American citizens traveling to Scotland, England, Wales, or Northern Ireland do not require a visa but will need a valid passport. Before you land in the UK, you'll be asked to fill out a landing card with your name, date of birth, gender, nationality, occupation, and the address where you'll be staying in London.

To travel to Scotland in 2026, your documentation requirements depend on your nationality. For US, Canadian, and Australian citizens, you need a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining. Crucially, as of early 2025, most non-visa-required travelers (including Americans) must also have an approved UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which is a digital permit linked to your passport. For EU citizens, a passport is now mandatory (national ID cards are no longer accepted following Brexit), and an ETA is also required for most European travelers. If you are from a "visa-national" country (such as India or China), you will need a standard UK Standard Visitor Visa. It is also highly recommended to carry proof of your return flight and your first night's accommodation, as UK Border Force officers can occasionally ask for these during the entry interview. Note that Scotland has the same entry requirements as the rest of the UK; there is no separate "Scottish visa."