register on the electoral roll for the European elections as a German living abroad or as a German living abroad

  • Short text

    • Electoral register for the European elections: Registration of Germans living abroad
    • Prerequisites:
      • a German national within the meaning of Article 116(1) of the Basic Law
      • at least 18 years old on polling day
      • no disqualification from the right to vote
        • on polling day, have had their habitual residence or domicile in a Member State of the European Union for at least 3 months, or
        • has held a residence or otherwise habitually resided in the Federal Republic of Germany for at least three consecutive months after reaching the age of 14, and this period of residence took place no more than 25 years ago, or
        • have, for other reasons, gained personal and direct familiarity with the political situation in the Federal Republic of Germany and have been affected by it
      • In all cases, a written application in accordance with Annex 2 to the European Election Regulations must be submitted by the 21st day before the election, accompanied by a corresponding statutory declaration to the effect that the applicant is not voting in any other Member State or in any other German municipality.
    • Responsible authority: the local authority in Germany where you were last registered before moving abroad; if you were never registered in Germany, the Berlin Mitte District Office

  • Full text

    If you are a German citizen living abroad, you can still take part in the European elections.
    To do so, you must apply to be included on the electoral register.

  • Legal basis(s)

  • Required documents

    Motion in accordance with Annex 2 to the European Election Regulations

  • Prerequisites

    As a German national living abroad, you can register on the electoral roll at
    if you

    • are German nationals within the meaning of Article 116(1) of the Basic Law,
    • are at least 18 years old on polling day
    • are not excluded from the right to vote
    • on polling day, have been resident in a Member State of the European Union for at least three months, or otherwise be habitually resident there, or
    • have held a residence in the Federal Republic of Germany for at least three consecutive months after reaching the age of 14, or have otherwise habitually resided there, and this period of residence must not have taken place more than 25 years ago, or
    • who, for other reasons, have gained first-hand, personal familiarity with the political situation in the Federal Republic of Germany and are affected by it,
    • have, in all cases, submitted a written application in accordance with Annex 2 to the European Election Regulations by the 21st day prior to the election, which includes a corresponding statutory declaration to the effect that you do not vote in any other Member State or in any other German municipality

  • Costs (fees, expenses, etc.)

    none

  • Procedure

    If you are a German national living abroad, you can register on the electoral roll for the European elections at
    as follows:
    :

    • You must submit an application in accordance with Annex 2 of the European Election Regulations to the last local authority in which you were resident or otherwise habitually resident before moving abroad.
    • If you have never lived in Germany, you must submit your application to the Berlin Mitte District Office.
    • The authority will decide on the application and, at the same time, send out postal voting documents or a notice of rejection

  • Processing time

    2 to 4 weeks

  • Deadlines

    Application deadline: until the 21st day before the election

    The application must have been received by the local authority

  • Forms/written form requirement

    Appendix 2 to the European Election Regulations


    The forms are also available from diplomatic and consular missions abroad.

    They can also be downloaded from the Federal Returning Officer’s website.

  • Further information

  • Author

    Forwarding service: Deep link to the source portal Forwarding service: Deep link to the source portal

  • Responsible office

    The electoral authority of the independent city, municipality, administrative district or association of municipalities in which you were in residence or otherwise habitually resident before moving abroad


Responsible departments

Responsible employees