Scotland, as a part of the United Kingdom, is a place enriched with the beauty of nature and strong economic background that attracts many foreign citizens.
If you are planning to move to Scotland to live, study, work or invest, then it is essential to grab all the necessary information regarding visa and immigration process.
Visas For EU and EEA Citizens
If you belong to the European Union (EU) countries or European Economic Area (EEA) countries, then you don’t need any visa to live, work or travel to Scotland.
However, you can apply for an EEA residence card to register yourself in Scotland as a permanent resident.
Visas For Non- EU and Non- EEA Citizens
If you are a non- EU citizen and belong to the nations like India, China, Japan, America, Australia and many others, then you must apply for the visa as per your motive of immigration.
The UK government handles all visas and immigration process in Scotland.
Well, the right visa that you need will depend on numerous factors. You can although apply from several options of visas available to you.
Student Visa
Student Visa is of various types depending on the type and length of the educational course you are studying for and your age. Such visas are –
# Tier 4 Visa
It covers two types of visas- General student visa and Child student visa.
General student visa covers those students who wish to study an undergraduate and postgraduate course.
Whereas, Child student visas are allotted to the students between the ages of 4 and 17 years.
# Short Term Study Visa
If you want to join short term courses like vocational courses, training courses, language courses and other courses of the same nature, then you can apply for short term study visa.
However, a point to remember is that a short term visa will entail a few restrictions on your workability and the options of carrying out any business.
Business Visa
If you are planning to invest in Scotland or to carry out some business activities, then you must possess a business visa as per your business needs.
Business visa can be summarised into distinct categories –
- Innovator Visa
- Start-up Visa
- Tier-1 ( Investor) Visa
- Tier-1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa
- Visitor Visa, and others.
Tourist Visa
Scotland is a beautiful part of the UK enriched with pristine beaches, jaw-dropping landscapes, crumbling castles, and numerous other scenic beauties.
The historical monuments are the centre of attraction for tourists. If you want to be a part of this natural heritage, then you need to apply for a tourist visa. It is a kind of visitor visa that is valid for short term duration only.
Visa Requirement
While applying for a visa, you are required to fulfil a few eligibility criteria and provide documentation for approval. These are-
- A valid passport.
- Your recent passport.
- Letter of invitation.
- Proof that you are financially stable.
- Evidence of your current employment.
- Purpose of immigration.
- Your tour details.
Bottom Line
Eventually moving and staying in Scotland will be a great moment of your life. You’ll surely experience the friendly welcome in this beautiful country and feel like home with the calm and open-minded people of Scotland around you.