Scottish Government to launch proposal on citizenship in an independent Scotland

The paper will reveal how non-Scots can apply for Scottish citizenship, and who will receive it automatically if the nation leaves the UK.

Jamie Hepburn, minister for independence, First Minister Humza Yousaf and Deputy First Minister Shona Robison pictured with a previous Building a New Scotland papers (Robert Perry/PA) (PA Wire)

The Scottish Government is to publish policy proposals on who could become a Scottish citizen if the country becomes independent.

The proposals will be published on Thursday and will highlight how non-Scots can qualify for citizenship.

They will also detail who would automatically be considered a citizen if Scotland leaves the UK.

The proposals are the fifth Building a New Scotland paper, which will also cover proposals on Scottish passports and assistance for Scots travelling, living or working abroad if the nation becomes independent.

Migrants’ rights, freedom of movement and citizenship fees will also be discussed in the paper.

Independence would also enable us to take a fairer and more welcoming approach to citizenship to make it easier for those who have made Scotland their home to settle here permanently

Jamie Hepburn MSP

Minister for independence Jamie Hepburn MSP said: “As an independent nation, Scotland would have the opportunity to re-define what it means to be a citizen of this country, building on our inclusive national identity and sense of collective purpose.

“Independence would also enable us to take a fairer and more welcoming approach to citizenship to make it easier for those who have made Scotland their home to settle here permanently, helping to grow our population and support our communities and public services.

“The proposals in this paper explain how we plan to achieve these aims, on the way to re-joining the European Union as an independent nation, and I look forward to setting them out with the First Minister on Thursday.”

The upcoming proposals have been criticised by the Scottish Conservatives, who labelled the plans a waste of taxpayers’ money.

The SNP must drop their independence obsession and instead devote every penny towards helping our struggling public services

Alexander Stewart MSP

Alexander Stewart MSP, Scottish Conservative depute spokesperson for the constitution, external affairs and culture, said: “These independence plans are a blatant misuse of public money and resources by the SNP – civil servants are supposed to support the government’s agenda, not push the nationalists’ pet project at taxpayers’ expense.

“The SNP are constantly blurring the lines between party and government. It is utterly unacceptable for the SNP to be wasting taxpayers’ money and civil servants’ time on pushing a divisive party political agenda which the Scottish government lacks the authority to pursue unilaterally.

“This is the wrong priority at the worst time, when Humza Yousaf and his ministers should be concentrating on unacceptable NHS waiting times and the cost-of-living crisis.

“Only the Scottish Conservatives are focused on Scotland’s real priorities. The SNP must drop their independence obsession and instead devote every penny towards helping our struggling public services.”

The Scottish Labour party was contacted for comment.