Why don't I show on the Electoral Roll if I'm an overseas voter?

Some may think that being registered as an overseas voter means that your listing should show on your UK credit report. But this isn’t the case.  

What is an overseas voter? 

If you’ve lived in the UK previously and are a British citizen, or an eligible Irish citizen registering to vote in Northern Ireland, you can register as an overseas voter. This means that even though you’ve chosen to leave the UK, you can still keep hold of your right to vote.  

An overseas registration lasts up to three years. During that time, you can continue to vote in UK Parliament elections and some referendums. There are similar setups for those serving abroad in the armed forces, crown servants, and British Council employees.  

So how does this show on your credit report? 

It doesn’t. As UK credit reports only show information registered in the UK, an overseas registration won't be returned in the Electoral Roll section of your report. The credit reference agencies will only report an active Electoral Roll listing if it’s registered at a UK address. 

While not having an Electoral Roll listing at a UK address will affect your credit health, lenders will still be able to assess your stability and validate your details by using other information in your credit report.