Nicola Sturgeon has set out plans for a Scottish visa system to boost immigration in a post-Brexit Britain.
The unveiled her proposals, which require powers to be devolved from Westminster, as a way of addressing the country’s ageing population.
A key plank of the Tory Government’s Brexit plan is to end the freedom of movement with European Union member states.
Boris Johnson wants to replace this decades-old system with a points based scheme that will aim to clamp down on unskilled workers coming to the UK.
However, the SNP Government has attacked the plans and argued Scotland needs more immigrants, not fewer.
In a set piece speech in Edinburgh, she set out five options which would allow Scotland tackle depopulation and the skills gap.
The first would be for the Tory Government to create a new route for migrants wanting to come to Scotland, with the rules being set by the Home Office.
The second idea is for the SNP Government to propose a new pathway which the UK Government would establish.
Two other options would require some powers over immigration to be devolved to Holyrood, with a new visa system becoming a shared power.
The final model is for an entirely devolved or separate system for Scotland - something the Tories would be unlikely to grant.
If the new plan goes ahead, migrants would be able to apply for either a Scottish visa or go down one of the existing routes offered by the UK Government.
Maintaining a Scottish tax code would be a requirement, as would living north of the border.
Sturgeon said: “Migration is an issue which is crucial for our future, but the Scottish Government doesn’t currently have the powers needed to deliver tailored immigration policies for Scotland.
“Devolving immigration powers by introducing a Scottish Visa would allow Scotland to attract and retain people with the skills and attributes we need for our communities and economy to flourish.”
Andrew McRae from the the Federation of Small Business in Scotland said: “The new paper from the Scottish Government is a timely and evidence-based intervention. It sets out a pathway towards a UK system that can flex for Scotland’s distinct demographic and economic needs, without creating additional burdens for smaller businesses.
“The UK Government should acknowledge that it is possible and desirable to enable its immigration system to respond to different regions and nations, as well as maintain strict border controls and a user-friendly system.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Immigration will remain a reserved matter. The UK Government will introduce a points-based immigration system that works in the interests of the whole of the United Kingdom, including Scotland.
“We want to understand the specific needs of the whole of the UK, which is why we have engaged extensively with stakeholders across the UK, including the Scottish Government.”
