When visiting the UK to metal detect you must abide by UK Treasure Laws, whether in Scotland or the rest of the UK, each has different laws. Please ensure you familiarise yourself with these before you arrive to detect. Our Videos and Detecting Advice section can help you understand these better.
Your NCMD membership will give you up to 7 days detecting insurance at a time. There is no restriction on the number of trips you can make in any one year. You will also need to have permission to detect on any land. (Unless you are attending an organised rally event). For beach detecting please visit the Crown Estate Website
It is best practice for finds to be recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) before they are exported. Whilst the Finds Liaison Officer (FLOs) will welcome the opportunity to record finds prior to export and can provide advice on the export licensing process, they are not able to make applications on your behalf.
You must make arrangements either with the landowner or a metal-detecting rally organiser for them to deposit your finds with the FLO for recording. It is then the exporters/finders responsibility to collect the finds from the FLO, apply for an export licence, and post them overseas.
IMPORTANT: All UK archaeological objects found in the ground and at least 50 years old need an Export Licence before they can be exported overseas.
