A new scheme that will allow Scots to prove they have been vaccinated against coronavirus before travelling abroad has been launched by the Scottish Government.

Those who have been vaccinated can download a letter from the NHS Inform patient website, or request a letter from the Covid Status Helpline if they are not online.

But as details of the vaccination status scheme were announced, Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith urged people to be "highly cautious about international travel" and “continue to limit their travel abroad”.

Only those travelling to a country where proof of vaccination is needed as an entry requirement should request a letter.

There are currently no countries that require travellers to show their vaccination status, but the letter scheme is being introduced because international travel requirements can change quickly during the pandemic.

What to do before going abroad:

If you’re planning to travel abroad, you must:

  • check whether a country you’re travelling to is on the red, amber or green list
  • confirm what you need to do when you arrive back in Scotland

Countries may move between the green, amber and red lists at short notice.

You should not assume that a country on the green, amber or red list now will remain on the same list over the weeks and months ahead.

Before you travel

You'll also need to:

  • have taken a coronavirus test in the three days before you begin your journey to Scotland - this test must show a negative result for you to be able to travel
  • show proof of your negative test result before boarding your plane - border staff may also ask for proof of a negative test when you arrive in Scotland
  • complete an online passenger locator form before travelling

While in Scotland, you must at all times follow the rules on Covid-19.

Testing while isolating in your hotel

While staying in your hotel, you'll need to take a Covid-19 test on day two and day eight of your 10 day stay. These tests will be delivered to you at your hotel.

If either of these tests are positive for COVID-19, you may need to quarantine at your hotel for longer than 10 days.

The cost of isolating in a hotel

To isolate in a hotel, you'll need to pay:

  • £1750 for the first adult
  • £650 each for any other adults or children over 12
  • £325 each for any children aged between 5 and 12

There's no charge for children under 5.

If you need to stay longer than 10 days because you return a positive Covid-19 test, or because you have been told you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive, you must book extra days through the CTM booking portal.

There will be no charge for these extra days.

Red list countries and areas

If you have been in a country or area on the red list at any point in the 10 days before arriving in Scotland, you will only be allowed to enter the UK if either:

  • you are a British or Irish National
  • you have the right to remain in the UK- this includes if you have a visa to work or study in the UK
  • you’re travelling to the UK because you have a certain type of job or for essential medical treatment

You should not travel to red list countries or areas on holiday, or for any leisure purposes.

Before travelling to Scotland from a red list country, you’ll need to:

  • complete a passenger locator form
  • take a Covid-19 test
  • book a quarantine hotel package, including two Covid-19 tests

On arrival in Scotland, you must quarantine in the hotel you’ve booked for 10 days. If you test positive for Covid-19 while in quarantine, you may need to quarantine for longer.

Amber list countries and areas

If you’ve been in an amber list country in the 10 days before travelling to Scotland, you must:

On arrival in Scotland you must:

Green list countries and areas

Before travelling to Scotland from a green list country or area, you must:

  • complete a passenger locator form
  • take a Covid-19 test
  • book and pay £88 for a Covid-19 test – you should take this test within 2 days of arriving in Scotland

You will not need to isolate unless:

the result of the Covid-19 test you’ve taken on day two after arriving back in Scotland is positive

  • NHS Scotland Test and Protect contact you to let you know that you need to isolate as you’ve travelled with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19
  • If you’ve been in a country or area on the red or amber list in the 10 days before arriving in Scotland, you’ll need to follow the rules for red or amber list countries.

What has the Scottish Government said?

The Scottish Government said it hopes allowing people to download their own documents will ease the burden on the NHS, as travellers will not need to ask their GP for a letter.

As the vaccination programme progresses, digital Covid Status Certificates, which will include vaccination and testing data, will be brought in for international travel.

Dr Smith said: "Given the risk of returning with infection, and especially of introducing new variants of the virus, we continue to be highly cautious about international travel.

"Everyone should continue to limit their travel abroad and while I understand the need for some people who want to reunite with family, when it comes to holidays my advice continues to be play it safe and staycation this summer.

"For those that do need it, this new service will provide people with a record of their vaccination status for outbound international travel.

"They should only access their record if they are planning to travel within 21 days and it is a requirement of their destination."