Scottish Register of Tartan fees to be increased from January 19th 2026

As previously mentioned in this blog last month, the NRS had been considering raising various fees connected with the Scottish Register of Tartans (see 'Recommendation for Scottish Register of Tartans fees to be substantially increased' https://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2025/10/scottish-register-of-tartans-fees-to-be.html), following a recent consultation.

It has now confirmed that the proposed rise in fees will take place from January 19th 2026. 

For more on the story visit https://nrscotland.gov.uk/latest-news/scottish-register-of-tartans/.

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Recommendation for Scottish Register of Tartans fees to be substantially increased

The National Records of Scotland has published an analysis of responses to a consultation it held with regards to raising fees for the Scottish Register of Tartans (www.tartanregister.gov.uk), which it manages. The consultation closed on 29 June, and received 30 responses. 

The proposed fee increases include the following, as detailed in Annex A of the analysis:

• Inspection of Tartan Register documents or other physical objects - to rise from £6 to £12.80.
• Copies of any Tartan Register document - per 5 sheets - to rise from £2.50 to £5.40.
• Carrying out research in relation to the Register - to rise from £40/hour to £85/hour.
• Application to register a tartan - to rise from £70 to £150.
• Provision of copy of certificate of registration by the Keeper - to rise from £15 to £32.
• Provision of framed certificate, framed copy of certificate or framed amended certificate by the Keeper - currently £30, but to be deleted from the fees order (i.e. service discontinued) 

Under 'Next Steps', the NRS states "Now that we have analysed all the responses to our consultation, the Keeper has recommended that Scottish Ministers increase the fees as set out in the table in Annex A. We have also recommended that NRS discontinue providing framed certificates." No timetable for these changes to be implemented has as yet been announced.

Further details from the analysis are available at https://nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/the-scottish-register-of-tartans-fees-review-consultation-analysis/

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Scotland's oldest surviving tartan cloth dates to the 16th century

Scotland's oldest surviving tartan cloth dates to the 16th century. Known as the Glen Affric tartan, the scrap of cloth was found in a peat bog in the Highlands 40 years ago, and has now been radiocarbon dated, suggesting a high confidence of its creation between 1500 and 1600. The cloth was likely part of a garment worn by a labourer, and pre-dates the 'Sir Walter Scottish' era of tartan, when the modern rules were somewhat invented as to who was entitled to wear a tartan and when.

The cloth will go on display to the public at the V&A Dundee design museum, from April 1st until January 14th 2024.

For more on the story, visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65081312 and https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=1402.

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.