Building a New Scotland: migration to Scotland after independence

What our proposals would mean for Scotland

Migration policy would be key to Scotland becoming a successful independent state. This publication describes the Scottish Government's proposals for migration in an independent Scotland.

Under the Scottish Government's proposals:

• an independent Scotland would have humane, fair and compassionate refugee and asylum policies; we would be a good global citizen, welcoming New Scots from all over the world
• Westminster's 'hostile environment' approach to migration would end
• a flexible visa system would help Scottish businesses/employers to attract and retain the international talent they need to thrive
• control over migration policy would help Scotland grow its overall and its working population which, under current UK policy, are projected to decline
• Scotland's economy would benefit from moving away from the UK's restrictive approach to migration under Brexit towards EU membership, free movement of people and a sensible open and welcoming migration system