§ RPA 1983 s. 17(untitled)

1 Where a person’s service declaration is in force when he applies for registration, he shall be regarded for the purposes of section 4 above as— a resident on the date of the declaration at the address specified in it in accordance with section 16(d) above; b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and c until the contrary is proved, as being a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or — i if the declaration is made for the purposes only of the registration of local government electors in England, a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights, or ii if the declaration is made for the purposes only of the registration of local government electors in Wales, a relevant citizen of the Union or a qualifying foreign citizen, of the age appearing from the declaration and as not being subject to any legal incapacity except as so appearing. 2 Where a service declaration appearing to be properly made out and (where required) attested is transmitted to the registration officer in the proper manner, the declarant shall, until the contrary is proved, be treated for the purposes of registration as having had from the date of the declaration or such later date, if any, as appears from it, and as continuing to have, a service qualification. 3 In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, subsection (2) is subject to section 15(3A).