
Qualifying Commonwealth citizens can vote in UK parliamentary elections as well as local and devolved elections. To qualify, you must:
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Be a national of a qualifying Commonwealth country. This includes countries such as India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Jamaica, Canada and Australia.
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Be resident in the UK and have permission to enter or stay, or not require such permission. A qualifying Commonwealth citizen is someone who is resident in the UK and who has leave to remain in the UK or does not require leave to remain.
Importantly, electoral registration officers can check the immigration status of applicants, so your valid immigration status matters. Time limited visas still count, provided the permission is in force when you register and when you vote.
Citizens of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and British Overseas Territories are also covered. Furthermore, certain former residents of Hong Kong holding a British Overseas passport qualify to vote too. These British nationals are treated separately from other British nationality categories, and only those with this status qualify.
Commonwealth Countries: A Note on Malta and Cyprus
Malta and Cyprus are both EU and Commonwealth members. UK qualifying commonwealth citizens of both countries have voting rights to all elections in the UK, if they are resident and fulfil all other criteria.
Citizens of Fiji and Zimbabwe also retain their rights despite their Commonwealth suspensions, according to local authority guidance. If you are unsure whether your country counts as a Commonwealth country for voting purposes, check the current list before you register to vote.
For the official guidance, see Types of election, referendums, and who can vote: Overview.
EU Citizens and the European Union: What Changed After Brexit?
Since the UK left the European Union, voting rights for EU citizens have become more complicated. Citizens of other nations cannot vote in UK Parliament elections regardless of how long they have been resident, and this includes EU citizens. The exceptions are Irish citizens, plus citizens of Malta and Cyprus through their Commonwealth status.
Citizens of other EU member states, like Estonia, Finland, France, Germany etc are not qualified to vote.
Local Elections in England and Northern Ireland
In England and Northern Ireland, the rules depend on which EU country you come from and when you arrived:
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Bilateral treaty countries: Citizens of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain who are resident in the UK and have permission to enter or stay can register to vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland. The UK has bilateral treaties with these countries.
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Any other EU country: Citizens of any other EU country who were legally resident in the UK on or before 31 December 2020, and have remained resident without a break, can register to vote in local elections. This is known as “retained rights”.
If you are a citizen of another EU country who arrived after 2020 and your country has no agreement with the UK, you cannot vote in local elections in England or Northern Ireland. Moving to Scotland or Wales, however, changes the position, as explained below.
Devolved Elections: Scotland and Wales Allow Broader Voting
The franchise for devolved elections is set by the devolved administrations. Citizens of all other nations can register to vote for local elections in Scotland and Wales, and for Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru elections, as long as they meet the residence requirements.
In practice, this means that in Scotland and Wales:
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Scottish Parliament elections and Welsh Senedd elections are open to legally resident foreign nationals
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Registered 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds can vote
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Local council elections follow the same broader rules
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is different. Under the GOV.UK summary, in Northern Ireland Assembly elections you can vote if you’re a British or Irish citizen. Local elections in Northern Ireland follow the same pattern as England, including the limited EU citizen rules above. Northern Ireland has also long had its own voter ID system, using the Electoral Identity Card.
Citizens of Other Countries and Non Commonwealth Country Nationals
If you come from a non commonwealth country, such as the United States, China, Brazil, Russia or Turkey, you cannot vote in general elections or local elections in England and Northern Ireland, even if you hold indefinite leave to remain. Many migrants live, pay tax, and contribute to their communities but still cannot vote there unless they fall within an eligible nationality group. You may still be able to vote in local and devolved elections in Scotland and Wales if you are legally resident.
Holders of the following are often surprised to learn they still have no vote in general elections:
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Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) holders who are not British citizens
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Long-term residents who pay tax and own property
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Spouses of British citizens from non-qualifying countries
Those without leave to remain are also excluded. This includes individuals who are illegally present in the UK or subject to removal, and asylum seekers with an undetermined claim, who cannot vote. By contrast, refugees and those with humanitarian protection can qualify where the local rules allow. Each country within the UK sets its own franchise for devolved elections, so your right to vote can change if you move from one nation to another.
Which Elections Can Immigrants Vote In UK?
UK General Elections and UK Parliamentary Elections
To vote in UK parliamentary elections, you must be registered, be 18 or over on polling day, and be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen. This also applies to by-elections and recall petitions. EU citizens (other than Irish, Maltese and Cypriot nationals) and other foreign nationals cannot vote in UK elections of this type.
Local Government Elections
Local government elections choose your local council, and eligibility is wider than for general elections. In England or Northern Ireland, you can vote if you are a British or Irish citizen, or a Commonwealth citizen with permission to stay or no need for it.
Eligible EU citizens can also vote, as set out above. Councillors decide on local services such as bin collections, planning and libraries, so these local council elections matter to everyday life.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Elections
Police and crime commissioner elections cover England and Wales. According to the Commons Library summary table, resident British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens can vote, as can eligible EU citizens. Your crime commissioner sets local policing priorities and budgets, so PCC elections can be relevant to long-term residents.
National Referendums
National Referenda are rare but politically significant in the UK. As a general rule, if you can vote in parliamentary elections you can vote in a referendum as well, but each referendum has its own rules. Always check the rules for the specific vote.
Can Immigrants Vote in UK After Registration?
You must register to vote before you can vote, and registration is not the same as eligibility. Registering does not create a right that you do not already have.
Who Can Register to Vote?
To register to vote, you generally need to:
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Be a British citizen, Irish citizen, qualifying Commonwealth citizen or eligible EU citizen (or, in Scotland and Wales, a legally resident foreign national)
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Be 16 or over to register (and 18 or over to vote in general elections)
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Be resident at an address in the UK
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Provide your National Insurance number and, if asked, proof of identity
Dual nationals benefit from the most favourable status. Electoral registration officers will process an application based on the nationality that gives the highest level of voting rights. If you change name, address or nationality, you’ll need to register again.
You must register to vote by 20 April 2026 if you want to take part in the elections taking place in May 2026. Voter registration is usually done online through GOV.UK, though your local electoral registration office can provide support if you cannot apply online or lack a National Insurance number.
Voting Age Changes: Votes at 16
The voting age is also changing. The Representation of the People Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 12 February 2026, and Part 1 lowers the voting age for reserved elections to 16. This proposal to lower the voting age to 16 for UK Parliamentary elections is not yet law, so 18 remains the voting age for general elections for now.
The Commons Library notes that not all 16- and 17-year-olds would be eligible to register, as not all would meet the nationality requirements. Nationality rules therefore remain the key barrier for many young migrants.
The Migrant Democracy Project and Calls for Reform
Campaigners such as the Migrant Democracy Project argue that long-term residents should have full voting rights regardless of nationality, and some support groups for migrants back the same aim.
Some parties agree: the Liberal Democrats want to extend voting rights to all EU citizens with settled status, and to anyone who has lived in the UK for at least five years with the right to stay permanently. Nothing has changed in law for general elections, so you should rely on the current rules rather than proposals.
What Happens If You Vote When You Are Not Eligible?
Providing false information on a registration form is a criminal offence. Registering or voting when you are not entitled can have serious consequences, even if you did so by mistake. Examples include:
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Registering under a false nationality
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Claiming eligibility when you are not legally entitled
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Voting in an election you are not allowed to take part in
Possible outcomes include prosecution or a fine, damage to your immigration record, refusal of future applications for settlement or citizenship, and in serious cases action against existing leave. If you have registered in error, take advice early and contact your electoral registration office to correct the record.
If an application has already been refused because of a voting-related issue, our guide to immigration appeal strategy and evidence explains how challenges are approached.
Voter ID Rules, Photo ID and the Voter Authority Certificate
Voter ID rules differ across the UK. Voters in England need to show photo ID at polling stations in all elections, including UK parliamentary elections, local elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
By contrast, voters in Scotland will not need to show photo ID at Scottish Parliament elections or at council elections, and voters in Wales will not need photo ID at Senedd elections or local council elections. In both nations, photo ID is still needed for UK general elections.
Accepted ID
Accepted ID includes passports, full and provisional driving licences, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) cards, Blue Badges and some concessionary travel cards. A driving licence or passport is the most common choice. It does not matter if a document has expired, as long as the photo is a good likeness.
Many migrants will be glad to know that the Electoral Commission lists biometric immigration documents, including eVisas as accepted photo ID. Our eVisa UK guide explains how to set up and manage your digital status.
How to Get a Voter Authority Certificate
If you have no accepted ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, and you must register first.
You will normally need a photo and your National Insurance number. If you do not have one, you can still apply by providing other proof of identity, such as a birth certificate or bank statement. A voter authority certificate has no expiry date, and you do not need photo ID to vote by post.
If you arrive at a polling station without accepted ID, you will be asked to return with ID that is accepted.
The Electoral Register and Its Use Beyond Voting
Being on the electoral register helps with more than elections. It can support:
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Applications for credit, mortgages or loans
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Renting a property
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Accessing local services and registering with some providers
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Showing a clear address history for settlement or naturalisation applications
However, registering to vote is not a requirement for most immigration routes and does not replace the evidence the Home Office asks for.
How British Citizen Status Changes Your Voting Rights
Once you become a British citizen, you gain full voting rights in all UK elections, including general elections, local and devolved elections, PCC elections and referendums. You must still be 18 or over (or 16 where permitted), live in the UK and register to vote.
The Link Between ILR and Citizenship
Indefinite leave to remain gives you the right to live and work in the UK permanently, but not a vote in general elections unless you are already a Commonwealth or Irish citizen. For most people, it is a stepping stone to citizenship.
If you are working towards settlement, our guide to indefinite leave to remain sets out the eligibility checks, and our overview of the benefits of ILR in the UK explains what settlement does and does not change.
Why Many Choose to Naturalise
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Full voting rights in every election, including general elections
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A British passport, which eases international travel
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No risk of losing status through long absences
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Access to roles restricted to UK nationals
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A sense of belonging and civic equality
At Axis Solicitors, we often recommend that clients with ILR plan their citizenship timeline early, because once you qualify, naturalisation is the only route to a vote in general elections for most non-Commonwealth nationals. Irish nationals, meanwhile, may be interested in the easier British citizenship route for Irish citizens.
Can You Vote on a Visa? Skilled Worker, Student or Family Routes
Your visa type does not decide whether you can vote. Your nationality does. For example:
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A Skilled Worker, Student or Health and Care Worker visa holder from India or Nigeria is a qualifying Commonwealth citizen and may vote in general elections once registered.
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A Skilled Worker or Student visa holder from the United States or China cannot vote in general elections or in local elections in England or Northern Ireland, but may vote in Scotland and Wales local and devolved elections.
If you are planning to move, our guides to the Skilled Worker visa and the Student visa explain how each route works.
How Axis Solicitors Can Help
As an independent law firm, not affiliated with UKVI or any government body, Axis Solicitors can help you understand how your status affects your options. Our expert team can assist with:
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Indefinite Leave to Remain: settlement applications and eligibility checks, so you can plan your route to citizenship.
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British Citizenship: naturalisation applications that lead to full voting rights in every UK election.
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Immigration Appeals: support challenging a refusal, including where a registration error has caused problems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can immigrants vote in UK general elections?
Only if they are British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizens with valid permission to be in the UK. All other foreign nationals, including EU citizens, cannot vote in general elections.
Can EU citizens vote in UK elections?
Not in general elections. They may vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland if they come from Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain, or if they have retained rights from before 31 December 2020. In Scotland and Wales, they may vote in all local and devolved elections if legally resident.
What happens if I register to vote by mistake?
You could face prosecution, a fine or imprisonment, and the Home Office may treat the issue as one of dishonesty, which can harm future visa, ILR or citizenship applications. Seek legal advice promptly and correct your registration.
Can Irish nationals vote in the UK after becoming a British citizen?
An Irish citizen already has full voting rights in the UK. Becoming a British citizen does not reduce those rights, and you can hold both nationalities.
Does registering to vote help my immigration application?
It is not a formal requirement by the UK government, but it can support evidence of ordinary residence, community ties and a clear address history in settlement and naturalisation applications.
Speak to Our Expert Team About Your Status
Voting eligibility is only one part of your wider immigration journey. With 20+ years of experience and 8,000+ cases handled, Axis Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 653526), with offices in Manchester, Birmingham and London. Tell us your situation and we will explain your options clearly and practically.
Contact Axis Solicitors today to speak to an adviser.
