British expatriates are reeling at the UK's vote to leave the European Union.

An ocean away from the motherland, the fate of the UK is all Talia Felber can think about

"I've been in constant communication with my friends back home," said Felber. "We are all pretty upset."

Born and raised in London and living abroad for eight years, Felber calls the decision to leave nothing short of embarrassing

"I feel like it's given a platform for people to come forward and be negative, fearful. A lot of hateful discourse between people, and the outcome looks like we're condoning this message," said Felber.

She is one of about 5 million British citizens living abroad.

Only those registered to vote in the UK within the past 15 years were allowed to take part in the referendum, which Felber said was slow and complicated.

"After being passed from person to person, switchboard to switchboard, I was finally told it was being processed but there was no guarantee my card would be sent in time," she said.

In the end, her father was able to vote on her behalf.

It's not yet clear how many expats cast their ballots, but Felber worries more of them could have changed an outcome that was settled by a margin of 1.3 million people.

History professor Brian Cowan said the results should be worrying for any politician considering a referendum.

"I would say give up on using referendums as a means of deciding political differences. There are many other ways of resolving these issues, and complex issues can't be resolved in a yes or no vote," said Cowan.

Cynthia Kennedy, a former Montrealer who now lives in the UK, said she was deeply "saddened" by the outcome, and thinks a lot of voters were "naive."

She fears for sustained economic instability as the Brexit vote rocked world markets and sent the British pound plunging to its lowest level since 1985.

"I'm very pleased for my Canadian friends and family who may be planning a holiday on this side of the Atlantic because the exchange rate is very much in their favour in the moment, but I think we're going to be hurting a lot more before things get better," Kennedy said.

Kennedy said that things are "raw at the moment, and it's going to take a little while for things to calm down." She added that even as a dual citizen who holds British citizenship, she feels "unwelcome in this country at the moment, and that is unspeakably sad."

While some with ties to Canada criticized the vote, others said they were supportive of Britain's break from the EU.

Another expat, Carmody Wilson Hallamore, said it may become easier for Canadians to live and work in the UK.

"There was some noise for the leave campaign saying they would favour people from the commonwealth applicants like myself over the E-U applicants," said Carmody Wilson Hallamore. "But again it depends on what agreement they make."

For now, Felber can only see fewer opportunities.

"I lived in Spain after university. It was an amazing opportunity that I may never have again, and for future generations," said Telber.