How can I find out if someone who travelled abroad from Scotland was in receipt of a passport or letter of safe conduct issued in Scotland?

The National Archives (TNA) in London has records of passports issued for the period 1795-1948 (indexed for the periods 1851 – 1862 and 1874 – 1898), in Foreign Office records (reference: FO610-611). For details go to the TNA website <http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C7912> [accessed 26 April 2024]

For passports issued in Scotland before the 18th century, first try published sources, such as the register of the Privy Seal (Registrum secreti sigilli regum Scotorum), the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, and the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland (Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum), or published minutes or acts of the burgh concerned, if the individual came from a town. The family papers of the individual concerned might be with the National Records of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, or with a local archive or university library, or held privately. You should ascertain from the National Register of Archives for Scotland where, if anywhere, the relevant family papers are held. You might also search the National Records of Scotland’s catalogues, using the terms ‘passport’, ‘safe conduct’ etc, for examples occurring in family papers.