Can You Vote in Spain’s Elections from Australia?
Yes! If you’re a Spanish citizen living or temporarily staying in Australia, you may be eligible to vote.
First, you need to know which voting category applies to you:
| CERA (Censo Electoral de Residentes Ausentes) | ERTA (Electores Residentes Temporalmente Ausentes) |
| For Spanish citizens officially registered as residents abroad. | For Spanish citizens temporarily abroad who remain registered to vote in Spain. |
| Electoral documents are sent automatically. | You must request your electoral documents. |
| Vote by post or in person at an authorised consular location. | Vote by post directly to Spain. |
If you’re studying in Australia or here on a Working Holiday visa, ERTA may apply to you. However, your voting category depends on your electoral registration, not your visa type.
1. How to Vote from Australia as a Spanish Resident Abroad (CERA)
If you’re registered as a Spanish resident in Australia and included in the CERA electoral census, here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Check Your Electoral Registration
The electoral census for these elections was established using the records as of 1 August 2026, with a consultation and correction period from 12 to 19 October 2026.
You can check your electoral information through the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE).
To access your details online, you’ll need Cl@ve, Spain’s digital identification system.
Tip: Check the official INE website for the latest information about your electoral registration and any applicable deadlines.
Step 2: Receive Your Voting Documents
Good news! CERA voters no longer need to request their vote. Your documents are automatically sent to your registered address abroad.
Here’s the official dispatch schedule:
- 24–30 October: Electoral certificates, envelopes and voting instructions.
- 4–8 November: Official ballot papers, potentially delayed until 14 November if candidate lists are challenged.
CERA voters can also download official ballot papers through the INE’s designated election website, once the service becomes available, until 26 November 2026. Check the official INE website for access and instructions.
Step 3: Choose How to Cast Your Vote
CERA voters in Australia have two options: voting by post or depositing their ballot in person at an authorised Spanish consular location.
Option 1: Vote by post
Send your completed voting documents to the Spanish consular office responsible for your area. Use registered post where possible and carefully follow the instructions included with your documents.
Postal voting period: 3–24 November 2026.
Option 2: Vote in person
You can deposit your ballot at your designated Spanish consular voting location. Check the addresses and opening hours below before heading out!
Voting dates: 21–26 November 2026
2. How to Vote from Australia as a Temporary Resident (ERTA)
Are you studying English, travelling around Australia or spending time here on a Working Holiday visa?
If you’re temporarily living in Australia while remaining registered on the electoral roll in Spain, you may be eligible to vote through the ERTA procedure.
Unlike CERA voters, ERTA voters must request their electoral documentation in advance.
Step 1: Register as a Non-Resident at the Spanish Consulate
To vote through ERTA, you must be registered as a non-resident in the Spanish Consular Registration Register (Registro de Matrícula Consular). You must also remain registered on the electoral roll of residents in Spain (CER).
Remember that your Australian visa type doesn’t automatically determine your voting eligibility. What matters is your electoral and consular registration status.
Step 2: Request Your Electoral Documents
Unlike CERA voters, ERTA voters must request their electoral documents in advance.
To apply, you must submit the official electoral documentation request form to the Spanish consular office responsible for your area by 31 October 2026.
If you are not yet registered as a non-resident, you may be able to complete your non-resident registration and submit your ERTA application during the same visit.
Application deadline: 31 October 2026
Check with your Spanish consulate before visiting to confirm the required documents, appointment arrangements and opening hours.
Step 3: Send Your Vote to Spain
Once your documents arrive:
- Complete your ballot following the instructions provided.
- Prepare the required envelopes and documents.
- Send everything by registered post to your assigned polling station in Spain.
Deadline: 25 November 2026
Remember, ERTA voters must send their ballots directly to Spain. You cannot cast your ERTA vote in person at the consulate.
Important Dates for the Spanish Elections 2026
Planning to vote from Australia? Here are the key dates to keep in mind.
| Date | What’s happening? |
| 12–19 October | Electoral census consultation and corrections |
| 31 October | Deadline to request ERTA voting documents |
| 4–8 November | CERA ballot papers dispatched, potentially delayed until 14 November |
| 21–26 November | In-person CERA voting at authorised consular locations in Australia |
| 24 November | Deadline to send CERA votes by post to the consular office |
| 25 November | Deadline to send ERTA votes by post to the polling station in Spain |
| 26 November | Last day for in-person CERA voting |
| 29 November | Spanish General Election Day |
Always check the official INE or Spanish consulate website for the latest information on deadlines and voting arrangements.
Where Can You Vote in the Spanish Elections from Australia?
If you’re registered in CERA, you can vote in person at the designated Spanish consular location.
Here are the addresses and voting hours.
Spanish Consulate General in Sydney
Address: Level 24, 31 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
For residents of: New South Wales, Queensland and Northern Territory.
Voting hours:
- 21–22 November: 10 am–1 pm
- 23–25 November: 9 am–3 pm
- 26 November: 9 am–1 pm
Spanish Consulate General in Melbourne
Address: Level 7, 564 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004
For residents of: Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
Voting hours:
- 21–22 November: 10 am–1 pm
- 23–26 November: 9 am–3 pm
Spanish Embassy in Canberra
Address: 15 Arkana Street, Yarralumla ACT 2600
For residents of: Australian Capital Territory and Queanbeyan.
Voting hours:
- 21–22 November: 10 am–1 pm
- 23–26 November: 9 am–3 pm
Tip: Before visiting, check your consulate’s official website for any changes to the voting hours or location. Bring your Spanish identification and electoral documents, and follow the instructions provided by your consulate.
Don’t Miss Your Chance to Vote!
Living in Australia doesn’t mean losing your connection to home.
Whether you’re studying, working or exploring the country, you can still take part in Spain’s elections if you meet the voting requirements.
Make sure you know your voting category, check the deadlines and follow the instructions from your Spanish consulate.
For the latest updates, visit the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the National Statistics Institute (INE).
FAQ
Yes, potentially! If you’re a Spanish citizen and meet the electoral registration requirements, you may be eligible to vote.
Your voting procedure depends on whether you’re registered under CERA or ERTA.
It depends!
CERA: No. Your voting documents are automatically sent to your registered address.
ERTA: Yes. You must request them by 31 October 2026.
No. Although you can check your registration and download ballot papers online, you must cast your vote by post or in person, depending on your registration category.
If you’re registered in CERA, contact the Spanish consulate responsible for your area as soon as possible.
During the in-person voting period, authorised consular locations will provide official ballot papers, voting envelopes and facilities to download necessary electoral documents. However, you should confirm any additional requirements with your consulate before visiting.
No. In-person CERA voting in Australia takes place from 21 to 26 November, before Election Day.
You can request a postal vote at a Correos office in Spain until 19 November 2026. Your completed vote must be sent by 25 November 2026.
Sources:
BOE: Royal Decree confirming the 29 November election
Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Election deadlines
Spanish Consulate in Sydney
Spanish Consulate in Melbourne
Spanish Embassy in Canberra
