Register to vote (crown servants and British Council employees)

Use this service to get on the electoral register or update your details if you’re posted abroad as:

  • a crown servant (for example diplomatic or overseas civil service)
  • a British Council employee
  • the spouse or civil partner of a crown servant or British Council employee

You can do this before you leave or if you’re already abroad.

Register online

Registering takes around 5 minutes.

You only need to register once - you do not need to register separately for every election.

You’ll need your National Insurance number, if you have one.

Find your National Insurance number.

You’ll also need your payroll or staff ID number (usually found on your payslip).

Start now

Other ways to apply

You can also register by post (England, Scotland and Wales).

There’s a different form for registering by post in Northern Ireland.

You can vote when you’re 18 or over. If you live in Scotland or Wales, you can vote in some elections when you’re 16 or over - check which elections you’re eligible to vote in.

Children of crown servants or British Council employees

How you register to vote depends on where you’re from.

If you’re from England or Northern Ireland

You can register if you’re aged 16 or over.

Register to vote as a child of a crown servant or British Council employee if you’re from England.

Register by post if you’re from Northern Ireland and the child of a crown servant or British Council employee.

If you’re from Wales

You can register to vote if you’re aged 14 or over.

Register to vote as the child of a crown servant or British Council employee.

If you’re from Scotland

Register by post if you’re from Scotland. Both of the following must apply:

  • you’re either 14 or 15 years old
  • you live with your parent or guardian overseas

Send the form to your local Electoral Registration Office.

If you’re not a crown servant or British Council employee

There’s a different way to register to vote if you’re in the armed forces.

Part of Vote in UK elections

  1. Step 1 Check if you can vote

    1. Check which elections you can vote in

  2. Step 2 Register to vote

    You’ll need to be registered to vote to take part in elections and referendums. You’ll need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality.

    1. Register to vote - apply online
    1. Register to vote - apply by post

  3. Step 3 Decide if you want to vote in person, by post, or by proxy

    1. Find out the different ways you can vote

  4. Step 4 Get ready to vote in person

    1. Check what ID you need to vote

    If you do not have photo ID that allows you to vote, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

    1. Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate

    Contact your Electoral Registration Office to find your polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility needs.

    1. Contact your Electoral Registration Office

  5. or Apply for a postal vote

    In England, Scotland or Wales:

    1. Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
    1. Find out more about voting by post

  6. or Apply for a proxy vote

    In England, Scotland or Wales:

    1. Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
    1. Find out more about voting by proxy - including when you must apply by

  7. or Get ready to vote as a proxy

    1. Check what ID you need to vote

    Contact the Electoral Registration Office of the person you are a proxy for to find their polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility issues.

    1. Contact the Electoral Registration Office

  8. Step 5 Vote in person

    1. Vote in person

  9. or Vote by post

    1. Vote by post

  10. or Vote as a proxy for someone else

    1. Vote as a proxy for someone else