According to a press release from the British cabinet office, the new measures are aimed at empowering British citizens living abroad to “participate in our democracy”.

The new measures were announced in the Queen’s Speech on 11 May and form part of the Elections Bill, which will install an absent voting arrangement, so that voters abroad only have to renew their registration details once every three years rather than annually. The rules apply to all British citizens living overseas who have been previously registered or resident in the UK. Electors will be allowed to register in respect of one UK address. This could be the last address they were registered to or at which they were resident. Proof of connection to the address can be made via the electoral register, local council tax records, or an attestation from another registered voter.

Minister of state for the cabinet office, Lord True, said: “In an increasingly global and connected world, most British citizens living overseas retain deep ties to the United Kingdom. Many still have family here, have a history of hard work in the UK behind them, and some have even fought for our country.

“These measures support our vision for a truly Global Britain, opening up our democracy to British citizens living overseas who deserve to have their voices heard in our Parliament, no matter where they choose to live.”

It is estimated that 5.5 million British people live permanently abroad. The fact that people who had lived abroad for 15 or more years were not permitted to vote in the 2016 referendum which led to Briton's withdrawal from the European Union was cited as one of several key criticisms by Brexit opponents.