Moving to Scotland, or any other country for that matter, is no easy feat. From saying goodbye to loved ones to organising the logistics, moving can be difficult.

Here, we’ve prepared a guide on everything you’ll need to know about moving to Scotland to help you make that all-important decision.

Is moving to Scotland easy?

Moving to Scotland is relatively easy. That said, you’ll need to consider your finances, visa applications, and logistics, among others.

To give you an idea of where to start, we’ve covered all of these considerations, from visa application to finding lodging.

What is the visa application process like? 

Below is the visa application process that immigrants typically go through:

• Apply for your specific visa
• Prepare and submit all your supplementary documents
• Record your biometrics
• Attend your biometrics appointment for the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Note that these steps may vary depending on various personal circumstances. Aside from that, there may be additional requirements, procedures, or fees.

Step 1: Visa Application

To legally reside in Scotland, or anywhere in the world for that matter, you’ll need a visa.

A visa is an official endorsement that’s given to the holder as permission to stay for a specified length of time. 

It’s typically applied for prior to entering a country. Some are granted upon entry while others aren’t immediately required depending on the type of passport.

Say, if you’re an American or Canadian passport-holding visitor, you can stay for up to 6 months without a visa.

To legally stay for a longer period of time, you’ll need to acquire a visa. Luckily, there are several of which to apply for depending on your circumstances.

Having said that, different visas also have different eligibility conditions and requirements. These could include medical screenings, interviews, and documentation.

We’ve listed some of the most commonly-used visa routes to give you a better idea of which would be best applied to your situation. 

If none of these visa options seem to fit your circumstances, the UK Government has a helpful questionnaire to find the best ones available for you.

Student Visa

If you’re planning to study in Scotland but aren’t from any of the EU countries, you’re going to have to apply for a student visa. 

For students coming from the EU, EEA, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland

Taking into consideration the UK’s withdrawal from the EU or Brexit, students from the following are now required to register via the new Student route:

• EU
• EEA
• Liechtenstein
• Norway
• Iceland
• Switzerland 

Students in or a resident of the EU during the transition period (this began the moment the UK withdrew from the EU and until 31 December 2020 at 11 p.m. GMT) can apply for the EU Settlement Scheme.

Otherwise, you’ll have to apply via the UK’s points-based immigration system. Here, you’ll need to select an immigration category, meet all of the criteria, and submit the necessary requirements to get a Student Visa. 

Do keep in mind that the course that you intend to undertake is required to meet the requirements of your chosen immigration route.

Apart from that, note that you’ll need at least 70 points to be eligible to apply for a Student Visa.. 

For students coming from other countries abroad

If you’re coming from other countries outside of the EU, the first thing that you’ll need to secure is an official place at your chosen school or university. 

The type of visa that you should be applying for will depend on your category. The criteria for eligibility and necessary documents may also vary on the type of visa.

Here are a few of the most popular student visa options that you can apply for depending on your circumstances: 

• Child Student Visa – For students ages 4 to 17 years old who plan to study in an independent school

Note: Child Student Visa has replaced the Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa

• Student Visa – Primarily for undergraduate and postgraduate international students

Note: Student Visa was formerly known as the Tier 4 Visa

• Graduate Route – For international postgraduate or doctoral students looking to work for 2 years and 3 years respectively
• Short Term Study Visa – For international students pursuing a short-term training or educational course 

It’s important to keep in mind that these visas may post several restrictions on your ability to work or carry out business. 

For more information on the visa eligibility criteria and requirements, you may visit gov.uk.

Spouse Visa

The Spouse Visa is an extension of the Family Visa wherein you’re applying to legally join your partner who’s already settled in the UK to live together permanently. 

For your partner to have been legally settled in the UK, they have to be an ordinary resident and have no immigration restrictions as far as the length of their stay is concerned.

To be able to apply, both you and your partner have to be above 18 and meet the eligibility requirements for the Spousal Visa.

Aside from that, your partner has to be either:

• Be a British citizen
• Be an Irish citizen
• Have come from the EU, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, or Iceland with a pre-settled status. Alternatively, they should have settled in the UK prior to 1 January 2021.
• Have legally settled in the UK
• Hold a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa
• Hold a refugee status
• Hold a humanitarian protection status in the UK

You can choose to apply for the Spouse Visa from overseas or while you’re in the UK. If you’re currently holding another type of visa, you can switch to a Spouse Visa. 

Having said that, you can either apply for the Spouse Visa either as a:

• Spouse
• Fiance
• Fiancee
• Proposed civil partner

The Spouse Visa will have several eligibility requirements. These will require the applicant and their partner to prove their:

• Relationship is genuine and recognised in the UK
• Ability to financially support themselves and their dependents (if applicable)
• Former civil partnerships have come to an end
• Plans to get married or become civil partners within 6 months of coming to the UK
• Knowledge of the English language
• Cohabitation of at least 2 years before applying

Like any other visa, there’ll be several additional requirements that you’ll need to submit. 

This includes evidence that’s no more than four years old to confirm your relationship. This can typically be done through certificates, bank statements, and similar official documents that confirm that you’re living together.

Strong evidence can also be gathered through messages on social media and photographs, among others.

You’ll also need to prove that you both intend to enter a civil partnership that’s recognised in the UK within 6 months of arriving. Say, getting married. 

As far as the length of your initial visa application’s validity is concerned, it varies depending on your status. 

Applicant Status	Duration of Stay
Spouse	Up to 2 years and 9 months (33 months)
Fiance, fiancee, or proposed civil partner	Up to 6 months

Given these limitations, you’ll need to apply for an extension to continue to legally stay in Scotland.

It’s only after having stayed in the UK for five years that you’ll be eligible to apply for permanent settlement. After meeting the relevant requirements and gaining an indefinite leave to remain status, you’ll be eligible to apply for British citizenship.

For more information on the visa eligibility criteria and requirements, you may visit gov.uk.

Work Visa

Work visas are another popular immigration route. Similar to the student visa, you’ll first need to secure an official position along with an employer that’s willing to sponsor you. 

More often than not, you can expect your employer to help you throughout the immigration process as your sponsor.

Apart from that, your employer may also be required to complete the Resident Labour Market Test. This test ensures that there isn’t anyone within the EEA that possesses the same skills as you. 

There are several types of Work Visas depending on the length of your stay, industry, and occupation. Having said that, there are also specific eligibility requirements for each visa type.

Here are a few Work Visas that are most commonly applied for:

Long-term Work Visas

• Skilled Worker Visa
• Health and Care Worker Visa
• Senior or Specialist Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)

Short-term Work Visas

• Graduate visa
• High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa
• Graduate Trainee Visa (Global Business Mobility)

Investor, Business Development And Talent Visas

• Entrepreneur Visa (Tier 1)
• Investor Visa (Tier 1)
• Start-Up Visa

For more information on the visa eligibility criteria and requirements, you may visit gov.uk.

UK Ancestry Visa

The UK Ancestry Visa is another popular route to obtaining a visa through one’s bloodline. This is applicable to individuals who:

• Have one or more grandparents that were born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man
• Are citizens of a commonwealth country
• Are British overseas citizens
• Are British overseas territories citizens
• Are British nationals (overseas)
• Are citizens of Zimbabwe

It’s important to note that you will not be permitted to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa through step-parents.

There are also several other eligibility requirements that you’ll need to meet in order to apply. 

These include being able to prove that you can financially sustain and support yourself and your dependents. This is because you will not be eligible to receive public funds. 

Apart from that, you’ll need to provide evidence that you are planning to and will be able to work in the UK.

After five years in the UK with your Ancestry Visa, you can to either:

• Apply for a five-year extension
• Apply for permanent settlement

For more information on the visa eligibility criteria and requirements, you may visit gov.uk.

Step 2: Supplementary Documents and Recording of Biometrics

Once you’ve finished your visa application, the next step is to provide any additional paperwork or requirements.

This could be in the form of:

• Additional information on your job sponsorship
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate

Supplementary requirements may vary depending on the type of visa you’ve applied for. Hence, it’s best to constantly double-check with your attending immigration officer to ensure that you’re on the right track. 

Afterwards, you’ll need to schedule a biometrics appointment so that you can have your fingerprints recorded and photograph taken. 

Where you’ll be giving your biometric information will depend on how you’re handling your visa and immigration application.

This will also dictate how much the fee will be. Sometimes it’s a separate payment; while other times, it’s included in your application fee.

If you’re applying from outside of the UK, you may need to go to a visa application centre.

On the other hand, if you’re applying from the UK, you may need to go to:

• UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point
• Service and support centre
• Post office branch

Step 3: Biometrics Appointment for Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Once your visa has been approved, you’ll be issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). In other words, you don’t need to apply for it as you’ll automatically be given one after your application is approved.

This document is the UK’s way of officially identifying foreign nationals regardless of the purpose of their stay. It was introduced sometime in 2015 to reduce illegal immigration to the UK. 

Hence, it’s equipped with a biometric chip, unique document number, and made of polycarbonate materials. This combats forgery attempts and ensures it can withstand abuse.

So whether you’re coming to the UK for work or to study, your BRP is proof that the purpose of your stay is legally recognised by the government.

In other words, the BRP verifies and authenticates your UK immigration status. Having said that, it’s an incredibly important document that you definitely don’t want to misplace.

Despite not being required to carry it at all times, you’re going to need to show it at the UK border.

Can I bring my pet with me to Scotland?

Good news for pet parents: you can bring your pet along with you to Scotland, and there are different ways to do so!

So here’s what you’ll need to do to ensure that your pet’s compliant with all the eligibility requirements to move to Scotland with you.

Do take into consideration that certain personal circumstances may result in differing requirements. Hence, it’s best to get in touch with an immigration officer for more detailed instructions. 

What is the Pet Travel Scheme?

The Pet Travel Scheme consists of several rules and requirements applicable to all cats, dogs (including guide and assistance dogs), and ferrets traveling to the UK. 

These include:

• Getting microchipped with an ISO-compliant microchip
• Having been vaccinated against rabies 
• A negative titer test 
• Having been treated for tapeworm (applicable to dogs only)
• Valid pet passport or veterinary health certificate

Since Great Britain is a rabies-free area, government officials want to keep it that way. This also prevents certain diseases from entering the country. 

Having said that, it’s important that you ensure that you’ve accomplished all the necessary health protocols so that your pet can join you in Scotland. 

Failure to do so will result in your pets being subjected to quarantine upon arrival at Great Britain. 

1. ISO-compliant Microchip

One of the first things you’ll need to accomplish to be able to bring your pet with you to travel internationally is to ensure that they’ve been microchipped.

To be specific, your pet will need an International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-compatible microchip to enter any country within the European Union (EU).

What’s a microchip?

A microchip helps pets become easily identifiable through a tiny registered chip that contains their owner’s information.

This information is typically registered in the microchip’s manufacturer’s database. This is where animal shelters and veterinarians will search for your information in the event that your pet gets lost.

How’s a microchip implanted?

A microchip is typically implanted by a licenced veterinarian on your pet’s shoulder. It’s quite small and the entire procedure is relatively quick and painless.

Hence, you won’t have to worry about subjecting your beloved pet into a painful procedure.

They’re also known to last a lifetime, so you won’t need to get them microchipped again.

Why does my pet specifically need an ISO-Compatible microchip?

The EU regulations state that for your pet to be qualified for travel within the EU, they will need an ISO standard microchip. 

This is important to take note of because the ISO-compatible microchips are the world’s standard because they emit the same frequency (134.2 kHz). 

Because of this, they can be read by nearly all scanners of all makes and models.

They’re also unique because they have a unique 15-digit identification number.

There are certain locations that have universal scanners which can scan microchips of all frequencies. 

This means that they’re able to read any type of manufactured microchip, say ones made from the US. 

Even then, you wouldn’t want to take your chances of encountering a hiccup while traveling, right? 

It would also be a shame if your pet got lost and those who found it can’t read what’s on the microchip.

Hence, it’s better to be safe than sorry and to get an ISO microchip. That said, get an ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 microchip, which are specifically for animals.

When should I get my pet microchipped?

It’s important to note that your pet has to get microchipped either before or at the same time as their rabies vaccination. This is because rabies vaccinations during this period will be considered a “primary vaccine”.

Your pet will need to have their primary rabies vaccine not earlier than 21 days before their arrival in Scotland. Otherwise, they’ll be required to undergo another vaccination.

Depending on what type of pet you have, the recommended age for microchipping them could vary. 

Pet	Recommended Age
Ferret	From 8 to 16 weeks old
Dog	From 8 weeks old
Cat	From 10 to 8 weeks old

Despite having no minimum age for when your pets can get microchipped, most pet owners choose to have their pets microchipped as soon as they reach 8 weeks old. 

This is the timeline that most veterinarians follow as it’s ideal to have it done before letting your pet go outside for the first time.

Since having your pet microchipped is a legal requirement in the UK, you can expect fines and charges for not following the rules.

2. Rabies Vaccination and Rabies Titer Test

Another requirement to be able to bring your beloved pet to Scotland or travel anywhere else in the UK is to ensure that they’ve received their rabies vaccinations.

You’ll also have to provide evidence to your vet that your pet was at least 12 weeks old before they had their rabies vaccinations.

The rabies vaccine should either be an inactivated vaccine or recombinant vaccine. In the same vein, it should be an approved vaccine from your country of origin.

It’s important to note that you must get your pet vaccinated against rabies either before or at the same time as when they’re going to get microchipped. Otherwise, you’ll need to vaccinate them again.

Having mentioned that, your vaccination records in either their pet passport or health certificate must reflect the following information regarding your pet:

• Their date of birth
• Microchip number along with the date of when was inserted and where on your pet’s body it was placed
• Vaccine manufacturer, product name, and batch number
• Vaccination date and validity 
• Veterinarian’s signature and contact information

Coming from a ‘Part 1’ or ‘Part 2’ listed country

Pets from a ‘Part 1’ or ‘Part 2’ listed country are required to wait 21 days after receiving their primary vaccine or course before traveling to Great Britain.

Keep note that the first vaccination that your pet receives after it gets microchipped is considered its primary vaccination.

The Part 1 listed countries are the following:

• EU countries
• Andorra
• Azores and Madeira
• Canary Islands
• French Guiana
• Gibraltar
• Greenland and the Faroe Islands
• Guadeloupe
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Martinique
• Mayotte (French territory)
• Monaco
• Norway
• Réunion (French territory)
• Saint Barthélemy (French Territory)
• San Marino
• Saint Martin (French part of the island – French territory)
• Switzerland
• Vatican City State

For the countries listed above, you’ll only need a pet passport.

The Part 2 listed countries are the following:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Aruba
• Ascension Island
• Australia
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Bermuda
• BES Islands (Bonair, Saint Eustatius, and Saba)
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• British Virgin Islands
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Chila
• Curaçao
• Falkland Islands
• Fiji
• French Polynesia
• Hong Kong
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Montserrat
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia
• Russian Federation
• Saint Maarten
• Singapore
• St. Helena
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Pierre and Miquelon
• St. Vincent and The Grenadines
• Taiwan
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• USA (includes American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US virgin Islands)
• Vanuatu
• Wallis and Futuna

Note that pet passports aren’t accepted from these countries. Instead, Great Britain accepts pet health certificates.

Coming from a non-Part 1 or 2 country

If you’re not coming from a Part 1 or 2 country, there will be several additional steps that you’ll need to accomplish to be able to bring your pet to Great Britain. 

30 days after your pet’s rabies vaccination, a blood sample must be taken and sent to an EU-approved testing laboratory.

To be able to travel, the results of your pet’s blood test must indicate that the vaccination was effective and that your pet has at least 0.5 IU/ml in rabies antibody levels.

Note that you can only travel at least 3 months after your pet’s blood sample was taken. 

However, there are exceptions. You won’t need to hold off for 3 months if the following were accomplished within the EU before leaving for a non-listed country:

• Your pet was vaccinated
• Your pet was given a blood test
• Your pet was given a pet passport

Keep in mind that your veterinarian must issue you a health certificate containing the copy of your pet’s blood test results along with the date of when the blood sample was taken.

It’s also important to highlight that your pet’s blood test results will remain valid as long as you keep up with their rabies vaccinations.

Coming from a high-rabies country

Most countries classify other countries according to the prevalence of rabies. Apart from that, countries can also impose additional pet import or travel requirements. 

If your pet is coming from any of the following countries that the EU has listed as a high-rabies country, they will be subject to a minimum 30-day waiting period after their vaccination and before its titer test. 

Here’s a list of countries the EU has classified as a high-rabies country according to Pet Travel:

• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Algeria
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Angola
• Anguilla
• Antarctica
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bahamas
• Balearic Islands
• Bangladesh
• Belize
• Benin
• Bhutan
• Bolivia
• Borneo
• Botswana
• Brazil 
• Brunei Darussalam
• Burkina Faso
• Burma
• Burundi
• Cabrera
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Central African Republic
• Ceuta
• Chad
• China
• Christmas Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
• Cook Islands
• Corsica
• Colombia
• Comoros
• Congo
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Cyprus
• Turkish Republic
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• East Timor
• Easter Island
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Fatuna
• Formentera
• Galapagos Islands
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Georgia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel 
• Ivory Coast
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Korea (North and South)
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan 
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Macau
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Maldives
• Mali
• Margarita Islands
• Martinique
• Mauritania
• Melilla
• Miquelon
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Myanmar (Burma)
• Namibia
• Nepal
• Nicaragua
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Northern Cyprus
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Palestine
• Panama
• Papua New Guinea
• Peru
• Philippines
• Qatar
• Rwanda
• Samoa
• Saint Bathelemy 
• San Marino
• Saufi Arabia
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Siberia
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Suriname
• Sudan
• Swaziland
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Tibet
• Togo
• Tonga
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Uganda
• Ukraine
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Western Sahara
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Yemen
• Zambia
• Zanzibar
• zimbabwe

It’s important to note that the titer test must be administered at an approved laboratory. 

Once your pet has successfully undergone a titer test with approved results, it can enter Scotland not earlier than 3 calendar months after its blood was drawn for the test. 

If you aren’t able to quarantine your pet 3 calendar months before arriving in Scotland, your pet will be quarantined upon arrival to fulfill the required 3 calendar months.

Booster vaccinations

On top of regular vaccinations, your pet will also need up-to-date booster shots. 

If your pet’s traveling from a country that isn’t listed without their booster shot, they’ll be required to be vaccinated and have a blood test. They’ll also need to hold off travel for 3 months.

Your pet’s passport or health certificate should indicate which booster vaccinations you should expect to be due soon.

If your pet’s booster shot is due while they’re in Great Britain, they can acquire an Animal Health Certificate. You’ll need to get this 10 days before you enter another EU country or Northern Ireland.

3. Tapeworm Treatment (Dogs Only)

Before you can bring your pet dog to Scotland, they must have been treated for tapeworm. Their attending veterinarian must record this in their pet passport or health certificate.

It’s important to note that the treatment must be administered no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours upon arrival in Great Britain.

The treatment is required to include praziquantel or an equivalent. This is to ensure that the treatment is efficacious against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm.

In particular, the following information must be present in the ‘Echinococcus treatment’ section:

• Name and manufacturer of the product
• Date and time of treatment
• Stamp and signature

However, if you’re directly coming from any of the listed countries, you won’t need to have your dog treated for tapeworm:

• Finland
• Ireland
• Northern Ireland
• Malta
• Norway

4. Pet Passport or Veterinary Health Certificate

In order to travel to any EU country or Northern Ireland, your pet will also need either a pet passport or a pet health certificate. 

Pet Passport

Pet passports are only accepted from pets traveling from Part 1 listed countries. Otherwise, you will have to present a veterinary health certificate. 

If you come from a Part 1 listed country, you can get your pet a passport from the following countries: 

• Andorra
• Faroe Islands
• Gibraltar
• Greenland
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Monaco
• Northern Ireland
• Norway
• San Marino
• Switzerland
• Vatican City State
• EU countries

Take note that following Brexit, existing pet passports can no longer be used for traveling around Great Britain after 1 January 2021.  

If you’re coming from another EU country, you can opt to have your veterinarian issue an EU Pet Passport. 

Veterinary Health Certificate

The type of veterinary health certificate issued to you will depend on two things:

• If your pet will be accompanied while it travels
• If there will be a sale or transfer of ownership (i.e., commercial transport)

Let’s head on to the different types of classifications and what you’ll need to prepare depending on the purpose of your pet transport.

Non-Commercial Transportation

Your travels will be classified as Non-Commercial Transportation if:

• The pet’s owner or legal representative will travel within 5 days of the pet’s arrival in Great Britain
• There will be no sale or transfer of ownership of the pet
• More than 5 pets will be traveling

In this case, you’ll have two options depending on whether you’re coming from outside of the EU or from another EU member state. 

1. For Non-Commercial Travel from another EU member state, your pet must have:

• An ISO 11784 or 11785 compliant 15-digit microchip
• Evidence of up-to-date rabies vaccinations and booster shots after getting their microchip implant
• A completed Great Britain veterinary health certificate unless your pet is an EU Pet Passport holder

Do note that travel checks for pets coming from Northern Ireland have been suspended until further notice. Hence, these requirements won’t be asked.

For legal representatives, they will be required to sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport. This is to clearly affirm that the pet once the pet arrives in the UK, it won’t be sold or have a transfer of ownership.

2. For Non-Commercial Travel from outside of the EU, your pet must have:

• An ISO 11784 or 11785 compliant 15-digit microchip
• Evidence of up-to-date rabies vaccinations and booster shots after getting their microchip implant
• A completed non-commercial Great Britain health certificate accomplished by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of travel.

For pets traveling from the United States, the licenced veterinarian is required to hold accreditation from the USDA. In the same vein, their issued health certificate is required to be countersigned by the State USDA office.

For pets coming elsewhere, their veterinary health certificate must be countersigned by the country’s respective government agency in charge of the importation and exportation of animals

It’s important to note that this form can only be used for transporting 5 or less pets. 

This form is also only valid for 4 months of travel within the EU provided that the pet’s vaccination records are properly documented on the veterinary health certificate and won’t expire.

Commercial Travel

1. For Commercial Travel from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country outside of the EU, your pet must have:

• An ISO 11784 or 11785 compliant 15-digit microchip
• Evidence of up-to-date rabies vaccinations and booster shots after getting their microchip implant
• A completed commercial UK health certificate accomplished by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

For pets traveling from the United States, the licenced veterinarian is required to hold accreditation from the USDA. In the same vein, their issued health certificate is required to be countersigned by the State USDA office.

As for Canadian travelers, forms accomplished by Canadian veterinarians must be endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). 

It’s important to note that this form can only be used for transporting 5 or less pets. 

This form is also only valid for 4 months of travel within the EU provided that the pet’s vaccination records are properly documented on the veterinary health certificate and won’t expire.

For this case, your pet dog isn’t required to undergo a rabies titer test in order to enter the EU. However, all dogs must be vaccinated for distemper.

2. For Commercial Travel from a another EU member state, your pet must have:

• An ISO 11784 or 11785 compliant 15-digit microchip
• Evidence of up-to-date rabies vaccinations and booster shots after getting their microchip implant
• An EU Pet Passport that has been updated by your pet’s attending veterinarian
• An issued Intratrade health certificate that was accomplished within 48 hours of arrival

It should be noted that your pet has to be coming from a licenced area. In other words, it has to be registered with the governing authority in charge of the importation and exportation of animals. 

Under commercial regulations, the handling of your pet’s transportation process should be handled by a licenced agent from your country of origin if you’re traveling to the Isle of Man.

The agent must be registered to be able to transport into Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS). 

3. For Commercial Travel from a high-rabies country outside of the EU, your pet must have:

• An ISO 11784 or 11785 compliant 15-digit microchip
• Evidence of up-to-date rabies vaccinations and booster shots after getting their microchip implant
• An accomplished titer test
• A completed commercial UK health certificate accomplished by a licenced veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

For pets traveling from the United States, the licenced veterinarian is required to hold accreditation from the USDA. In the same vein, their issued health certificate is required to be countersigned by the State USDA office.

As for Canadian travelers, forms accomplished by Canadian veterinarians must be endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). 

• An EU Pet Passport that has been updated by your pet’s attending veterinarian
• An issued Intratrade health certificate that was accomplished within 48 hours of arrival

According to Pet Travel, the countries listed below are permitted by the EU to commercially import dogs, cats, and ferrets.

• Ascension Island
• Albania
• Algeria
• American Samoa
• Andorra
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Aruba
• Australia
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Bonair
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brazil
• British Virgin Islands
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Curacao
• El Salvador
• Ethiopia
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
• French Polynesia
• Gibraltar
• Greenland
• Guam
• Guatemala
• Herzegovina
• Honduras
• Hong Kong
• India
• Iceland
• India
• Israel
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Liechtenstein
• Macedonia (Northern)
• Madagascar
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Montserrat
• Morocco
• Namibia
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Norway
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Puerto Rico
• Russia
• Saba
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Sint Maarten
• South Africa
• St Eustatius
• St Helena
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Pierre and Miquelon
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Swaziland
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United States
• United States Virgin Islands
• Uruguay
• Vanuatu
• Vatican City State
• Wallis and Futuna
• Zimbabwe

Keep in mind that if your country of origin isn’t listed, you or a legally acting representative must arrive in the EU with or within five days of your pet.

Other Common Concerns

When should I prepare an authorisation letter for my pet?

If your pet is traveling with someone else, you’ll need to issue that person an authorisation letter. 

This is to authenticate that you’ve permitted them to act on your behalf as the guardian of your pet whilst traveling to the UK.

Your pet and their acting guardian are also required to arrive in Great Britain within 5 days of your arrival. 

How many pets can I bring with me?

According to the Pet Travel Scheme, you’re only permitted to bring up to 5 pets to Great Britain. 

However, you will be exempted from this rule if you have written proof that your pets will be officially attending a show or event. 

If that’s the case, you’ll be required to accomplish a written non-commercial declaration. This is to make certain that you won’t transfer or sell your pet to someone else in the UK.

If your pets won’t participate in a show or event and are traveling with more than 5 pets, you’ll need to go through several more processes. 

This is because your pets will now be considered commercial imports even if you won’t change their ownership (i.e., rehome or sell them)

What happens if I don’t comply with travel protocols?

If you don’t follow the pet travel rules, you’ll be given the choice to either:

• Return your pet to its country of origin
• Undergo quarantine upon arrival at Great Britain
• Have it put down

Aside from that, you’ll also be required to pay any additional fees and charges. 

To avoid any mishaps, we highly recommend making certain that you understand all the eligibility requirements and documents that you need from your attending immigration officer. 

What dog breeds that aren’t allowed in Scotland?

Unfortunately, there are certain dog breeds that are prohibited in Scotland or in the UK. 

This is because there are particular breeds that appear aggressive and dangerous, which could post public safety risks.

This legislation came into practice in 1991 and is called the Dangerous Dogs Act. According to the UK Government, the act forbids the following breeds in the UK:

• Japanese Toga
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Pit Bull Terrier

While crosses of the aforementioned breeds aren’t illegal in Scotland or the UK, they can still be prohibited entry depending on how it looks. 

Having said that, you can get in trouble with local authorities even without any complaints from others regarding your pet. 

According to the UK Government, the appearance of your dog plays a larger role, in comparison to its breed or name, regarding whether it’ll be considered a banned breed.

To make things worse, it’s possible that even if your dog isn’t one of the banned breeds listed, they could still be denied entry just because they resemble a prohibited breed.

Despite this blanket ban, there is a loophole that can help you bring your pet over to Scotland – acquire a Certificate of Exemption.

To be able to get a Certificate of Exemption, you’ll need to prove that your pet is safe to be around in public despite being a banned breed.

If you were able to prove that your dog doesn’t pose a danger in public, your dog will be given a Certificate of Exemption and registered in the Index of Exempt Dogs. 

The validity of the Certificate of Exemption will be for as long as the life of your dog.

Along with this, your dog is required to be:

• Neutered (applicable to male dogs) or spayed (applicable to female dogs)
• Microchipped
• Constantly restrained with a lead/leash and muzzle when in public
• Remain in a secured area to prevent breakouts

Aside from that, you, as the owner, are also required to:

• Secure a special insurance in case your dog causes harm to other people
• Be above 16 years old
• Provide your Certificate of Exemption to a police officer or council dog warden when requested, either in the moment or no later than 5 days
• Update the Index of Exempt Dogs if you’ve moved residences or your dog has passed away

How do I move my personal belongings to Scotland?

To move all your personal belongings to Scotland, you’ll need to secure several required documents, adhere to shipping regulations, and hire a mover.

From taking inventory to carefully packaging each of your belongings, the logistics of this part of the moving process is, understandably, one of the most tedious parts.

Nevertheless, we’ve listed virtually everything you need to know to ensure that you’re on the right track. 

Documents Required for Entry

Before arriving in Scotland, all immigrants will be required to fill up paperwork and provide certain documents to be granted entry.

To avoid any additional charges or repercussions, it’s advisable to have these documents submitted before you arrive.

If you’d like a more infallible route, you can also hire a customs brokering service. An assistant can help you prepare needed requirements within a specific deadline.

Here are the documents that will be asked of you to be able to successfully move to Scotland as per International Moving Companies:

• Valid passport
• Visa
• Work permit
• 2 copies of an inventory of all of your household items and personal effects in English (valued, dated, and signed by the customer)
• Accomplished Customers Form or Import Declaration (2 original)
• C-3 (household goods and personal effects for primary residence)
• C-33 (household goods and personal effects for secondary residence)
• C426 (for diplomatic entry only)
• C104A/C104F/C384 (motor vehicles)
• C-5 (pets)
• Keys for any locked items

Shipping Regulations

There are several shipping regulations that you’ll need to diligently abide by in order to successfully collect your items from customs. 

First off, take note that your household items and personal belongings are required to arrive within a year of you. Alternatively, they can arrive up to 6 months before you. 

Based on Movers, your household items or personal effects can be imported duty-free if:

1. You’re moving your primary residence or coming back to Scotland and:

• The items that you’re importing have been owned and used by you for at least 6 months prior to importation
• You have evidence that you’ve paid the duty and tax for your items before arriving in the UK
• Your items have been declared on the C-3 form

Keep in mind that if you’re coming from outside the European Community (EC), you are required to have lived abroad for at least 12 months before your importation. 

Apart from that, you’re not allowed to put any of your items on sale, loan, rent, or get rid of them in any other way unless you’ve first gained authority from customs.

2. You’re living in an EC country and:

• You’ve owned a secondary home in the UK for no less than 12 months or are renting a home within the UK for 12 months at the minimum
• The items that you’re importing have been owned and used by you for at least 3 months prior to importation. 
• You have evidence that you’ve paid the duty and tax for your items before arriving in Scotland
• Your items have been declared on the C-33 form

In addition to that, you’re not allowed to put any of your items on sale, loan, rent, or get rid of them in any other way within 12 months of importation unless you’ve first gained authority from customs.

3. You live outside of the EC and:

• The items that you’re bringing in aren’t qualified for VAT-free shipping
• You’ve lived outside of the EC for no less than 12 months
• You own a secondary home or have rented one for no less than 24 months
• The items that you’re importing have been owned and used by you for no less than 6 months prior to importation. 
• You have evidence that you’ve paid the duty and tax for your items before arriving in Scotland
• Your items have been declared on the C-33 form

Aside from that, there are also special regulations that are applicable to:

• Students
• Newlyweds
• Visitors
• Inheritances
• Individuals who intend to get married soon
• Goods coming from EC countries
• Personal antiques that aren’t up for resale, among others 

Apart from that, you’re not allowed to put any of your items on sale, loan, rent, or get rid of them in any other way within 12 months of importation unless you’ve first gained authority from customs.

Prohibited Items

In Scotland, there are a handful of items that are strictly prohibited in the country regardless of circumstances. According to International Moving Companies, these include:

• Handguns other than a .22 caliber target pistol (in the UK, all others are forbidden) 
• Bullets, shells, and other types of ammunition
• Flick knives and other weapons
• Drugs and narcotics
• Fake or counterfeit money
• Pornographic items
• Horror comics
• Meat, poultry, fish, and other items made from animals
• Radio transmitters which aren’t allowed to be used in the UK. These include CB radios, walkie-talkies, and cordless phones, among others.
• Specific plants, trees, bushes, seeds, bulbs, soil, potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables
• Nearly all animals and birds, whether they are alive or dead (i.e., stuffed), and some products made from endangered species such as turskins, reptile leather, and ivory, to name a few.

There are also several personal items that can be shipped, but would require special permission or have quantity limitations.

As per International Moving Companies, among these things are, but not necessarily limited to:

• Firearms (need a valid certificate issued by police)
• Unused items that are under 6 months old (need an invoice)
• Plants (need a Phytosanitary Certificate)

Motor Vehicles

Luckily, you’re allowed to import your motor vehicles, too. You’ll just need to make certain that you have all the necessary documentation, accomplished the required paperwork, and fulfilled any eligible taxes.

Duty Free Eligibility

When it comes to import duty, the majority of private vehicles are usually duty-free. Among these are trailers, aircrafts, and boats, to name a few.

According to International Moving Companies, these items are only considered duty-free if:

• You, the owner of the vehicle, are relocating your main dwelling to the UK. If you resided from outside the EC, you would have to have spent upwards of a year abroad, and your automobile would have to have been owned and operated abroad for no less than six months.
• Your car was not obtained through a duty-free or tax-free programme. It must have been bought for personal use, and it cannot be sold within the first year of importation.

Required Documentation and Accomplished Paperwork

For individuals who intend to have their car shipped to Scotland, there are a number of requirements that you will need to accomplish.

Here are the following requirements according to International Moving Companies: 

• Declaration to customs that details the following information of your vehicle:
  • Year of production
  • Make
  • Model name
  • Serial number
  • Chassis number
  • Engine number
  • Cubic engine capacity
  • Quantity of cylinders
  • Whether the vehicle runs on petrol or diesel
  • Whether the vehicle is right-hand or left-hand drive
  • Overview of the body
  • Price
  • Odometre reading
  • Additional or distinguishing characteristics
  • Flaws and imperfections that may negatively affect the pricing
• Customs Form C104A (bringing a vehicle into Scotland in relation to relocate your main house here)
• Customs Form C104F (bringing an automobile for a duration of 6 to 12 months)
• Customs Form C384 (bringing an automobile when duty is applicable)
• Community Transit Document (T2) obtained from customs office in the country of origin
• Registration papers/title
• Police Certificate or Registration
• Insurance policy
• Original purchase invoice
• Log book

Duty and Tax Rate

When it comes to duty and tax rate percentage, there’s a possibility that the used household items and personal belongings that you’re bringing in can be imported without duty. 

As per International Moving Companies, eligibility for exemptions for duty import tax are possible if:

• You’re relocating your primary residence or moving back to Scotland and:
  • The items that you’re importing have been owned and used for no less than 6 months before importation
  • You have evidence that you’ve paid for the duty and tax of the items you’re importing before reaching the UK
  • The items that you’re importing have been declared on the C-3 form

It’s important to keep in mind that you’re not allowed to put any of your items on sale, loan, rent, or get rid of them in any other way within 12 months of importation unless you’ve first gained authority from customs if you’re coming from outside the EC.

• You’re residing in another EC country and:
  • You own a secondary home in the UK for no less than 12 months or are renting a home within the UK for 12 months at the minimum
  • The items that you’re importing have been owned and used by you for at least 12 months prior to importation. 
  • You have evidence that you’ve paid the duty and tax for your items before arriving in Scotland
  • Your items have been declared on the C-33 form
• You live outside of the EC and:

• The items that you’re bringing in aren’t qualified for VAT-free shipping
• You’ve lived outside of the EC for no less than 12 months
• You own a secondary home or have rented one for no less than 24 months
• The items that you’re importing have been owned and used by you for no less than 6 months prior to importation. 
• You have evidence that you’ve paid the duty and tax for your items before arriving in Scotland
• Your items have been declared on the C-33 form

Aside from that, there are also special regulations that are applicable to:

• Students
• Newlyweds
• Visitors
• Inheritances
• Individuals who intend to get married soon
• Goods coming from EC countries
• Personal antiques that aren’t up for resale, among others 

It’s important to keep in mind that you’re not allowed to put any of your items on sale, loan, rent, or get rid of them in any other way within 12 months of importation unless you’ve first gained authority from customs.

Choosing Movers

Selecting the right movers will definitely help make the logistics of your move a lot easier, from having the skills and experience to providing liability coverage. 

What’s great is that there are a tonne of options across Scotland for you to choose from.

To help narrow down your search, we’ve got a few recommendations just for you:

• Edinburgh’s Top 6 Removalists
• Best Movers In Glasgow

In case you’re looking to store some of your items first, we’ve also got a list of recommended self storage facilities around the country:

• Best Self Storage Facilities in Edinburgh
• Best Self Storage Facilities in Glasgow

Securing a Place to Stay

The best course of action to secure a place to stay would be to first rent a property. This way, you can better figure out your preferences regarding location, size, community, and similar considerations. 

We’ve prepared a comprehensive instructional guide to help you easily secure a home while still abroad.

Is it better to rent or purchase a home in Scotland?

Ideally it’s better to purchase a home in Scotland. After you’ve completely paid off the mortgage, it’s an asset that’s completely yours until you’ve decided otherwise.

However, the moving process alone would have already put quite the strain on your finances. 

Having said that, there are a ton of fully-furnished flats of different sizes across Scotland that can definitely save you money as far as furnishing is concerned.

Aside from that, renting allows for flexible tenancy as contracts can last anywhere from a couple of months to a few years. This gives you freedom to relocate to a different area or move to another kind of property once your lease is over.

You also won’t have to worry about dealing with a tonne of paperwork and legal matters. 

In the same vein, you also won’t have to take charge of the flat’s maintenance costs. In the event that your smoke alarm is faulty, it’s your landlord’s duty to ensure that it’s up and running. 

Admin fees also aren’t passed down to tenants as a law was recently introduced in 2019 prohibiting this. 

How do I rent a flat in Scotland?

To rent a flat in Scotland, you’ll first need to look for a landlord or letting agent. Afterwards, you can begin looking at property and scheduling oculars.

Once you’ve found potential properties, you’ll then need to fill out rental applications to formalise your interest. 

After you’ve been selected as a tenant, all that’s left to do is finalise the tenancy agreement and sign the papers.

Step 1: Looking for a Landlord or Letting Agent

When looking for available rental property, renters typically get in touch with landlords (for private rental) or letting agents. 

We’ve provided a comprehensive overview of what it’s like to deal with both options to give you a better idea of what the transaction may look like.

Please note that property advertisements are required to follow the guidelines established by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). 

If you think that the letting agent or landlord you’re in touch with isn’t following the prescribed guidelines, you can report them to ASA.

Letting via Letting Agencies

The main difference between the two is that agents have a large connection of landlords. Hence, it’ll be rather easy for them to match you with an accommodation that fits your criteria. 

They’re also required to inform you about all of the data that they know about the property. 

Aside from that, they’ll collect information regarding your job, income, rental capability, and similar relevant data. It’s possible that they’ll also gather references from your bank, employer, and even previous landlords.

Keep in mind that letting agencies are prohibited from requesting service charges from:

• Asking for and adding your details to their catalogue
• Supplying you with a record of available properties
• Fees associated with looking for properties, constructing tenancy, or renewing tenancy

Letting via Landlords 

If you’d prefer to rent directly through the landlord, check if they’re registered with the council. Their adverts are also required to have their registration number. 

Hence, if you think that they aren’t legally registered, it’s best to skip out on the offer regardless of how good of a deal it may seem.

Letting directly through a landlord can save you some money since you’re securing the deal yourselves without the involvement of a third-party.

However, this can be troublesome if your potential landlord is difficult to get along with. In this case, you may want a third-party to intervene.

Step 2: Scheduling a Property Visit

Once you’ve gotten in touch with the seller, you can then schedule an ocular or viewing. 

It’s often recommended that potential tenants inspect the property during the day to ensure that they get a good view of the area.

Here’s a rental checklist that you can use when viewing apartments:

• Condition of all the furniture and fixtures
• State of the windows, walls, ceiling, and floors
• Signs of infestations, mold, or needed repairs
• Functioning heating (such as boilers or radiators) and HVAC
• Working plumbing fixtures and sockets
• Up-to-date security measures such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, door chains and locks, and fire escape, to name a few

With the permission of the landlord or letting agent, you can even take a video of the property to look back on while making your decision. 

Step 3: Filling Out a Rental Application

For any properties that you’re interested in taking the next step, you’re going to have to fill up a rental application. You can get an application via the property management online or in person. 

Note that if you’ll have a co-signer or a roommate, they’ll need to fill out a separate rental application.

While each form will vary from one another, rental applications typically ask for personal data such as:

• Photo ID
• Name
• Current and previous address
• Phone number(s)
• Email address
• Employment and income information
• Pets (if any)
• Emergency contacts
• Background information
• Landlord references
• Personal or professional references

Filling out an application form will cost a small fee. The coverage may differ depending on the area, property type, and landlord, but sometimes they also include processing fees.

When accumulated, the sum will cover the expenses that the landlord will need to pay for background and credit checks on their prospective renters.

Having said that, you may also want to enquire about whether the application form fee is non-refundable just in case you weren’t selected. 

Step 3: Fixing the Tenant Application Process

You can then begin fixing the tenant application process if you’re one of the chosen prospective renters. At this stage, landlords and letting agents will do a background and credit check on you.

The first thing you’ll want to do is to get your paperwork ready. Preparing all of these in advance gives you the leg up compared to other prospective tenants. 

While your landlord or letting agent will inform you of all the required paperwork to push through, you may be asked one or more of the following:

• Character references – This gives your future landlord an idea of what you’re like as a tenant. They’ll want to know whether you’re responsible, reliable, and look after the property that you’re letting.

They typically source this information from your past landlords. 

• Employment references – This is typically done through referencing your employer along with providing paperwork that authenticates your employment status and income.

Your future landlord will want to know whether you can sustain the monthly rent.

The documents you’ll be required to present will vary on whether you’re a full-time employee or self-employed.

• Documents certifying your identity – These requirements prove your identity and current place of residence. They also ensure that you have the legal rights to rent in the UK.

These requirements can be submitted in the form of passports, driver’s licenses, utility bills, national identity cards, or immigration status documents, among others. 

• Credit references – Evaluating your credit score will give your potential landlord or letting agency an idea of how well you’re able to pay on time and your credit history. 

A credit score is calculated based on several financial factors. These include the number of open accounts, repayment history, and loan balance, to name a few.

In case you have a poor credit score or if you’re a first-time renter without any rental history, you may need a co-signer who’ll undertake the role as a guarantor. 

With this responsibility, they’ll be in charge of paying for your rent if you are unable to. 

This will strengthen your chances at getting chosen and approved as your landlord will have better confidence in your ability to pay your monthly dues.

Remember that the seller or letting agency isn’t allowed to perform a credit check without your authorization. They’re also restricted from charging you for this service.

Step 4: Double-checking the tenancy agreement

It’s essential that you read your tenancy agreement thoroughly to ensure that you’re well-aware of your rights and responsibilities. 

This also gives you an opportunity to make clarifications or raise any concerns with the landlord.

Having said that, you’ll also want to double-check that you have the right contact information of your landlord or letting agent. 

You’ll also want to take a comprehensive inventory of what the flat was like before you moved in, especially if it’s a fully-furnished property. 

You can make a list together with photo and video evidence, which should be signed by both parties to legitimise the confirmation. 

This way, both you and the landlord have a copy to look back on in the event that a dispute arises regarding collecting your deposit towards the end of your tenancy.

Having mentioned that, you’ll also want to clarify and iron out the details of what will happen if you break your lease, especially in the case of unforeseen circumstances.

Step 4: Signing the lease

Once you’ve successfully passed the rental application process and finished everything that you need to accomplish as far as double and triple-checking is concerned, you can now sign the lease.

This is the time to talk about any up-front expenses such as the security deposit (usually amounting to your first month’s rent) along with other fees. State regulations typically govern deposit requirements. 

Bring a bank check and ask for receipts as most landlords will request the equivalent of one or two months’ worth of rent in case you fall behind on your rent payments. 

You can also ask any last-minute queries or clarifications. Here are a few questions and clarifications that you can bring up:

• When will I be able to collect the keys?
• When can I begin bringing my belongings in?
• When is the rent due and what’s the payment method?
• How much notice am I required to give before vacating?

How can I buy a home in Scotland?

If you’re set on buying a home, you can easily do so whilst abroad. You can hire a solicitor and conveyancer to manage the legal processes and negotiations for you.

In Scotland, only some houses are up for sale at a non-negotiable asking price. Most homes are primarily sold through a bidding system. 

The process goes as follows: the seller will give a minimum price and ask around for offers that fall near that price point or above it. Buyers then make offers based on each other’s proposals.

Here’s a glimpse of what the general process might look like. As always, keep in mind that personal circumstances could affect the various steps you’ll be going through.

Step 1: Securing a mortgage ‘in principle’

As mentioned earlier, the legal process to purchase houses in Scotland often goes through a bidding system. 

However, before you can start bidding on properties, you’ll need to secure a mortgage lender first. They’ll need to provide you with a loan.

This is essential as securing a mortgage ‘in principle’ gives the seller confidence and assurance that you, the buyer, have the financial capacity to pay for the property.

Having mentioned that, check for yourself whether you have the means to afford the property’s deposit along with several other fees. This includes mortgage fees, legal fees, and applicable taxes, to name a few.

Step 2: Looking for a Solicitor

After you’ve secured a mortgage ‘in principle’, the next step is to look for a solicitor. Your solicitor will be tasked with the following:

• Look for property
• Scan personal registers 
• Verify with local authority regarding planning issues that could influence the property’s value or whether nearby roads have been claimed by local authority
• Making an offer 
• Registering a ‘note of interest’ with the seller’s agent
• Negotiating and reviewing the contract
• Managing the handover of the Title and financing

Once you’ve spotted a property that you’re interested in, your solicitor will register a ‘note of interest’ with the seller’s agent. 

This is evidence that you’re considering purchasing the house. This also indicates to the seller that you’d like to remain informed of any advancements such as details related to setting an offer or submission deadlines.

The majority of the time, lawyers ask for payment when the job is finished, but sometimes you have to put down a deposit or pay for enquiries in advance.

Sometimes, payments aren’t reimbursable. Say, the sale doesn’t push through, you won’t be able to get the money that you spent on your solicitor back.

Hence, it’s worth the time and effort to thoroughly search for a solicitor who’s known to do a good job.

Step 3: Thorough Assessment of the Home Report and Survey

As mentioned early, most houses up for sale in Scotland have a Home Report. This consists of a survey, property questionnaire, and an Energy Performance Certificate (ECP). 

The seller’s agent is required to give you a Home Report within 9 days of your request. 

Once you’ve gotten your hands on the Home Report, it’s important that you read through it carefully. 

The information listed in the Home Report gives you a deeper look into the home’s history as it details all of the nitty gritty characteristics.

Aside from that, this assessment will provide you with a better idea of how much the running costs are.

To boot, you can pick at the data provided in the Home Report and ask the seller’s agent for any clarifications if you have any. Alternatively, you can enquire about details that aren’t listed there, too.

For extra measure, you can execute your own independent report on the property. This is also sometimes asked of buyers by their mortgage lender.

Step 4: Making an Offer

After you’ve thoroughly gone through the Home Report and are satisfied with the contents, you can then proceed to your next move – making an offer.

But before that, you’ll first need to decide how much. Here are a couple of factors that you should take into consideration when calculating your offer:

• Value of the properties within the neighbourhood
• Your financial capabilities
• Any rivals that may also be interested in bidding for the property
• Additional items such as fixtures and fittings that you’d like to take into consideration in the offer

Once you’ve ironed out all of these details, your solicitor will then curate a formal letter addressed to the seller’s agent.

It’s important to keep in mind that a verbal agreement is not legally honoured or binding as it’s an informal offer. 

Your solicitor’s formal letter regarding your offer should include the following details:

• Offering price
• Date of entry
• Information regarding additional items to be incorporated in the sale
• Standard legal terms to be used when finalising the conveyancing and acquiring the legal property title

If applicable, you can also include conditional requirements in your offer. Some also add a time limit for acceptance in their letter.

If there are many competing offers, the seller’s solicitor will read them all at the exact time on the closing day. 

Afterwards, the seller’s solicitor will get in touch with you to notify you whether your bid has won or not.

You could postpone until your offer is taken before conducting your own survey. This way, you can adjust your offer depending on the survey results.

Once your offer has been accepted, the seller’s solicitor will issue you a formal acceptance. 

This is typically referred to as ‘qualified acceptance’ as it also includes several ‘qualifications’ following any conditions that you have listed in your offer.

This also authenticates that the property will be sold to you once both parties have established the contract details.

The solicitors of both parties are now tasked to iron out any details regarding the qualifications and conditions to ensure a smooth contract.

However, note that the sale isn’t set in stone just yet. At this stage, both you and the seller are still ironing out the contract details and settling paperwork.

The solicitor will also provide relevant documentation regarding the property such as titles, deeds, and planning documents, among others.

Step 5: Exchanging letters

At this stage, letters exchanged between both parties are referred to as ‘missives’ and will be added as relevant details to the legal contract.

Once an agreement has been made, the solicitors of both parties will exchange letters known as ‘conclusion of missives’, which now makes both sides bound by law to the transaction.

Afterwards, you may be asked to settle a holding deposit to close the deal. This is usually around 10% of the buying price and will be kept in a joint account.

While the deadline of settling your deposit may vary on what both parties have agreed upon, it’s generally within 14 days of the finalisation of the contract.

It’s also worth highlighting that you’ll have to verify with your solicitor regarding whether or not the holding deposit is refundable in case the transaction won’t push through.

Settling a holding deposit isn’t often asked of buyers as there are several punitive charges outlined in the contract. This is done to prevent either party from turning back from the transaction. 

At this point, your solicitor should be double-checking all of the relevant paperwork along with the ‘title burdens’. 

‘Title burdens’ are conditions given to the owner of the property regarding what they can and cannot do on the land. 

This can include notes as trivial as where you are allowed to park your waste bins to which parts of the land you can or cannot have modified.

Since the transaction will be pushing through, you should also begin getting in touch with your mortgage lender to update them about recent advancements.

It’s essential to ensure that your mortgage lender is in the loop to give them enough time to provide their designated solicitor advice on the loan and security.

Otherwise, you could encounter hiccups as far as the release of the loan monies are concerned.

There may be a service charge to organise the mortgage – often called an arrangement fee.

In some instances, these could be incorporated into the mortgage. However, you’ll have to continuously pay off the interest throughout the duration of the mortgage.

As a result, you’ll end up paying more over time than you would have if you paid for all of the charges at once.

Step 6: Finalising the transaction and settlement

Once an agreement has been reached and the seller has accepted your offer, your solicitor must put together a State of Settlement. 

This document must outline several key details about the transaction such as the buying price, outlays, along with the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax needed upon settlement, among others.

Afterwards, the transaction will be fulfilled on the date of entry that was specified in the contract. 

As the buyer, you’ll transfer the buying price agreed upon to the seller’s solicitor. 

In exchange, they’ll provide you with the disposition, which is the legal document authenticating the transfer of ownership from the seller to you, the buyer.

Along with the disposition, they’ll hand over relevant paperwork and materials. These include title deeds and the keys to the house, among others.

It’s not uncommon for there to be other additional fees when finalising a purchase. 

Sometimes, your mortgage lender can request a service for the following services:

• Transferring funds with fees usually ranging anywhere from £40 to 50.
• Creating, managing, and terminating your mortgage account with fees typically ranging anywhere from £100 to £300.

Another step to seal the deal will be to sign the Land Transaction Return. This is usually put together by the seller’s solicitor so all you will have to do is to thoroughly go through it and sign. 

At this point, you’ll also need to settle your solicitor’s fees. The computation of their overall service charge may vary depending on what you’ve agreed upon.

Say, if you’ve already paid for a deposit, that’ll be deducted from the final fee. Solicitor’s fees typically go for around £400 to £900, exclusive of a 20% VAT charge.

If you have any unsettled payments or transactions made on your behalf, you’ll need to reimburse your solicitor in the final bill.

Step 7: Property checks

Once you’ve obtained entry to the property, you need to perform an inspection to ensure that all the fixtures, fittings, equipment, and other items included in the sale are working well. 

Here are a couple of important things to check on in your new home:

• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Home security system
• Home generator, electrical panels, and power outlets
• Plumbing fixtures, water heater or boiler, and faucets
• Condition of the roof, rain gutters, and downspouts
• State of the thermostat along with the heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC) system
• Condition of the attic, basement, or crawl spaces
• Door locks, doorbells, fences or gates, and security systems

In the event that there are discrepancies, you should inform your solicitor right away. 

Step 8: Registering the signed title deeds with the Land Register

The solicitors of both parties will arrange for the registration of the signed title with the Land Register.

You’ll have to settle your Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), which is the fee that replaced the UK Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) as of April 2015.

Your LBTT will vary on several factors such as the type of property, purchase price, how much you’ve already paid for, and which band you fall under. 

Luckily, Revenue Scotland has a user-friendly tax calculator on their website so that you and your agent can properly computer your dues.

You can also easily submit your LBTT returns via the Revenue Scotland online portal. 

Once you’ve settled your LBTT, a certificate will be issued authenticating your payment. This will be submitted to the Land Register together with the disposition. 

After a successful registration, these documents will then be forwarded to either your mortgage provider or solicitor to keep.

What are Home Reports?

Luckily, sellers or their agents are required to provide you with a Home Report. This is a detailed document that provides a comprehensive summary of virtually everything that you need to know about the house. 

Keep in mind that sellers or their agents are mandated to provide you with a Home Report no more than 9 days after you’ve requested it.

However, they can deny you a Home Report if they:

• Believe that you aren’t actually considering purchasing the home
• Think that you lack sufficient funds
• They’d rather sell the house to someone else (Do note that they aren’t allowed to discriminate you for unlawful reasons)

There are also cases wherein Home Reports aren’t necessary. These consist of:

• Residences that were listed prior to 1 December 2008
• Newly constructed homes that are being offered to first-time buyers or off-plan
• Houses that have been recently renovated but have yet to be used
• Houses that serve both residential and non-residential functions
• Seasonal vacation properties that are only usable during certain periods throughout the year (not all year) 

A Home Report is divided into 3 sections. Namely: 

1. Survey and Valuation

This chapter describes the house, its condition, its accessibility, as well as any renovations you might have to get done based on a chartered surveyor’s visual inspection.

Knowing these details will help you decide whether the state of the house makes it worth purchasing or not. 

If you do decide to proceed with the house regardless of the repair work needed (now or in the future), it’s highly recommended to source an approximate cost. 

This information will provide you with a better angle of judgment on whether you can carry out these repairs or if it would be better to skip this property.

Apart from that, the valuation section provides an estimation of the house’s worth. Typically, an appraiser with professional training does this.

2. Property Questionnaire

The Home Report should also contain a Property Questionnaire, which is a detailed 16-category document disclosing all matters related to the property. 

A few of these categories include:

• All problems that may have previously affected the house. These include histories of asbestos, fire, or storm damage such as flooding, among others.
• All additions and modifications made to the house
• Notices served by the local authority
• Information about any export work or guarantees
• Information on notices relevant to the house
• Band of the property’s council tax
• Parking availability

3. Energy Report

As the report title suggests, this section is given in the form of an Energy Performance Certificate (ECP). It outlines information relevant to how much heating, lighting, and hot water will cost.

The carbon dioxide emissions from the house are also classed in relation to its environmental implications.

Additionally, it provides contact information for guidance on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce fuel expenses.

Finding a School

Did you know that Scotland has a Catchment Area Policy? ‘Catchment areas’ are zones located near a school.

This approach ensures that children that live within the vicinity of a particular school serving the area are given priority and provided a slot to enroll. 

Having said that, you don’t have to worry too much about looking for and choosing a school for your child. Because of the Catchment Area Policy, your local council’s in charge of that.

Local councils usually have the maps of their catchment areas published on their website for easy viewing. 

However, note that the Catchment Area Policy primarily encompasses students ages 5 to 16, which covers primary and secondary school. 

In case you’d prefer that your child study elsewhere, you’ll have to place a request for another school. Still, it will depend on whether your request has been accepted and if there are available places.

Selecting a Catchment Area School

If you’ve decided to enroll your child in a catchment area school, local authorities will need to be informed way before the academic year begins. 

Some local councils will write you a letter to verify your child has a place at a nearby school the year before your child reaches primary or secondary school age. 

Once receiving this, you’ll be requested to either confirm or decline your child’s spot. 

On the other hand, some councils don’t send out letters. Instead, you’ll have to enroll your child. 

In certain cases, some schools will require children to enrol before a deadline.

If you’re unsure regarding what to do, it would be best to get further information by getting in touch with your local council.

Selecting Another School

If you’d prefer to enroll your child in another school, you can request a palace in another local council’s catchment area. 

However, keep in mind that your request will only be accepted if there’s free space at the schools. Otherwise, your request will be declined. 

In this case, you can either:

• Look for another school with available slots
• Consider enroling your child at fee-paying private schools
• Opt to enroll your child in your local catchment area’s school

Nevertheless, you can make a formal appeal for your request if it’s rejected even after talking to your local council.

Having said that, double-check with your local council regarding their appeal process. 

If your appeal doesn’t work and you’re persistent on enroling your child at another catchment area’s school, you can raise your case to the local sheriff court. 

In this case, it may be of your best interest to seek legal advice, too. 

Additional Costs 

Apart from preparing your finances to accommodate your monthly rent and other expenses, there may be some other costs that you may not have expected. 

Hence, we’ve prepared a couple of additional expenses that you may not have anticipated.

Value-Added Tax (VAT)

Value-Added Tax or most commonly referred to as VAT is the indirect sales tax on virtually all of Scotland’s goods and services.

	% of VAT	Application
Standard Rate	20%	Most goods and services
Reduced Rate	5%	Some goods and services such as children’s car seats and home energy
Zero Rate	0%	Zero-rated goods and services such as most food and children’s services

The standard rate of VAT in Scotland is 20% and is usually already reflected in the cost of items. Hence, you don’t have to worry about computing for it yourself.

Though, there are a couple things that are VAT-free. These include insurance, education and training along with postage stamps, to name a few.

If you’d like to learn more about the different VAT rates on various goods and services, you can check out the UK Government’s website.

TV Licence

If you come from outside of the UK, this may be the first time you’ve ever heard of the need to acquire a TV licence. 

It’s essentially a permit that allows you to watch or record live TV. It’s also required if you use a BBC iPlayer.

Hence, you’re required to have a TV licence if you:

• Watch live TV
• Record live TV
• Use a BBC iPlayer

If these abovementioned conditions don’t apply to you, then you aren’t required to have a TV licence.

Say, if you’re streaming on services such as Netflix, Disney Plus, All 4, or Amazon Prime Video, a TV licence isn’t necessary. 

The same goes for when you’re watching on websites similar to YouTube and when watching DVDs.

The rate of a TV licence is £159 annually for both residential and commercial. If you own a black and white TV set, the rate costs £53.50 yearly.

The technicalities of owning a TV licence may vary depending on your living situation. 

Say, if you have separate tenancy agreement and watch live TV in your respective rooms, you’ll each be required to have your own TV licenses.  

If your household watches TV in one shared location and have a joint tenancy agreement, then you can just avail of 1 TV license of the entire household.

You can explore the official TV licensing website to learn more about your eligibility and payment methods, among others.

Council Tax

As its name suggests, the council tax is money collected by your local council to help fund community services and maintenance work.

Among these locally-funded services include:

• Rubbish collection
• Recycling work 
• Transportation system maintenance
• General city maintenance
• Road and street cleanings

The amount of council tax that you’ll have to pay depends on what band you fall under. You can search for the council tax band of your property through the Scottish Assessors website. 

Payments are usually collected online. However, some local authorities accept cash payments via post offices, convenience stores, Paypoint or Payzone, among others.

Apart from that, payments are also usually spread throughout the course of 10 months. 

If you’re having a difficult time paying off your council tax, it’d be best to get in touch with your local authorities to see how you can work around a comfortable payment scheme.

Tax from Country of Origin

Depending on several factors, you may also be required to pay taxes from your country of origin. 

Say you’re an American that just moved to Scotland without renouncing your American citizenship, you’re still obligated to pay your American taxes on top of your UK taxes.

Therefore, if you make more than $100,000, you must report your income to the IRS.

Hence, it’s best to clarify any responsibilities that will be carried over when you move to Scotland.

FAQs About Moving to Scotland