Scotland’s Migration Service launched
Information and advice for people, employers and investors.
Scotland’s Migration Service has launched its first phase, which
will give people who have recently moved here and employers
looking to hire workers from abroad access to bespoke advice.
The new service will provide information and offer individual
appointments to help people with moving and settling into life in
Scotland. It will also support businesses to navigate the
immigration system, including advice from qualified advisors.
Migration Minister said:
“New Scots make an enormous contribution to Scotland’s society by
helping grow our economy, address skills shortages and contribute
to public services. They are also vital to meeting our population
needs.
“The first few months after arrival in a new country are the most
significant in terms of making people feel welcome and
encouraging them to stay for the long term. This service will
support people in those crucial weeks, helping ease the process
of settling into life here.
“We also want to mitigate the complexity and bureaucracy of the
immigration system – particularly post-Brexit – to encourage
businesses to hire talented people from overseas and expand their
operations here. By providing advice and information, we will
help employers and investors grow businesses and attract talent.”
Ioannis Fotiadis, a civil engineer who moved to Edinburgh from
Greece in 2021, said:
“This service promises to be an invaluable resource for migrants,
offering support and guidance that can significantly ease the
transition process. Reflecting on my own journey to
Scotland, I can't help but wish that such a comprehensive
resource had been available to me.
"The challenges of relocating are manifold, and having access to
dedicated support would have made a world of difference. I'm
hopeful that this service will fill that gap for others, making
their move smoother and more manageable.”
Chief Executive Officer of Edinburgh arts venue Summerhall, Sam
Gough said:
“This service would have been invaluable to Summerhall when I
first tried to recruit overseas technicians to help me on their
Visa journey, as well as my own Sponsors’ Licence
application.”
Background
The first phase of Scotland’s Migration Service is now open. It
is currently available to the following groups:
- People who have moved to Scotland within the past six months
- International students in their final year at a Scottish
university or college who would like to stay in Scotland after
graduating
- Employers based in Scotland who would like to hire
international workers
- Investors based in another country who would like to set up
or expand a business in Scotland.
An expanded service, to include support for individuals located
outside of Scotland with an interest in moving to Scotland, will
follow later this year.
More information can be found here http://www.scotland.org/live-in-scotland/migration-service
