Going overseas

If you wish to vote while overseas you must be enrolled.

I am living or working overseas

If you are already enrolled, you can register as an overseas elector if you are intending to return to Australia within six years.

You can apply up to three months before, or within three years after, you leave Australia. To do this, complete and submit a registration as an overseas elector form [PDF 457KB].

This form provides you with an option to become a general postal voter so you will automatically receive a postal vote in the mail approximately 2–3 weeks after the announcement of the federal election.

If you are not enrolled, and have been overseas for less than three years, you may still be eligible to enrol if you are:

• an Australian citizen aged 18 years or older,
• intending to return to Australia within six years.

You cannot enrol for an overseas address; instead you must enrol in the electorate you were entitled to before you left Australia.

To apply for enrolment, complete and submit an enrol to vote for federal elections from outside Australia form [PDF 473KB].

For information about voting see how to vote while overseas.

I am going overseas for a short period of time

You can enrol and vote if you are going overseas for a short period of time and plan to return to your address in Australia.

If you are already enrolled, complete and submit an overseas notification form [PDF 69KB]. This form provides you with the option to keep your details on the electoral roll so you will be able to vote in federal elections while overseas.

If you are not enrolled, and already overseas, you can complete and submit an enrol to vote for federal elections from outside Australia form [PDF 473KB].

For more information on voting see how to vote while overseas.

I have turned 18 and live overseas with my family

If you are the child of a person who is registered as an overseas elector you can enrol and vote in federal elections if you:

• have never been enrolled, and
• are an Australian citizen, and
• are 18 years or older and had not turned 18 before leaving Australia, and
• intend to return to live in Australia within six years after your 18th birthday.

If you wish to enrol to vote, complete and submit an enrol to vote as the spouse, de facto partner or child of an overseas elector for federal elections form [PDF 472KB].

How can I find out when the next federal election is announced?

If you subscribe to the AEC mailing list you will receive an email to let you know when the next federal election or referendum is announced.

Can I check my enrolment online?

You can check your enrolment online to find out your current enrolment details and where you are enrolled to vote.

To check which electorate you live in, see find my electorate where you can search by suburb or postcode.

If you need more assistance

• phone the AEC on 13 23 26 in Australia, or
• +61 2 6271 4411 from overseas, or
• email info@aec.gov.au.

I will be unable to vote while I'm overseas, what do I do?

It is not compulsory to enrol and vote while overseas.

If you are unable to vote you can complete and submit an overseas notification form [PDF 69KB].

This form provides you with the option to be removed from the electoral roll while you are overseas.

If you choose to be removed from the electoral roll, you will need to enrol again to be able to vote in any future federal elections.

Overseas forms

Registration as an overseas elector [PDF 457KB]

Enrol to vote for federal elections from outside Australia [PDF 473KB]

Enrol to vote as the spouse, de facto partner or child of an overseas elector [PDF 472KB]

Overseas notification form [PDF 69KB]