A 'Scottish visa' could help to repopulate rural parts of Scotland - but how would it work?

By Sarah Wilson
Published 19th Feb 2021, 14:31 BST
Updated 19th Feb 2021, 14:33 BST
The scheme would try to mitigate trends of population decline (Photo: Shutterstock)The scheme would try to mitigate trends of population decline (Photo: Shutterstock)
The scheme would try to mitigate trends of population decline (Photo: Shutterstock)

Advisers to the Scottish Government have suggested a 'Scottish visa' to solve the issue of depopulation in rural areas.

In a report published this month, the Expert Advisory Group on Migration and Population said that a post-Brexit visa to allow migrants to move to rural parts of Scotland could help to offset population decline and the challenges associated with it.

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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously dismissed the idea of the four nations having different rules on immigration, stating that it would make matters overly complicated for employers.

However, the expert group argued that the new points-based immigration system in place in the UK could be tweaked to encourage migrants with relevant skills to move to rural areas in Scotland.

How would a Scottish visa work?