The First Minister revealed her government's proposals over Brexit on Tuesday at her official residence in Edinburgh.

The Scottish Government's proposals are set out in a 62-page document called Scotland's Place in Europe.

It aims to ensure Scotland remains inside the European single market despite the UK as a whole voting to leave the EU six months ago.

Sturgeon describes the proposals as "detailed and serious".

Staying in the single market and the UK:

The Scottish Government proposes two constitutional routes for the UK Government to pursue which would keep Scotland in the European single market and the UK.

The First Minister says she is "not confident" the UK Government will want to retain single market membership.

If they choose not to, Sturgeon will ask the Prime Minister to allow her to pursue option two - a separate Scottish deal.

EEA

The EEA is a separate organisation from the EU which brings three non-EU member states into the single market - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

EEA members enjoy tariff-free trade with the EU as well as freedom of movement. The states have to make budget contributions to the EU but do not get a say in how the single market's rules are shaped.

The Scottish Government estimates the UK Government would have to contribute £3.3bn annually to the EU as art of the EEA, although any final figure is subject to negotiation.

Using the same formula, Scotland would have to pay the EU £275.6m each year.

How to achieve separate Scottish EEA membership?

The UK Government formally opens negotiations for a separate Scottish deal with the "appropriate input and assistance" of the Scottish Government.

To create a differentiated deal the Scottish Government is calling for a package of further devolution, including immigration.

Proposed devolved powers:

No hard border:

The Scottish Government says its proposals for a separate Scottish deal will not result in a hard border (customs and immigration checks) between Scotland and England despite both nations having different relationships with the rest of Europe.

To achieve this Sturgeon proposes Scotland stays outside the EU Customs Union if the rest of the UK chooses to do so.

The proposals state: "The fact that both Scotland and the rest of the UK would be outside the EU Customs Union (or both within it if the UK Government chooses that option), would mean that the border between Scotland and England would not be an external EU customs border, retaining unimpeded customs-free trade within the UK.

"What is in effect a customs union at present between Scotland and the rest of the UK would continue to mutual benefit."

The EU Customs Union ensures a "common tariff" is imposed on goods entering the union and stops individual members striking their own international trade deals.

What about independence?

The First Minister does not only remain a supporter of independence but states in the foreword of the document that Scotland becoming "a full member of the EU as an independent country" is the "best option" for the first time.

Her government has drafted legislation to hold a second referendum "if the real and substantial risks that Brexit poses to Scotland's interests cannot be mitigated within the UK, the option of choosing a better future through independence should be open to the Scottish people".