UK immigration legislation does not extend to installations operating wholly at sea on the UK Continental Shelf. Therefore, there is no prohibition on overseas nationals taking employment on offshore installations. However, because offshore workers usually work on a rota basis, spending so many weeks working then an equal number of weeks shore leave, they normally tend to base themselves and any dependants in the UK, so although they do not require a work permit for off-shore employment they and any dependants do require leave to enter or remain.

Entry clearance
Subject to normal visa requirements, off-shore workers are allowed to live in the UK during their shore leave exceptionally outside the Rules and their dependants are also exceptionally allowed to base themselves in the UK.

Entry clearance is not mandatory for non-visa nationals except if you are a national of one of 10 non-visa countries and intend to stay in the UK for more than six months. A work permit will only be required if any part of the work is on-shore.

Entry clearance endorsement
For only off-shore employment entry clearance should normally be given for 12 months Code 2. Comment: Proviso wording.

Off-shore workers are not required to register with the police.

Dependants
Dependants who are or who intend to base themselves in the UK should be granted entry clearance in line with the worker on Code 1.

Relevant foreign nationals who are granted entry clearance for longer than 6 months are required to register with the police.