Last checked against GOV.UK: 7 October 2026.
If you are visiting from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or most of Europe, you do not need a visa for a holiday in Scotland, but you do need an Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA, before you travel. Visitors from countries such as India, China, Pakistan and Nigeria need a Standard Visitor visa. British and Irish citizens need neither.
Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, so the UK's entry rules apply. There is no separate Scottish visa and no border check between England and Scotland. The quickest way to be sure of your own position is the UK government's Check if you need a UK visa tool, which asks for your nationality and the reason for your trip.
What is an ETA?
An ETA is a digital permission to travel that is linked to your passport. It is not a visa, and there is no interview or appointment. The key points:
- It costs £20 per person.
- Everyone travelling needs their own, including babies and children.
- It lasts for two years, or until your passport expires if that is sooner.
- You can visit as many times as you like while it is valid, for up to six months at a time.
- You also need one if you pass through UK border control while changing planes.
How to apply for an ETA
Apply on the official UK ETA app or on GOV.UK. You will need the passport you will travel on, an email address, a payment card and a photo of your face. Most people get a decision by email within a day, although it can take up to three working days, so apply at least a week before you fly.
Use the official app or website. Other sites offer to apply for you and charge considerably more for the same £20 authorisation. If you renew your passport, you will need a new ETA.
Who needs a visa to visit Scotland?
If your nationality is not eligible for an ETA, you will need a Standard Visitor visa. It covers holidays, visits to family and friends and short business trips of up to six months.
- It costs £135 for a visit of up to six months.
- You can apply up to three months before you travel.
- You apply online, then attend a visa application centre to give your fingerprints and photograph.
- Allow several weeks for a decision, and apply as early as the three-month window allows.
Neither an ETA nor a visitor visa lets you take paid work in the UK or stay long term. For work or study you need a different visa.
Who does not need a visa or an ETA?
British and Irish citizens can travel to Scotland freely. So can anyone who already has permission to live, work or study in the UK.
What to have ready at the border
An ETA or visa does not guarantee entry. A Border Force officer can still ask about your trip, so carry the details where you can reach them:
- A return or onward ticket.
- The address of where you are staying, or your tour confirmation.
- Evidence that you can support yourself during your stay.
Your passport must be valid for the whole of your visit. If you are travelling with a child who is not your own, or who has a different surname, bring a letter of consent from their parent or guardian.
Ready to plan your trip?
Entry rules change, so check GOV.UK again shortly before you travel. Once the paperwork is done, the good part begins: castles, whisky distilleries and some of the finest scenery in Europe. When you book a private tour with us we are happy to remind you what you need before you fly. Get in touch to start planning.
Tell us where you'd like to go, when you're travelling, and how many are in your group. We'll take care of the rest.
