NOTE: This guide was last updated on 18.11.2024. Please check the authenticity and validity of the information on this website before proceeding with your visa application. Use Timatic and the official sources we provided on this page for the most up-to-date information.

Scotland Visa Information

Scotland is a true wonderland with magnificent cities, gorgeous nature, vibrant culture, and a rich history. As a popular tourist destination in the UK, Scotland has been among the most popular destinations in the nation. If you're planning to see this majestic country but don't know how to deal with the visa process, you're at the right place! You can find everything about Scotland's visa processes below!

Before preparing for your application make sure to buy your Scotland flight ticket online as the first step! If you’re looking for useful tips for your journey, our Scotland travel guide might be of help.

Scotland Visa

Before visiting Scotland, you must check whether the passport you hold entails visa-free travel. If you need a visa to travel to Scotland, you must apply for a UK visa since Scotland is a country within the United Kingdom.

Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Scotland?

Whether you need a visa to travel to Scotland depends on your country of origin. The US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, EEA and Swiss citizens can enter Scotland without a visa. However, most other visitors from different countries need a UK visa for a trip to Scotland. Click official website to check if you need a UK visa to visit Scotland.

NOTE: The United Kingdom is expanding its ETA system as of January 2025. After January 8, 2025, the citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand will need an ETA to visit Scotland. Plus, EU citizens will need an ETA from April 2, 2025. Click here to see the press release.

Did you book a flight to Scotland?

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and you need to apply for a UK visa. Although flight or hotel tickets are not mandatory, if you have a travel plan, making a reservation can facilitate your visa procedures. For this reason, you can also benefit from early booking advantages by booking a flight ticket to Scotland in advance in accordance with your travel date.

You may also be interested in these articles:

Scotland Travel Guide

Edinburgh Travel Guide

How to Apply for a Scotland Visa

Here is the step-by-step application process for a Scotland visa:

1. Check if the purpose of your visit to Scotland is allowed as a Standard Visitor,
2. See your eligibility requirements,
3. Check whether you need a Scotland visa,
4. If you need a visa, go to the online application system,
5. Once you have completed your application, make an appointment at a visa application centre.

Scotland Visa Types

There are several different visa types for Scotland. The visa type that is best for you depends on the nature and length of your travel. Since each visa type requires you to provide different documentation, you should carefully check visa rules and required documents. Below, you can find more information about these visa types and how to apply.

Standard Visitor Visa

A Scotland Standard Visitor Visa is the Scotland visa you apply for short-term visits to Scotland. This visa type is usually preferred by tourists or people visiting their family in Scotland. You can read below for the requirements for different Standard Visitor Visa types.

Scotland Standard Visitor Visa Rules

In order to be able to apply for a visa to Scotland, you need to meet the eligibility requirements. In order to obtain a visa, you must:

• Prove that you'll leave the UK at the end of your visit,
• Be able to support yourself and your dependents during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you),
• Be able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey),
• Do not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits or make the UK your main dwelling.

If you’re above the age of 18, you can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor Visa. Those under 18 can only apply for a Standard Visitor Visa, which lets you stay in the country for a maximum of six months. * All the information here is obtained from the official UK government website. For the updated information, you can visit the official website of UK

Scotland Standard Visitor Visa Requirements

If you meet all the eligibility requirements, you can start collecting your documentation. Here is the necessary information and documentation you must submit during the online application:

• The dates of your trip,
• Your accommodation (hotel, hostel, rental, etc.),
• Your prediction of your potential expenses during the trip,
• Your current address and how long you’ve lived there,
• Your parents' name and date of birth (if known),
• Your annual income (if you have an income),
• Criminal record with details of any criminal, civil, or immigration offences you may have committed.

In some cases, you might need to provide further information, such as:

• Your travel history of the past ten years,
• The address and phone number of your employer,
• The name, date of birth, and passport number of your partner,
• The name and address of the person funding the trip,
• The name, address, and passport number of your family in the UK,
• The certification of a recent tuberculosis test.

Once you finish your online application, you'll need to book an appointment at a physical visa application centre. At the appointment, you'll need to provide:

• Documents proving your identity, such as your passport or travel document,
• Your fingerprints and photograph - taken at the application centre,
• All the documents that show you're eligible for a Standard Visitor Visa.

In some cases, the visa application centre might hold your documentation while the application is processed. It usually takes three weeks for you to receive the decision on your visa application. The official and up-to-date information you can visit the Standard Visitor Visa.

Scotland Standard Visitor Visa Requirements for Academics

You need to fulfil the following criteria to apply for a Scotland Standard Visa for academics:

• Being a highly skilled professional in your field of expertise or having a PhD,
• Working in your field of expertise at an institution overseas,
• Not filling a permanent teaching post,
• Academics must prove that they are visiting to do research or a formal exchange,
• Senior doctors or dentists need to prove that they are visiting to do research, clinical practice, a formal exchange or to teach.

When applying for the visa, you need to show that you are eligible. So, you must submit a letter or document from your employer outlining the dates of your exchange and the details of the research. If you are invited by an organisation in Scotland, they may also provide a letter or document confirming the arrangements for your research, exchange, or clinical practice.

You can check the official web page of the UK government for more detailed information regarding Scotland visas for academics.

Scotland Standard Visitor Visa Requirements for Medical Visits

Visitors who are travelling to Scotland for medical purposes must prove that they:

• Need private medical care in the UK for their medical condition,
• Have already made arrangements and consultations in the UK for their medical condition,
• Have enough money, funds, or income to fund their treatment,
• Will leave the UK once their treatment is completed or visa expires,
• They do not have medical conditions that are dangerous to the general public in the UK.

Additionally, visitors must submit the following documents:

• A letter written by a doctor or another professional that states the patient's condition requires consultation or treatment,
• Documentation showing the estimated costs and duration of the treatment,
• The institution where the treatment, consultation, or medical care will take place.

Please refer to the official website of the United Kingdom Government for more information.

Scotland Standard Visitor Visa Requirements for Study Purposes

Normally, a Standard Visitor Visa allows you to stay in Scotland for up to six months. During these six months, you can attend language courses or do an elective if you're studying medicine, veterinary medicine and science, nursing, midwifery, or dentistry. Nevertheless, if your studies take longer than six months, you must apply for a short-term study visa, a student visa, or a child student visa.

Scotland Standard Visitor Visa Requirements for Visitors Participating in Paid Engagements and Activities

Visiting Scotland for paid engagements and activities usually requires you to submit proof of invitation from a professional institution, organisation, or UK resident. You also need to demonstrate that you are an established professional in your home country by providing evidence such as recent performances, publications, or works. The following professionals can be invited to the UK by institutions and organisations:

• Professional artists
• Entertainers
• Musicians
• Professional sportspeople
• Qualified lawyers
• Lecturers
• Speakers
• Academics
• Air pilot examiners

There are different documentation and requirements for each category. Please check the official page for more detailed and up-to-date information.

Skilled Worker Visa

A Skilled Worker Visa is what you need to come to and stay in Scotland for work purposes. You may be eligible for this visa type as long as you meet the following criteria:

• Your job must be eligible for the visa,
• Your employer must be approved by the Home Office,
• You must have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ (CoS) from your employer containing information about your role,
• You must be paid a minimum salary – depends on your job,
• You must be able to speak English – you might be asked to prove your knowledge of English during your application.

You must submit the following documentation to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa:

• A Certificate of Sponsorship reference number,
• Proof of your knowledge of English,
• A valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality,
• Your job title and annual salary,
• Your job's occupation code,
• The name of your employer and their sponsor license number.

More information can be found on the Skilled Worker Visa page of the official UK government website.

Student Visa

If you are planning to study in the UK, you can apply for a Student Visa. The documents you'll need to apply are:

• A valid passport,
• A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider,
• Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself and pay for your course,
• A valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if your course and nationality require it,
• Proof of parental or other legal guardian consent - if under 18,
• Proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian - if under 18,
• A tuberculosis test results,
• Written consent for your application from your financial sponsor - if you received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months.

Students under the age of 18 must also submit written consent from parents or legal guardians. If only one parent has the sole responsibility for the child, then their written consent will suffice. This letter should include the parent(s) or guardian(s) consent for the minor’s visa application, living and care arrangements in Scotland, and travel to the country. Also, the applicant must submit their birth certificate or any other official document showing the names of both parents.

You can find detailed and up-to-date information regarding Scotland Student Visa here. There is also a Short-Term Study Visa for those who will take long-term English classes (up to 11 months), and a Child Student Visa, for students under 18 who will study in Scotland short-term.

What is visa sponsorship for Scotland?

Visa sponsorship is funding a skilled worker or a professional to come and work in Scotland under a Skilled Worker Visa. The employer must have a sponsor license and must work in a field eligible for the sponsorship.

Scotland Visa Requirements for Non-Europeans

Scottish visa requirements for non-Europeans depend on your citizenship and country of origin. So, you need to check beforehand whether you need a visa to enter the country. You can visit the official website of the British government to see whether you need a visa to enter Scotland.

Scotland Visa requirement for US, UK, and Canadian citizens

From January 8, 2025, citizens of the US and Canada will be required to apply for an ETA to travel to Scotland. However, trips prior to this date are visa-free for American and Canadian passport holders. You can check if you can get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)

Since Scotland is part of the UK, all British citizens can visit, stay, live, and work in Scotland without any restrictions. Also, it is worth noting that there is no Scottish citizenship, and all citizens living in Scotland are actually citizens of the United Kingdom.

Scotland Visa Requirements for Russians

Because of the immigration caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine, there is a slowdown for all visa applications, regardless of nationality. Therefore, Russian citizens who plan to visit Scotland soon should apply for a visa at least five or six months beforehand, as it might become hard to find an appointment due to limited slots.

Scotland Visa Fees

Scotland visa fees depend on the visa and the purpose of your visit. The basic visa for trips, the British Standard Visitor Visa, costs GBP 115 and lets you stay in the country for up to six months. However, the fee rises to GBP 200 for a Scottish Standard Visa for medical purposes, allowing you to stay in the country for 11 months. Scottish Standard Visa for academics also costs GBP 200 and allows you to stay in Scotland for 12 months. Additionally, you can get a 2-year long-term Standard Visitor Visa for GBP 432, a 5-year long-term Standard Visitor Visa for GBP 771, and a 10-year long-term Standard Visitor Visa for GBP 963.

How much does the Scotland visa cost?

The application fee for the British Standard Visa starts from GBP 115. Here is a list of different visa types and costs:

Visit the webpage of the UK government regarding visa fees for the most recent and updated information.