Generally no. An Irish citizen who lives in Spain cannot be added to the Register of Electors, so there is no vote from here in Dáil, presidential or local elections, or in referendums. The rule that decides it is residence: Citizens Information puts it in one line, “You cannot register to vote if you live outside Ireland, although there are some exceptions.”
Ireland keeps no register of citizens abroad. What an Irish passport does give you here is a vote in Spain’s municipal and European elections, once you are on the right census.
Last verified: 28 September 2026.
The rule and its two exceptions
Citizens Information states it directly: “If you are an Irish citizen living abroad, you cannot be added to the Register of Electors unless you are an Irish official on duty abroad (or their spouse or civil partner).” That is the first exception, and the only Irish citizens abroad on the Postal Voters List.
The second exception covers a temporary absence. Anyone who leaves their address but plans to return within 18 months can stay registered there, provided they register nowhere else. Citizens Information’s list of postal voters has no category for them, so that vote is cast in person in Ireland. A permanent move to Fuengirola fails both tests.
🧭 Stuck on something a guide cannot finish?
We keep a short list of bilingual navigators on the Costa who do this for a living. Tell us what you are stuck on and we will point you at the right one.
The Irish votes that stay open from Spain
There are two, and one of them is cast in Spain. Eligible graduates of the National University of Ireland or Trinity College can vote for the Seanad university seats “even if you are resident outside Ireland”, per the Electoral Commission; ask the university how to get on those registers. For the European Parliament, the same page says: “If you are an Irish citizen but you are living in another EU country you can vote in that country.” One country only, so an Irish citizen in Spain votes for Spain’s MEPs and has no vote for Ireland’s.
What you can vote in here in Spain
As an EU citizen resident in Spain you can vote in municipal and European Parliament elections. The LOREG, Spain’s electoral law, gives municipal voting rights to resident EU citizens who have declared their wish to vote in Spain (article 176); national elections are for Spanish citizens (article 2).
Per the INE’s electoral census office, two requirements: being on the padrón — municipal register of residents where you habitually live, and having filed a manifestación de voluntad — declaration of your wish to vote in Spain, for municipal elections, European elections or both. It is filed once and stands until you stop qualifying or ask to be removed. Two routes:
- Online at the INE’s sede electrónica — online office (sede.ine.gob.es/manifestacionVotoPermanente/presentacion), with Cl@ve identification; the INE must already hold your NIE.
- At your ayuntamiento — town hall, on form DFA, the paper declaración formal — formal declaration, which town halls hold and the INE’s online office lets you download.
The date that matters next is set by law: local elections fall on the fourth Sunday of May every four years (LOREG article 42.3); the last were on 28 May 2023, so the next fall on 23 May 2027. The declaration window closes months earlier; for 2023 the INE’s cut-off for EU citizens was 30 January 2023.
A presidential vote for citizens abroad
In March 2018 the Taoiseach announced a referendum to let Irish citizens outside the State vote in presidential elections; the press release is still on gov.ie. Until a referendum like that is held and passed, the residence rule above covers presidential elections as well.
What this does not cover
- Northern Ireland. An Irish citizen who once lived in Northern Ireland may be able to register there as a UK overseas voter; see the UK guide below.
- Dual nationals. A second nationality brings that country’s own rules, which the hub guide below covers country by country.
- The next Dáil election date, moot from Spain anyway.
The five-minute version
- No vote from Spain in Dáil, presidential or local elections, or referendums.
- Exceptions: officials on duty abroad and their spouse or civil partner; people away under 18 months who stay registered at their old address.
- Seanad university seats stay open to eligible NUI and Trinity graduates abroad.
- European Parliament: you vote in Spain, for Spain’s MEPs, never in both countries.
- In Spain: padrón plus the INE’s declaration of intent (online with Cl@ve, or form DFA at the town hall) gets you municipal and European votes. Next municipal elections 23 May 2027; the window closes months earlier.
- Presidential vote for citizens abroad: a referendum was announced in 2018, and the residence rule still applies until one is held and passed.
Related guides
- Can You Still Vote in Your Home Country While Living in Spain?
- How to Register to Vote in Spanish Municipal Elections as a Foreign Resident
- Can Foreigners Vote in Elections in Spain?
- Spain Election Calendar for Foreign Residents
- How to Vote in UK Elections From Spain
General information, not legal advice, current as of 28 September 2026. Primary sources: Citizens Information (Registering to vote; Right to vote), the Electoral Commission of Ireland (Voter eligibility), Department of the Taoiseach press release of 12 March 2018, Spain’s LOREG on the BOE, the INE electoral census office, GOV.UK.
Add WaypointSur as a preferred source in Google Search: