The United Kingdom (UK) Government has officially turned down a proposal for a separate Scottish visa.
The separate Scottish visa was designed to help the country attract more skilled workers from overseas.
This issue was raised in a debate at Westminster last week as the Scottish National Party (SNP) sought to amend a law for Scotland to have its own visa.
However, a government source told the BBC: “We are not at all considering a Scottish visa system.”
This decision has sparked frustration in Scotland, where leaders argue that the country faces different challenges from the rest of the UK.
This mainly concerns addressing labor shortages in critical industries such as healthcare, agriculture, and hospitality.
However, the UK Government insists that immigration policy will remain a matter for the entire country, not just Scotland.
The proposal for a Scottish visa system
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s then-first minister, initially proposed a Scottish visa system in 2020.
In a separate visa system, the Scottish government would define the criteria for the new visa and receive and assess applications.
It will then nominate successful candidates to the UK Government to verify applicants’ identities and make relevant security checks.
Successful applicants must live in Scotland and have a Scottish tax code.
It could involve exempting certain businesses from UK rules on hiring overseas workers.
Scottish leaders, including Sturgeon, felt that Scotland needed more control over immigration to address its specific economy and population.
Many rural areas in Scotland have struggled to attract enough workers, especially in the farming, hospitality, and tourism industries.
After Brexit, the number of European workers declined, which significantly impacted these industries.
Sturgeon argued that a separate visa system for Scotland would allow the country to bring in the workers it needs to keep the economy going.
“Devolving immigration powers by introducing a Scottish Visa would allow Scotland to attract and retain people with the skills and attributes we need for our communities and economy to flourish,” she said as First Minister.
The proposal drew support from various industries, especially those experiencing severe labor shortages.
Organizations like UK Hospitality Scotland believed that a tailored visa system could help fill vacancies in the hospitality sector.
However, the former Conservative UK Government blocked the proposal for the Scottish visa system.
UK Labour Government’s rejection
SNP Member of Parliament (MP) Stephen Gethins plans to table a bill to enable the Scottish Government to set up a Scottish visa.
Scottish Labour MP Grady said that both Scottish and UK Labour fully support bringing more skilled people to Scotland.
He added that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is committed to making this happen.
However, the challenge is figuring out the best way to do it.
The Glasgow East MP revealed that the Migration Advisory Committee, which advises the government, is carefully studying the issue.
Still, a spokesperson from the Home Office stressed that immigration should be handled at a national level.
Creating separate immigration systems for different parts of the UK could cause confusion and make it harder to enforce immigration rules.
The source said immigration is a matter for the whole of the UK, and a bespoke Scottish visa would not be in the nation’s best interests.
Instead, the UK Government counts on its points-based immigration system, which was introduced post-Brexit.
Under this points-based system, foreign workers must earn points based on criteria such as their education, skills, and job offers in the UK.
The UK Government believes this system meets the needs of all regions, including Scotland, and can address labor shortages nationwide.
Frustration in Scotland
Scottish Labour’s general election manifesto promised reforms to ensure that migration and skills policies benefit all parts of the UK.
The manifesto also aimed to reduce long-term dependence on overseas workers in specific industries.
Before July’s national election, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie announced plans to encourage them to settle in Scotland.
However, after the election, she did not endorse pushing for a separate immigration system for Scotland.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar told BBC Scotland: “No, we need one UK border agency and one immigration system.”
The Home Office’s recent rejection of the separate Scottish visa system has frustrated many Scottish leaders and businesses.
Many argued that the UK Government’s rejection overlooks the unique needs of Scotland.
Many Scottish industries have echoed these concerns, adding that the country risks falling behind in critical economic sectors.
The issue is expected to remain a key topic of discussion in the coming years as Scotland continues to face labor shortages and population decline.
Scottish leaders will likely continue pushing for changes that better reflect their region’s needs.
The UK Government must then work with Scottish leaders to establish a unified immigration policy that works for Scotland and the rest of the country.