The Home Secretary has introduced a concession to the immigration rules to allow the employment of non-European Economic Area nationals who are joining vessels engaged in the construction and maintenance of offshore wind projects in UK territorial waters.
This concession will be time limited and leave to enter under the terms of the concession will no longer be granted to expire after 21 April 2019.
The terms of the concession are set out below.
- The Home Office have agreed to grant a concession, outside of the Immigration Rules, to workers essential to the construction and maintenance of wind farms within UK territorial waters.
- The concession will allow workers leave to enter the UK until 21 April 2019 for the purpose of joining a vessel engaged in the construction and maintenance of a wind farm within UK territorial waters.
- Leave to enter under the terms of the concession will not be granted beyond 21 April 2019.
During this period, firms involved in the construction or maintenance of wind farms within territorial waters should look to regularise the position of their workers. British and EEA (European Economic Area) nationals do not require leave to enter the UK. Those who require leave to enter the UK should have the appropriate permission to do so under the Immigration Rules.
Applications for a visa for this purpose should be made using the Visa Application Form used for “join ship” applications and will attract the same fee as for “join ship” applications (£64). The Immigration Health Surcharge will not be payable.