Skip to main content

Voting and candidacy rights for EU citizens

beta This is the improved Camden website. Tell us what you think.

Voting and candidacy rights for EU citizens

EU citizens must be either a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights to vote or stand in local government elections. 

This does not affect the rights of citizens from Ireland, Malta or Cyprus who are eligible to be registered to vote and stand in all elections in the UK. 

Meaning of qualifying EU citizens 

A person is a qualifying EU citizen if they meet the following criteria. They must be: 

  • a citizen of a country with which the UK has bilateral Voting and Candidacy Rights (VCR) treaty 
  • resident in the UK with any form of leave to remain, or do not require such leave  

Currently, the UK holds bilateral treaties with Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain. 

Meaning of EU citizens with retained rights 

A person is an EU citizen with retained rights if they are a citizen of a country with which the UK does not have bilateral Voting and Candidacy Rights (VCR) treaty, but they have been legally resident in the UK since before the UK left the EU on 31 December 2020 (the Implementation Period Completion Date – IPCD). 

If you are an EU Citizen already registered to vote 

From September 2024, the Electoral Registration Officer will either confirm your continued registration to vote, or ask for further information so we can determine if you can remain on the Register or Electors.  You must respond quicky to this request, either using the QR Code and security code on the letter or by returning the enclosed form. 

If you are an EU Citizen but not registered to vote 

If your nationality is one in which the UK has a bilateral Voting and Candidacy Rights (VCR) treaty (Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain) you can register to vote. 

If your nationality does not have a VCR treaty, then you can only register to vote if: 

  • you have had unbroken settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (except if you applied as a joining family member) since 31 December 2020 
  • you have had unbroken indefinite or limited leave to enter or remain since 31 December 2020 
  • you have been resident in the UK and have been exempt from immigration controls since 31 December 2020 

Further information can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.