Who we help
- Oilfield service contractors sending engineers, drillers and technicians to client sites
- HR and mobility teams booking visas for many staff, with one reliable point of contact
- Rotational and offshore crews who need visas renewed without missing a rotation
- Consultants and inspectors making short trips for meetings, audits and site visits
One account manager handles your team's applications, tracks expiry dates and reminds you before renewals are due.
Countries we cover
Our five most requested oil and gas destinations:
Saudi Arabia
Onshore fields, refineries and major energy projects
Iraq
Federal Iraq and Kurdistan: Basra oilfields and Erbil projects
Nigeria
Onshore and offshore projects, Lagos and Port Harcourt
Kuwait
Oilfield services and contractor work
Angola
Offshore projects and Luanda-based work
| Region | We also arrange visas for |
|---|---|
| Middle East | Oman, Qatar, UAE |
| Africa | Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Mozambique |
| Caspian and Central Asia | Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan |
| Americas and Asia-Pacific | Brazil, Guyana, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei |
Don't see your destination? Call us, as we handle visas for most countries worldwide.
Why the right visa matters
A tourist visa or visa-free entry is almost never enough for oilfield work. Even where UK citizens can visit freely as tourists, working on a rig, a site or a project usually needs a business or work visa.
| Visa | Used for |
|---|---|
| Business visa | Meetings, inspections, audits and short site visits |
| Work visa or permit | Hands-on work, usually sponsored by the employer or client in that country |
| Invitation and sponsor letters | Required by many oil-producing countries; small errors cause delays |
The wrong visa can mean a worker turned away at the airport, a missed rotation, or fines for the employer. We check which visa each trip needs before anything is submitted.
How it works
- Tell us about the trip: destination, dates, type of work and number of travellers
- We confirm the right visa and send a checklist of documents each traveller needs
- We prepare and check everything: forms, invitation letters and supporting documents
- We submit and track it, keeping you updated until the visa is issued
- Passports back to you, returned securely and ready to travel
Why choose Unique Visa Services
- Business and work visa experience, including Saudi work visas
- Document legalisation in-house: degree certificates and company documents attested for work permits, without a second supplier
- Real people, real office: staffed office in Manchester, Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, with phone lines answered 8am to 6pm
- Corporate accounts: one contact for your whole team, with invoicing for businesses
Common questions
Can my staff work on a tourist visa or visa-free entry?
Usually not. Most oil-producing countries require a business or work visa for any work activity, even short site visits. We’ll confirm what each trip needs.
How long does an oil and gas visa take?
It depends on the country and visa type. Some business visas take days, while sponsored work visas can take several weeks. Tell us your travel date and we’ll give you a realistic timeline.
Do you handle visas for a whole team at once?
Yes. We process group applications and can set up a corporate account with one point of contact.
Can you legalise degree certificates for a work permit?
Yes. Many countries require attested qualifications for work visas, and we handle legalisation alongside the visa application.
What if the worker isn’t a British citizen?
We help other nationalities too. Requirements can differ by passport, so tell us each traveller’s nationality when you enquire.