All passengers arriving in Scotland from abroad must now self-isolate for ten days after quarantine ‘travel corridors’ were axed.
The latest rules came into force at 4am on Monday in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19 after worrying mutant strains of the virus have begun to appear.
Anyone arriving on Scottish soil by train, boat or plane must also present a negative coronavirus test taken no more than 72 hours before they arrive.
They must provide proof of this to their travel operator and those who flout the rules will face a minimum £500 fine.
UK Border Force agents will be carrying out spot checks on arrivals and will also fine travel operators if they find that restrictions are being breached.
The isolation period can be cut short with a negative test after five days while the restrictions will remain in place until at least February 15.
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “International travel has played a key role in previous waves of coronavirus and is a significant risk to our efforts to suppress the virus to the lowest possible level.
“It is crucial we take the right steps to prevent importing new strains that can increase transmission or undermine the vaccine in Scotland.
“Travel into or out of Scotland is currently illegal and that will remain the case while we work to suppress the new strain of Covid-19.
“It remains the case that any travel must be for an essential reason.”
The Scottish Government backed the decision to close the travel corridors after a worrying mutant strain of coronavirus was discovered in South American last week.
Limited exceptions to the quarantine rules include hauliers, train crew and young children.
