The travel rules for Scotland have changed substantially over the past year. From what has happened to the green and amber list countries to whether you can visit the Scottish Islands, here’s what you need to know about holidaying as a Scottish citizen.
Can I travel abroad from Scotland?
Yes. Scotland follows a very similar travel system to the rest of the UK, which scrapped the green and amber lists in October 2021. Government-approved hotels have been stood down in the UK since the end of March 2022.
All Covid travel rules, including tests for those who are not fully vaccinated and passenger locator forms, were removed on Friday 18 March 2022. Scotland and Wales agreed to follow England in scrapping the remaining coronavirus border measures. The Scottish government said consistency across the four nations was agreed because of the ‘negative impact of non-alignment on the tourism industry’.
Can I travel to England from Scotland?
Yes. Travel between the British nations has been allowed since Monday 12 April 2021, when lockdown restrictions began to ease. Visiting England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey is not classed as international travel from Scotland.
Can I travel to the Scottish Islands from Scotland?
Yes. There are currently no restrictions surrounding visiting a Scottish Island from mainland Scotland.
What are the restrictions in Scotland?
On Tuesday 22 February, the Scottish government announced their plan for living safely with Covid. Since Monday 28 February, vaccine certification has no longer been legally required in Scotland. The legal requirement to use a face mask in busy areas such as restaurants, on public transport and in shops was lifted from Monday 18 April, but it is still strongly encouraged to wear one in order to protect those who are more vulnerable to suffering the virus more seriously. And access to lateral flow tests is no longer free, although PCR tests are available to people with Covid symptoms until the end of April. Check the Scottish government guidelines before travelling, and stay up-to-date with our piece on UK travel rules.
