It depends what country R U from? R U an expat? European? U may have 2 write 2 the Brit embassy 4 that info,

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00abuse

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As a U.S. citizen, I am hoping to retire to Scotland in 5+ years. My husband and I will have around $40,000 per year minimum. We have traveled to Scotland often and know this is where we would like to live out our lives. My concerns deal with immigration, residency and health insurance.

I too am bombarded with people pushing South and Central America, places not on my list. If you find any good information, please post it.

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10abuse

Hi There,

Imagine what your response would be if a Scotsman had posted that they rather fancied retiring to Hawaii or New England. Do you think they would be welcomed into the USof A with open arms?

Well, the same is true of non EU citizens who want to live in any part of the UK. Unless either of you has at least one grandparent who was born in the UK, thereby meaning that you could be entitled to a British passport, you have no right of residence in the UK - especially if you are not intending to work i.e will be in government terms "economically inactive".
The UK has seen a boom in its population over the past few years, fuelled by immigration and so is now heavily engaged in trying to stop would be immigrants of any but those who have skills where we have a shortage.
Scotland is not, of course, over-populated but it does suffer from high unemployment and, currently, its immigration policy is directed by the UK Government.

You may, however, be aware that there will be a referendum later this year in Scotland to ask people in Scotland whether or not they wish to become an independent sovereign nation. If the answer to that question proves to be positive, then the new regime may, at some point change their immigration policy - but until then, you have almost no chance of locating permanently to the UK, just because it's your wish to do so - imagine the huge moves in world population if that desire was an acceptable criterion for entry to any country......

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07abuse

Wow FarahL, It never occurred to me that retirees were "economically inactive." Here is the states we view them as folks with disposable income that are willing to spend in their local communities. Perhaps that is why we have so many retirees here from other countries, mostly the UK.

I must be reading different sources from yourself, but all that I have been learning is the open arms of Scotland for peoples from all over. That is one of the chief complaints, i understand, Scots have with Britain. The xenophobic nature of your Scotland doesn't sound very welcoming. That is quite different from all the people I have met through all the years I have been visiting.

My husband and I are not looking for permanent residency, simply a way to split our time with living in southern Europe. We had hoped to buy a property to enjoy the culture and people of Scotland.

The nice thing about your reply is how it is not enigmatic of the majority of Scots. It is more like those in my home in the southern U.S. However, thank you for responding.

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31abuse

Hi Polly,

I'm from Florida and I'v lived here for 10 years and that is not the impression that I have gotten. The people here are lovely and the economy encourages people who can take care of themselves to move here. What they don't want are people here who are existing off of the economy. There are people here, like anywhere else in the world, with incredibly dour and pessimistic outlooks but as you know and wrote this is never the opinion or view of all. We have a strong community of American expats here, working and retired and we would love to add you to our community.

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30abuse

Choosing an expat health insurance provider is an important decision. Get a quote from our trusted expat health insurance partner, CIGNA. With Cigna Global Health Options, you can create an international health insurance plan that's perfectly tailored for the needs of you and your family.

Hi Polly,

I'm from Florida and I'v lived here for 10 years and that is not the impression that I have gotten. The people here are lovely and the economy encourages people who can take care of themselves to move here. What they don't want are people here who are existing off of the economy. There are people here, like anywhere else in the world, with incredibly dour and pessimistic outlooks but as you know and wrote this is never the opinion or view of all. We have a strong community of American expats here, working and retired and we would love to add you to our community.

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30abuse

My question is sort of in the same vein, except I'm wondering how living in Scotland would affect taxes once I start living off of retirement income. Can anyone help me there?

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00abuse

A conversation not too long ago (FarahL) suggested that if you have grandparents who were born in Scotland, you could apply for UK citizenship. I would love for that to be true but understood that that was no the case. Does anyone know? Has anyone successfully obtained citizenship in this way?
PS FarahL, any Scotsman would be more that welcome in New England, I can vouch for that. I would imagine in Hawaii, as well.

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00abuse

I was born in Scotland, but have lived most of my life in Canada. I am a British Citizen by birth, but the UK government will only allow my children - not my grandchildren - to obtain British Citizenship (which includes the right of abode).

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00abuse

Essentially you are correct arcticscot but if you had Grandchildren who wanted to live in the UK, they could apply for an 'Ancestry Visa' which would allow them to live and work in the UK for 5 years and THEN be eligible to apply for a "Right of Abode' and eventual citizenship.

So having one UK Grandparent will indeed get someone a PATH to UK Citizenship. It just has one more step than for those with a UK born parent.

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00abuse

Here's a link to the explanation for the Ancestry Visa.

https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa/overview

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00abuse

I guess I should have mentioned that I was meaning obtaining British Citizenship without having to go the visa and working residency route. You are correct, that is a possible way to do it...

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00abuse