Visitors to Scotland (and the rest of the UK) must hold a valid passport before starting their journey. Please note that children may require their own passports.
Passports
Passport valid for whole period of the visit to the UK required by all except:
- Nationals of EU countries
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Monaco
- Norway
- Switzerland
with a valid national ID card.
As for staying here, EU citizens can stay as long they want; other Europeans up to three months; if you’re from the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you can stay up to six months, as long as you’ve got a return ticket and funds to cover your stay. If you are visiting from anywhere else you’ll need a visa. If you aren’t from an EU nation, you’ll need a work permit to work here legally.
All overseas nationals who wish to enter the UK must satisfy the immigration officer at the port of arrival that they meet the requirements of the UK immigration regulations. Application forms to download, lists of visa nationals and information on how to apply for a visa, as well as guidance written especially for visitors coming to the UK are available online from the UKvisas website. TalentScotland’s immigration advisors also offer free advice for anyone applying for entry to the UK.
Visas
Required by all except the following:
- Nationals listed in the chart above
- Nationals of American Samoa, Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bonaire, Botswana, Brazil, British Overseas Territories, Brunei, Chile, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominica, East Timor, El Salvador, Federated States of Micronesia, French Guiana, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Korea (Rep), Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Macau (SAR), Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saba, St Eustatius, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tahiti, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, Vanuatu and Venezuela
- Those in transit, provided arriving and departing by air within 24 hours and holding all necessary onward documentation. Direct Airside Transit visas are required by the following countries, even if not entering the UK or changing airports during transit: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, China (PR), Colombia, Congo (Dem Rep), Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Macedonia, Moldova, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia & Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Uganda, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
Customs and Duty Free
Travelling Within the European Union
You do not have to pay any tax or duty in the UK on goods you have bought tax paid in other EU countries which are for your own use, and which have been transported to the UK by you. ‘Own use’ includes goods which are for your own consumption and gifts. You cannot bring back goods for payment, even payment in kind, or for re-sale. These goods would then be regarded as held for a commercial purpose.If the Officer is satisfied the goods are being brought into the UK for a commercial purpose, and are not for own use, the goods, along with any vehicle used to transport them, will be liable to seizure and may not be returned. For serious offences you could also be liable to imprisonment, heavy fines or driving disqualification.
Travelling From Outside the European Union
You are entitled to an allowance of goods only if you travel with the goods and do not plan to sell them. Make sure that you don’t bring anything into, or take anything out of, Scotland, that you shouldn’t. Check the HM Customs list of prohibited and restricted goods, for example, drugs, weapons and live animals, if you are unsure.Find more information directly at:
Scotland Embassy
Country : Scotland
