Scottish Ministers have made the Scottish Register of Tartans Fees Order 2025, updating the statutory charges for services provided by the Keeper of the Scottish Register of Tartans. The Order revokes the 2009 fees order and will apply from 19 January 2026. The measure is made under section 14 of the Scottish Register of Tartans Act 2008, which empowers Ministers to specify fees by order following consultation with the Keeper.
According to the made instrument, the Order was signed at St Andrew’s House by Angus Robertson on 4 November 2025 and laid before the Scottish Parliament on 6 November 2025. Commencement is set for 19 January 2026, providing a clear lead‑in for applicants and stakeholders to adjust to the revised charging regime.
The structure of fees remains familiar. Charges continue to cover applications to register a tartan, requests to reconsider refused applications, amended entries and certificates, provision of information and research by the Keeper, inspection of documents and copying services. Inspection for personal use remains free; “personal use” means use other than for commercial purposes or profit.
On amounts, National Records of Scotland (NRS) consulted in April–June 2025 on moving to full cost recovery. The consultation proposed: registration £150 (from £70); reconsideration £85 (from £40); request to amend £54 (from £25); duplicate or amended certificate £32 (from £15); inspection £12.80 (from £6); copies at £5.40 per five sheets (from £2.50); information £85 (from £40); and research £85 per hour (from £40). The Keeper’s September analysis recommended Ministers adopt these figures.
NRS further signalled that framed certificates would cease, with the corresponding fee removed from the schedule. The Order’s explanatory note reflects this by confirming the framed‑certificate service is no longer available. Applicants who still wish a framed display will need to arrange this privately after receiving the standard certificate.
Operational details published by NRS remain relevant. The application fee for registration is exempt from VAT, while other service charges include VAT where appropriate. Postage and packaging are included in published fees. These conditions are expected to continue under the new Order unless otherwise stated in the updated schedule at commencement.
For organisations and designers planning submissions, timing now matters. Applications lodged and paid before 19 January 2026 are charged at current rates; from that date the new statutory fees apply. NRS advises fees are non‑refundable, so applicants should ensure their documentation and threadcount details are complete before paying.
The policy intent is cost recovery. NRS reported direct service costs of around £60,000 in 2023–24 against income of about £31,000, with 400 registrations accounting for over 90 percent of fee income. Moving the schedule to the proposed levels is intended to close that gap while maintaining access to free searching of the Register. Section 14 of the 2008 Act also permits fee waivers by the Keeper with Ministerial approval.