Make sure your friends and family abroad can vote in the referendum

Later this year we will all be asked to make a decision on whether this country should remain a member of the European Union. The referendum affects all British citizens including those living or working abroad.

The law states that a British citizen who has lived abroad for up to 15 years is eligible to vote in the referendum. They can register online. All the forms they need are here.

A vast number of British citizens live abroad. We are a nation for whom emigration, whether temporary or permanent, is very common. 2.2 million British people live in other parts of the EU, a further million in Australia and 1.5 million in the USA and Canada.

The real risks for our overseas friends

For British citizens living, working or studying in other EU states, if we leave the EU, they will lose their current right to be there unless or until a new legal basis for their residence is created, which might take years or might never happen. They would be exposed to risks such as having to leave, not being able to work freely, having to apply for a visa, having to pay extra taxes and charges, and losing access to public services. Contact with home may become more expensive (EU consumer protection law will no longer apply) and there may be customs charges reintroduced on packages sent in either direction.

For many millions of British citizens living in countries outside the EU there is a lot at stake too. Many have been granted visas or work status as EU citizens and there may be difficulties (including new application fees) when a new visa regime has to be put in place, with no guarantee that they will continue to have a right to live there. British people in countries without a UK embassy, who currently can access consular assistance from another EU embassy, will lose that protection.

The Leave campaigns are playing roulette with the lives of our loved ones living overseas.

Doing something about this

If you have friends and family overseas please could you email them about registering to vote for the referendum or forward this page to them?

Even if they have lived abroad for longer than 15 years they can still make a difference. They can make a donation to our campaign to help us win. Legally, a donation from someone not registered to vote must be below £500.

If you meet a friend, neighbour or colleague who agrees with us that countries need to work together, do ask them to join us in the Liberal Democrats.

Thank you and warmest wishes,

Antony Hook

Chair, Europe Referendum Campaign

South East & South Central Liberal Democrats