Voting from Spain: home country elections and Spanish local elections for expats

Updated: October 2026

Moving to Spain does not have to mean losing your voice in politics. Many expats can keep voting in their home country, and EU citizens – plus British nationals and some others – can also vote in Spanish local elections. This guide explains the main ways to vote from abroad, gives an overview of the rules for several common nationalities, and shows how to register for the Spanish municipal elections on 23 May 2027.

How voting from abroad usually works

Every country sets its own rules, but most use a combination of the same four methods:

• Overseas registration: you register as a voter living abroad, usually against your last home address or with a central office.
• Postal vote: ballot papers are posted to your address in Spain and you send them back. Post between Spain and your home country can be slow, so return them as soon as they arrive.
• Proxy vote: someone you trust votes on your behalf at home. This is often the safest option when the time between ballots being sent and election day is short.
• Embassy or consulate voting: some countries let you vote in person – often early – at their embassy or consulate in Spain.

It also helps to register with your consulate where that is possible. It does not always count as voter registration, but it means you receive notices about elections and other important changes. Use our guide to embassies and consulates in Spain to find yours.

Rules for some common nationalities

The summaries below are a starting point only. Always check your own government’s election website before each election, as deadlines and procedures change.

United Kingdom

Since 16 January 2024, the old rule that British citizens lost their vote after 15 years abroad has been abolished. You can register as an overseas elector however long you have lived in Spain, as long as you were previously registered or lived in the UK. You register online through the GOV.UK “Register to vote” service, using the address where you were last registered or last lived.

• Overseas electors can vote in UK Parliamentary general elections, not in local elections.
• Your registration lasts up to three years, after which you must renew it. Postal and proxy arrangements must be renewed at the same time.
• Many councils recommend a proxy vote rather than a postal vote, because ballots are sent only around two weeks before polling day.

Germany

Germans abroad who are not registered at a German address must apply to be added to the voter register for each Bundestag election, using an official form sent to their last municipality in Germany. In general you qualify if you lived in Germany for at least three uninterrupted months after your 14th birthday and within the last 25 years, or if you can show personal familiarity with German politics. The application must arrive no later than 21 days before the election, and voting is by post.

Netherlands

Dutch citizens abroad register once as a voter with the municipality of The Hague. After that, the voting documents for each election are sent to you. You can vote by post in elections for the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer), the European Parliament and the electoral college for non-residents for the Senate.

Denmark and Sweden

Danish rules are stricter. In general, Danes who move abroad keep the right to vote in Folketing elections only in specific situations, for example if they intend to return within two years, are posted abroad by a Danish employer or public body, or are abroad for study or health reasons. Swedes abroad can generally vote in Riksdag elections by post or in person at a Swedish embassy or consulate before election day, but not on election day itself. Both countries have their own registration rules, so check the official Danish and Swedish election websites well before each election.

Voting in Spanish elections as a foreign resident

Foreign residents cannot vote in Spanish general or regional elections. However, many can vote in municipal (local) elections and, for EU citizens, in European Parliament elections. The next municipal elections are on 23 May 2027.

EU citizens: register by 30 December 2026

To vote in the 2027 local elections, EU citizens must be on the padrón and must have formally declared that they want to vote in Spain. According to the INE electoral census office, the deadline is 30 December 2026. You can declare your wish to vote:

• online at the INE electronic office with Cl@ve
• online with the access code (CTT) in the letter the census office sent in late September 2026, available until 30 December 2026
• by posting back the signed letter, with no stamp needed
• in person at your town hall, using form DFA

If you have declared your wish to vote for an earlier municipal election and still live in Spain, you are normally already on the roll. The INE press release of 30 September 2026 says more than 345,000 EU citizens were already registered, and over 515,000 letters were sent to those who were not – around 38,000 of them in Málaga province. Not on the padrón yet? Read our guide to registering on the padrón first.

British and other non-EU nationals with agreements

Spain has reciprocal agreements with a small group of countries, including the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, New Zealand and several Latin American countries. Nationals of these countries can vote in municipal elections if they hold a Spanish residence permit, are on the padrón and have lived in Spain legally for a minimum period – three years for British and Norwegian citizens and five years for most others. They must apply to be included on the electoral roll, usually at the town hall. For the 2023 elections the deadline was 15 January; for 2027, reports point to a window from 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027. Confirm the exact dates with your town hall.

CERA, CERE and European elections

You may see two acronyms. CERA is the roll of Spanish citizens living abroad – it is not for foreign residents. The roll for foreigners living in Spain is often called CERE. For European Parliament elections, EU citizens in Spain choose whether to vote for Spanish MEPs here or for their home country’s MEPs, but you may only vote once. The next European elections are expected in 2029.

Practical tips

• Put renewal dates for your overseas registration in your calendar – missing one usually means starting again.
• Keep your address up to date with both your home election office and your Spanish town hall.
• Choose a proxy or embassy voting if your country’s postal ballots often arrive late in Spain.
• Join local expat or community groups – they often share reminders before elections. See our guide to building a social life in Spain.

Useful links

• INE – electoral roll of foreign residents for the 2027 municipal elections
• INE – press release on EU citizens and the 2027 municipal elections
• Government of the Netherlands – voting from outside the Netherlands
• Embassies and consulates in Spain: how to find yours
• Residency in Spain: how to become a legal resident

FAQ: voting from Spain

Can I vote in Spanish general elections as a foreign resident?

No. Only Spanish citizens can vote in general and regional elections. Foreign residents can vote in municipal elections if they meet the conditions, and EU citizens also in European elections.

Do I need to register again for every Spanish local election?

EU citizens who have already declared their wish to vote stay on the roll as long as they remain on the padrón. If you move town, make sure your padrón registration moves with you.

Can I vote in both Spain and my home country?

Yes, for different elections – for example Spanish local elections and your home country’s national elections. For European Parliament elections, you can only vote in one country.

I have lived in Spain for over 15 years. Can I still vote in UK elections?

Yes. The 15-year limit was removed in January 2024, so you can register as an overseas elector for UK Parliamentary elections.

Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Election rules and deadlines change – always check with your home country’s election authority, your consulate or your Spanish town hall before you act.