American citizens traveling to Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom need only a valid passport to be granted entry as short-term visitors or tourists, according to the U.S. Department of State. Similarly, the U.K. Border Agency states that non-American travelers will need only a passport but not a visa for entry clearance if they hold a U.K. passport or a passport issued by any other country in the European Union or the European Economic Area.
Some nations impose a minimum passport validity past the date of arrival that ranges for three to six months, but the U.K. does not enforce this rule. You can enter the country as long as your passport is valid on the date of arrival, though it is always advisable to carry a passport that has at least a few months of validity left on it when traveling internationally.
Scottish authorities also enforce exit requirements. In most cases visitors have permission to stay in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom without a visa for up to six months, according to the U.K. Border Agency. This means that tourists and businessmen on short trips will have plenty of time allotted to them. However, individuals intending to stay longer than six months, students in study abroad programs, and those looking to find and maintain employment in Scotland must obtain the necessary visas to be allowed to remain in the country. The U.K. Border Agency provides detailed information regarding the various visas available as well as the application process for the documents.
Standard customs regulations apply in Scotland. You can expect to encounter the same sorts of general policies when passing through customs check points as you would in any other developed country. The U.K. Border Agency imposes restrictions on things like firearms, certain food and plant products, live animals and sums of cash totaling more than 10,000 Euros or the equivalent. Almost all countries have comparable customs requirements, and Scotland is no exception.
