Publication - Advice and guidance
Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel and transport
Guidance on travel rules and restrictions.
General travel
Travel is allowed within Scotland.
Travel is allowed between Scotland and England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
For restrictions on travel between Scotland and the rest of the world see the international travel section below.
These rules may be changed depending on the state of the pandemic in Scotland and in other countries. Please check back here for up to date information before you travel.
Travelling to the Scottish islands: pre-departure testing
To reduce the risk of coronavirus being brought into island communities, we are encouraging anyone planning to travel to a Scottish island to test before they do so.
You can order rapid lateral flow tests for delivery to your home anywhere in the UK and they should arrive within 24 to 48 hours.
You should test three days before you plan to travel and then again on the day of departure. If you test positive, you should complete your period of self-isolation before you begin your journey.
If your test result is negative it is not a guarantee that you do not have coronavirus. You must continue to follow national and local restrictions, including coronavirus guidance. If you develop coronavirus symptoms you must self-isolate and book a PCR test.
This is a voluntary scheme and you will not need evidence of a negative test to travel to a Scottish island. However, we encourage you to participate in order to reduce the risk that you inadvertently carry coronavirus into one of our island communities.
Travelling within the Common Travel Area (UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)
A Common Travel Area (CTA) exists between the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland.
Travel within the UK, and to the Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey, is not counted as international travel. This means that you do not need to test, isolate or fill in a passenger locator form if:
- you’re travelling to Scotland from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey
- you have not travelled anywhere other than these areas in the 10 days before you arrive in Scotland
Your plans may still be affected if the area you’re travelling to or from has local restrictions in place. You should check those countries’ own rules on entry and other restrictions before you travel.
International travel (outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man)
We use a risk assessment for international travel. This affects both residents of Scotland on their return and overseas visitors:
- arrivals from red list countries will be required to enter a managed isolation hotel and stay there for 10 days. Travel to such countries should only be for essential reasons
- arrivals from non-red list countries have different rules for testing and isolation which depends on vaccine status
Further information on this process is available in our international travel guidance.
Travelling safely
Transport Scotland has produced guidance on travelling safely in all forms of transport.
You can help keep Scotland moving by:
- reducing the need to travel: work from home or near home if you can
- planning ahead: if you need to make a journey, check your travel options in advance
- choosing active travel: walk, wheel or cycle where possible
Public transport
Transport providers will have procedures to promote the safety of customers and staff, but it is an individual’s responsibility to comply with guidance.
On public transport you must by law wear a face covering, unless you are exempt, and comply with the physical distancing measures that are in place. Find out more about face coverings.
Car and vehicle sharing
You should not share a vehicle with anyone from another household, unless you absolutely have to.
You can read more information on car and vehicle sharing on the Transport Scotland website.
You should not travel to work/car share if you have any symptoms of coronavirus, as outlined on the NHS Inform website.
Note the above guidance relates to private vehicles. For taxis and private hire vehicles you should refer to guidance on taxis and private hire vehicles.
If you are travelling in a vehicle as part of your job or business, safe operation of workplaces applies, therefore please refer to your employer. For employers, you may wish to refer to guidance for safer workplaces.
If someone tests positive for COVID-19, all passengers will be assessed for close contact.
Staying safe if you've ended self-isolation
NHS Inform contains the updated information for self-isolation and what to do after you’ve ended self-isolation.