How to buy land in Scotland as an American

Scotland is an enticing place to buy land, with affordable prices and beautiful landscapes. It is possible to buy land in Scotland as an American, but there are a few things to understand first.

Let’s take a look at exactly how to buy land in Scotland, including rules, regulations, and how much it costs to buy a piece of land.

We’ll also take a look at Wise – your international transfer alternative. Pay for your land with just the touch of a button. Let’s dive in!

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Table of contents
Can Americans buy land in Scotland? How much is an acre of land in Scotland? Taxes and costs to own land in Scotland Buying property abroad? Send money the hassle-free way with Wise How to find plots of land for sale in Scotland How to buy land in Scotland: step-by-step Does owning land in Scotland give you a title? Financing options for buying land in Scotland

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Can Americans buy land in Scotland?

American citizens can buy land in Scotland. There aren’t any restrictions on foreign ownership of land – and Americans are also free to buy property in Scotland.

However, if you plan to live in Scotland, you may need to obtain a UK visa or residence permit for you and your family.¹

You’ll also need to go through a formal registration process to ensure you are the legal owner of your land.²

Does buying land in Scotland make you a citizen?

No, you won’t qualify for automatic citizenship or residency by owning land in Scotland. As Scotland is part of the UK, you’ll need to get a UK permanent residence permit to live and work in the country legally.²

You can also apply for citizenship if you want to move to the UK. There are several ways to qualify for UK citizenship, such as by being related to a British citizen or applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).³

You can also qualify for dual citizenship in the UK. This means you may be able to maintain your US citizenship rights while claiming citizenship in Scotland.²

How much is an acre of land in Scotland?

Land prices in Scotland are relatively affordable, but prices may be rising with the cost-of-living crisis in the UK.

It costs roughly 9500 GBP per acre to buy a piece of land in Scotland, depending on the location.²

This compares to land prices in England, where you’d expect to pay around 7000 GBP per acre in the North East, for example.⁴

Wondering how much that would cost in USD? Check out this handy conversion calculator:

Taxes and costs to own land in Scotland

As well as the cost of your land per acreage, you’ll need to think about any additional fees and taxes for your purchase.

If you work with a real estate agent, financial advisor, or building contractor, you’ll need to pay them a fee for their services.

🚨 You’ll also need to pay Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) if your property value is over 150,000 GBP.⁵

This fee is similar to Stamp Duty in the rest of the UK – and you can use an online calculator to work out exactly how much you’ll pay.⁶

If you buy a dwelling, you may also need to pay Additional Dwelling Supplement Tax (ADS). However, this doesn’t apply to empty plots of land where no construction has started yet.⁵

If you want to build on your land, make sure to look into the costs first. Some experts estimate that it costs from 2260 GBP to 2670 GBP per square meter to build a 3-bedroom house in Scotland.⁷

Buying property abroad? Send money the hassle-free way with Wise

Now that we covered some of the basics, the only question left is: how to send money to pay for your property overseas?

Wise offers you a quick, secure, and transparent way of sending money to Scotland. You get the mid-market exchange rate for your payments and see how much it’s charged for the transfer before sending the money from your bank.

With the Wise Account, you can also hold 40+ currencies, spend money in 150+ countries, and receive like a local in 9 different currencies.

Get started with Wise

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information

How to find plots of land for sale in Scotland

There are lots of different kinds of land for sale in Scotland, including:

• farm land
• croft land
• building plots
• vacant land or derelict properties⁸

Croft land is an area of land used for agriculture, and it often includes buildings or houses, whereas a building plot is land sold with the purpose of self-building.⁸ It’s typically more expensive than other types of land, but it should already have planning permission.⁹

Make sure to look into all your options before making your land purchase. The type of land you need will depend on what you want to use it for and your budget.

There are a few ways to find land in Scotland, including:

• choose a specific location and type of land to narrow down your search
• browse online for listings
• speak to an estate agent for advice and support
• attend auctions – but always do your due diligence before buying

You can also contact community trusts. These organizations own and develop land in Scotland for the benefit of local communities and they often sell suitable land at affordable prices.

Resources like Plot Browser® and UK Land and Farms® feature regular land plots for sale in the UK. These sites are a good place to start your search.⁵

How to buy land in Scotland: step-by-step

You can buy land in Scotland as an American, but you’ll need to follow the right procedures for your purchase.

Let’s take a look at how to buy land in Scotland – your step-by-step guide.

1. Find land for sale in Scotland

First things first, you’ll need to find land for sale in Scotland. You can do this by looking online, speaking to local communities, or visiting your ideal location.

Speak to a real estate agent with experience in Scottish land sales. Your agent can help you find a good land plot and successfully complete your purchase.

2. Get planning permission

Before you can buy land in Scotland, you’ll need to secure planning permission. Some land may already have permission, so make sure to speak to the local council authority for more information.

There are a few different types of planning permission, including planning permission in principle and full planning permission for a home with a defined set of plans.

You may be required to stick to a specific design or plan for your house. If you want to change that plan, you’ll need to speak to your local planning officer – and you may need to submit a new application via Scotland’s ePlanning website.

You can also submit an application if the land has no planning permission or planning permission in principle – or if the plot had planning permission in the past, but it has since expired.

Getting planning permission can be complicated, so you may want to work with a building contractor. They can guide you through the planning and building process for your land.⁵

You may also need permission from other official bodies before you can purchase your plot of land. For example, you’ll need permission from the Crofting Commission to rent or buy croft land in Scotland.¹⁰

3. Check who owns your land

Once you’ve found a plot of land you want to buy, you’ll need to check who owns it. You may not be able to build on some land, so speak to your local council for information on your plot’s classification.⁵

You can use the Registers of Scotland to conduct a title deed search for your chosen land – and the Land Register of Scotland should tell you the land’s current owners, its value, and any mortgages on the property.⁵

4. Conduct a land survey

It’s a good idea to conduct a land survey before completing your purchase. This can help you uncover any hidden issues with the land, such as environmental concerns or drainage problems.

You can also check that it’s possible to access basic facilities, such as electricity, water, and gas. This is especially important if you plan to build on your plot.⁵

5. Get financing

Some lenders offer land mortgages for people looking to buy land plots to build on, so make sure to look into your options before you go ahead with your purchase.

If you don’t want to open a UK bank account, you’ll also need to look into exchange rate costs.

Many US providers will add a markup to the standard mid-market exchange rate when they convert your US dollars into British pounds.

Use a money transfer platform like Wise to save on hefty exchange rate costs and foreign transaction fees for your land purchase.

6. Speak to a solicitor

To complete your land purchase, speak to a solicitor or legal professional who specializes in Scottish land purchases.

They can help you complete any legal paperwork and ensure the title deed for the land is officially registered in the Land Register of Scotland, for example.²

Does owning land in Scotland give you a title?

No, you can’t buy land in Scotland to become a lord.² You’ll need to be awarded a title by the monarch. You may also inherit your title through a noble family line.

If you own land in Scotland, you may be referred to as a “laird”. This is a term used to describe the owner of a large, well-established Scottish estate, but it’s mainly symbolic, rather than legal or feudal.¹¹

Some companies will let you “buy” a Highland title for friends and family, but this isn’t a real Scottish title – it’s just a fun gift!

Financing options for buying land in Scotland

Buying land or property abroad can be expensive, so you may need to access financial support for your purchase.

You can get a few different types of land mortgages, such as:

• self-build mortgage
• agricultural mortgage
• commercial mortgage

If you want to build your own home, a self-build mortgage may be the best option. However, if you intend on leasing out your land to local farmers, you may want to look into an agricultural mortgage.

Not all lenders offer land mortgage loans, so you’ll need to find the right lender for your purchase.¹²

Scotland’s Self-Build Loan Fund is a common option, but you’ll need to use this money toward the costs of building your house, rather than the land itself.⁵

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Scotland is a popular choice for foreigners looking to buy land or property abroad. You can purchase farm land or building plots – and you can get planning permission to build your dream property.

However, you’ll need to consider how much it costs to buy your Scottish land. As well as the acreage price, you’ll need to think about building costs, Scottish land taxes, and USD to GBP currency conversion fees for your purchase.

To explore your low-fee global spending options, check out Wise.

Sources

1. Garrington Scotland - Moving to Scotland from America
2. NCESC - Can you get citizenship if you own land in Scotland?
3. UK Government - Check if you can become a British citizen
4. Novellus Finance - How much does it cost to buy land in different areas of the UK?
5. Acandco - 8 ways to find plots for sale in Scotland
6. Scotland Government - Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT)
7. Building Partner - Average building costs per sq m for 2024 – UK Guide
8. Reddit - Best way to buy land to live on in Scotland?
9. Home Building - How to value a building plot
10. Scotland Shelter - Renting or buying a croft
11. Name Census - Laird first name popularity, history and meaning
12. Clifton PF - How to secure a land mortgage in 2024

Sources checked 02/06/2025