Scotland is a country forming part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The most popular city is the capital Edinburgh, which invites many tourists from around the world. If you plan a trip to the country of haggis, romantic mountains, and lonely castles, you will need a valid passport.
In this article you will find out why it is worth visiting Scotland, what are the interesting faIn this article you will find out the general requirements regarding a passport to Scotland, and information on domestic or international flights.
Who needs a passport to Scotland?
Scotland, as part of the United Kingdom, left the European Union in 2020, and the free movement ended on the 1st of January 2021. This means that tourists are still welcomed but might need to meet different requirements in conjunction with Brexit.
All tourists travelling from outside of the UK need a valid passport. Europeans can stay for up to three months without the need for a visa, but if your country is in the EU, there is no limit on the length of time you can stay here. If you’re from the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you can stay for up to six months with a passport. If you are from anywhere else, you will require a visa.
Travelling on international flights
All adults, as well as children (even infants), need a valid passport, or an equivalent travel document, in order to travel on international flights that are valid for the full duration of your trip. Some countries additionally require that the passport is valid for a minimum period prior to your trip, usually 3 (three) or 6 (six) months from the date you plan on exiting the country.
For flights into the UK from the EU, if you are travelling with an ID card, you are still recommended to bring your passport with you, if you have one. You could get through the UK Border quicker by using your ePassport at the eGates on arrival.
Where to next? Try these articles to learn more about passports:
- Do You Need a Passport For Domestic Flights in New Zealand?
- Do I Need a Passport to Fly Domestic in US?
- Do You Need a Passport to Go to Canada? [Ultimate Guide]
- Passport Lost Before a Flight—Can You Still Travel? [And What to Do]
- Can I Book an International Flight with an Expired Passport?
- Do You Need a Passport to Go to Cancun? [2024 Update]
- How to Renew Your Expired British Passport in the US
Travelling on domestic flights
While travelling in the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, you do not need a passport but you should have some photo identification. To take the right photograph for a Scotland passport, you have to meet some requirements.
Use the Passport Photo Online service or mobile app which edits, crops and verifies your picture regarding the Scottish specifications.
A passport is the best document to carry, because it is a national identity document as well as a travel document. However, in such cases, you can use a driving licence or any other photographic identification. Children under the age of 16 years do not require identification to travel within the United Kingdom.
Passport requirements when flying to Scotland
As mentioned above, on international flights you must have a valid passport. Some cAs mentioned above, on international flights you must have a valid passport. Some countries need a visa to Scotland too, but here we’ll explain the passport rules.
Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland, may travel within Europe using a valid EU/EEA/Swiss National Identity Card or Passport Card.
The passport has to be:
- in a good condition and signed
- valid for a minimum period prior to your trip, usually three or six months from the date you plan to leave the country.
We recommend all UK passengers check their passport validity on the UK Government website. For more passport requirements or visa specifications, contact the Consulate or Embassy of Scotland.
All EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals travelling to Scotland will need a valid passport to enter, as well as any other British country. Your travel document should not expire during your stay in the UK.
At the border, officials might ask for proof that you are visiting Scotland for tourism, such as a hotel reservation or a travel itinerary. EU citizens can use their national ID card until then, including Irish citizens. There are no changes in the rules for other foreign nationals.
Passport requirements for children going to Scotland
We mentioned above that children do not need a valid passport or identification in order to travel on a domestic flight within the UK, which going to Scotland from another part of the UK would be.
However, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification for your child, and proof of parentage, as well as a letter of consent, if you are a lone parent with your child.
When travelling to Scotland from another country abroad, this will count as an international flight, so a passport will be required for the child. As with the above, a letter of consent is advisable if you are a lone parent travelling to Scotland with your child.
Can I stay in Scotland after Brexit?
If you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, and you have family members who have been living in Scotland since before December 31st 2020, you can apply for settled status through the EU settlement scheme. However, all EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens, who are going to Scotland to live, work, or study, must apply according to the UK government’s immigration rules.
A passport to Scotland and Passport Photo Online
If you are travelling to Scotland from outside the UK, you will require one thing for your new passport, and that is a passport photo. A passport photo, when applying for or renewing your passport, will need to be an up-to-date picture that represents how you look at the moment in time of sending in your application.
Thanks to Passport Photo Online, taking your passport photo has never been easier. Passport Photo Online is an app that allows you to take passport photos and have them edited, cropped and resized, all according to the requirements of the country you are applying with. It will replace the background to the appropriate colour, resize and crop the photo to fit the size requirements, and verify if it is correct.
The app has an advanced AI algorithm that is used by passport offices around the world, and because of this you can rely on it being correct. If the app says that your photo is correct, then it will surely be accepted by whomever you are applying with.
Passport Photo Online is available for Android on the Google Play Store and iOS on the Apple App Store. You can trust that Passport Photo Online is both safe, and secure.
Do you need a passport to fly to Scotland: FAQ
Do you need a passport to fly to Scotland with British Airways?
That depends on where you are flying from. If you are flying to Scotland, using British Airways, and your departure country is within the UK, then no passport is required, although an ID is advised. If you are, however, flying from outside the UK then a valid passport will be required.
Do you need a passport to fly between England and Scotland?
No, you do not, as England and Scotland are both part of the United Kingdom, so this counts as domestic travel, for which a passport is not required.
Can a child fly to Scotland without a passport?
Yes, as long as they are flying from a location within the United Kingdom, as it is a domestic flight.
Do you need an ID to fly to Scotland?
You don’t need one, however it is highly advisable for you to take one, as there may be a point in your trip where you are asked for photographic identification. This only applies if flying to Scotland from within the UK, as if flying from outside the UK, your passport will serve as your ID.
Do you need a passport to fly to Scotland if you live in the UK?
No, but only if you are flying there from within the UK. If you live in the UK but are flying to Scotland from an airport outside the UK, then you will need your passport.
Can you go to Scotland without a passport?
Yes, you can go there without a passport, as long as you are within the UK already.
Sources
Justyna graduated from journalism and social communications at the University of Lower Silesia. She is an avid journalist with passion for travels and sport, being also a professional athlete for the past 8 years. Justyna is the author of articles concerning biometric photography.
