Voting from abroad: Bundestag election 2025

16. January 2025

Do you live in the Netherlands or Belgium and would like to exercise your right to vote in the German Bundestag on 23 February 2025?

As a German national living abroad without a place of residence in Germany, you should apply for entry on the electoral roll in good time. The municipality where you were last registered in Germany is responsible. However, if your last stay in Germany was more than 25 years ago and you did not live there for at least three months without interruption, the municipality to which you have a personal connection – for example, through family origin or professional activities – is responsible.

Further information on the requirements and the documents to be submitted can be found on the website of the Federal Returning Officer:

www.bundeswahlleiterin.de/bundestagswahlen/2025.html

You can also download the documents required for your application from the website. Alternatively, you can request them from the German mission responsible for you.

 

Important deadlines and information

Your application must be received by the competent municipality no later than 2 February 2025.

  • Electronic application: If you have lived in Germany for at least three months without interruption within the last 25 years, you can submit your application online.
  • Written application: If you have not lived in Germany for many years or have never lived in Germany, you must submit the application in writing.

The application for entry in the electoral roll is also considered an application for a postal vote. Once your application has been approved, the relevant municipality will send you the postal voting documents by post.

Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Returning Officer:

Information on the 2025 Bundestag Election

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