You can vote in Spain's general election on Sunday 29th November 2026 only if you are a Spanish national aged 18 or over and appear on the electoral roll. Foreign residents cannot vote in it, whatever their nationality, how long they have lived here or what permit they hold. This guide explains the rules, the exceptions that confuse people, and what to check if you are, or are about to become, Spanish.
The short version
- You can vote if you are a Spanish citizen, including naturalised citizens and dual nationals, and you are on the electoral roll.
- You can vote from abroad if you are a Spanish citizen registered as living outside Spain, with some current exceptions explained below.
- You cannot vote if you are an EU, UK or other foreign national, even with permanent residence.
- You may be able to vote in other elections, such as municipal and European Parliament elections, depending on your nationality.
Who can vote on 29th November
Three conditions must all be met in order to vote in Spain’s upcoming election. You must hold Spanish nationality, be at least 18 on polling day, and be registered on the electoral roll (censo electoral). The electoral law repeats that the right belongs to adult Spanish nationals who are on the roll. A small number of people are excluded because a final court sentence has removed their voting rights.
The roll for this election is the one closed on 1st August 2026, and it includes people who will turn 18 by polling day. The National Statistics Institute (INE) reports the following numbers:
- 38,728,356 people are eligible to vote.
- 35,958,711 of them live in Spain, and 2,769,645 live abroad.
- 1,615,127 of those in Spain are voting in a general election for the first time, having turned 18 since July 2023.
The roll is built from official records rather than from a request to vote. Spanish residents are included through the municipal register (padrón), and Spaniards abroad through the consular registers. That is why a foreign resident, however well integrated, never appears on it.
Who cannot vote, and why
If you are not a Spanish national, you cannot vote in the general election. That covers EU citizens, British citizens, Americans, and every other foreign resident. The Constitution reserves the vote to Spaniards, with one exception for municipal elections, where treaties or laws can extend it to foreigners on a reciprocal basis.
The following do not give you a vote in a general election:
- A residence permit of any kind, including long-term or permanent residence.
- An NIE or TIE card.
- EU citizenship or EU registration documents.
- Paying tax, owning property or running a business in Spain.
- Many years of living in Spain, or having a Spanish spouse, partner or children.
- Being on the municipal register (padrón). It matters for local elections, but it does not put you on the roll for a general election.
British citizens often ask whether anything changed after Brexit. For the general election, the answer is no, because they could not vote in it before either. What changed is local voting, which now depends on a bilateral agreement, explained in the next section.
As a result, the makeup of the Spanish Parliament, and through it the choice of Prime Minister, is decided by Spanish voters alone.
Elections foreigners can vote in
Foreign residents are not shut out of Spanish voting altogether. They can take part in some other elections, but the rules depend on where they come from.
| Your nationality | Municipal elections | European Parliament | What you have to do |
| EU citizen | Yes | Yes | Be on the padrón and declare your wish to vote in Spain |
| UK national | Yes | No | Hold a residence document, have 3 years of legal residence and register |
| Norway | Yes | No | Have 3 years of legal residence and register |
| Ecuador, New Zealand, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Iceland, Bolivia, Cape Verde, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago | Yes | No | Have 5 years of legal residence and register |
| Any other nationality | No | No | Nothing can be done until you become Spanish |
The agreement countries are those with a treaty in force on 6th October 2026. The residence periods shown are those that applied at the last municipal elections in 2023, so check them again when the 2027 registration period opens.
Key points:
- EU citizens: you must declare your wish to vote in the municipal election of 23rd May 2027 by 30th December 2026.
- Non-EU agreement countries: you have to apply to be added to the roll, and the registration is valid for one election only. The INE announces the application window before each election.
- Regional elections: foreign residents cannot vote in them, even where they can vote in municipal elections.
- People without legal residence: you cannot vote in any election, because you do not appear on the electoral roll.
Becoming a Spanish citizen opens the general and regional elections, as well as the European and municipal ones, for anyone aged 18 or over.
New Spanish citizens and dual nationals
If you hold Spanish nationality, including a second nationality alongside it, you vote as a Spaniard. Holding another passport does not reduce your rights in a Spanish election. What matters is whether you are on the electoral roll, and for this election there is a cut-off date.
The roll for 29th November closed on 1st August 2026, and the public consultation and claims period ran from 12th to 19th October. That creates a risk for newly naturalised citizens. If your nationality was completed and registered before the cut-off, you should appear on the roll. If it came through later, you may not be on it for this election, and the claims period has closed.
How to check your status
- Use the INE online service. The INE's electronic office lets you check your registration after identifying yourself with the Cl@ve system, such as an electronic DNI. For residents in Spain it also shows your polling station and address.
- Look for your polling card. Cards are sent out from 2nd November and show your polling station. If none arrives, check with the INE.
- Call the Electoral Census Office. Provincial delegations answer questions on registration, polling stations and cards on 900 343 232.
- Get advice if you are missing. If you completed naturalisation before 1st August and are not on the roll, contact the provincial delegation straight away and consider speaking to a lawyer.
Spaniards living abroad
Spanish citizens who live outside Spain vote through a separate roll for residents abroad, known as the CERA.
Voting from abroad is simpler than it used to be. Voters abroad no longer have to make a prior request to vote. The Electoral Census Office sends the voting documents in two mailings, and the documents can also be collected at voting centres set up by the Foreign Ministry.
An open court case
Some people who gained Spanish nationality under the Democratic Memory Law, often called the "grandchildren law", are affected by an interim ruling from the Supreme Court. It suspends the electoral effects of their overseas registration while the case is decided, and on 12th October the court refused to lift the measure before 29th November. Their nationality itself is not suspended.
The case is politically charged, and the government and opposition disagree about it. If you are in this group, check your situation with the consulate or a lawyer rather than relying on press reports.
How to vote if you are eligible
Voting is not compulsory in Spain. If you are on the roll and choose to vote, you have two main options.
- In person on Sunday 29th November. Polling stations, usually local schools, are open from 9:00 to 20:00. Go to the station named on your polling card or in the INE online service, and bring an original photo ID such as your DNI, passport or driving licence. Photocopies are not accepted, so carry the original document.
- By post. You can request a postal vote from 6th October until 19th November, in person at any Correos post office with your original DNI, passport or driving licence, or online if you have a digital certificate or electronic DNI. The voting documents are sent from 9th November, and you must deposit your vote at Correos by 25th November. Once you request a postal vote, you can no longer vote in person.
If you live abroad, use the consular voting centres from 21st to 26th November, or post your vote as described above.
Common questions about voting in Spain
I have permanent residence and have lived in Spain for 20 years. Can I vote? No. Length of stay and permit type do not change the rule. Only Spanish nationality gives the right to vote in a general election.
I'm married to a Spanish citizen, or my children are Spanish. Does that help? Not for the vote itself. Your family's nationality does not pass to you. It may, however, shorten the residence period you need if you apply for Spanish nationality. Ask a lawyer or check the official requirements for your case.
I registered to vote in municipal elections before. Does that count here? No. That registration only applies to municipal elections, and for non-EU agreement countries it has to be renewed for each election.
I'm an EU citizen and I'm on the padrón. Am I on the roll? You may be on the roll for municipal and European elections if you registered, but you are not on the one for the general election, which is limited to Spanish nationals.
Is voting compulsory for Spanish citizens? No. Voting is optional, and there is no penalty for staying at home.
The path to a vote
For most foreign residents, the only way to gain a vote in a general election is to become a Spanish citizen. The residence period required depends on your situation: it is usually longer for most nationalities and shorter for some groups, such as certain nationalities and the spouses of Spanish citizens, and you will also have to pass the official language and culture tests. Because the rules and your own circumstances matter, check the current requirements with an official source or a qualified lawyer before you plan around a date. A later article in this series will cover the route to citizenship in detail.
In the meantime, your next chance to vote may be the municipal election of 23rd May 2027, if your nationality qualifies and you register in time. Up next in this series: how Spain turns votes into a government, and why the weeks after 29 November may matter as much as election day itself.
This guide reflects the position on 27th October 2026. Deadlines and court decisions can change, so check official sources such as the INE before acting.
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