Offshore Workers

United Kingdom immigration legislation does not expand to installations operating completely at sea on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. Therefore, there is no prevention on overseas nationals taking employment on offshore installations. However, because offshore workers typically work on a Rota basis, spending so many weeks working then an equal number of week’s shore leave, they usually tend to base themselves and any dependants in the UK, so although they do not need a work permit for offshore employment they and any dependants do require leave to enter or remain.

Entry clearance
Subject to normal visa requirements, offshore workers are allowed to stay in the United Kingdom during their shore leave especially outside the Rules and their dependants are also exceptionally allowed to base themselves in the UK.
Entry clearance is not compulsory for non-visa nationals except if you are a national of one of 10 non-visa countries and intend to stay in the United Kingdom for more than 6 months. A work permit will only be need if any part of the work is on-shore.

Entry clearance Endorsement
For only offshore employment entry clearance should usually be given for 12 months Code 2.

Offshore workers are not required to register with the police.

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