Offshore Medicals is run by Dr Helle Wibe
Seafarer and petroleum doctor with more than 20,000 medical examinations. OEUK-approved since 2006 and approved in Denmark, Norway, the UK and Sweden.
If you are going to work on the Norwegian shelf, the Norwegian authorities accept a UK OEUK certificate. Here is what the rules say, and how the two certificates differ.
Yes, as a starting point you can work on the Norwegian shelf with a UK OEUK certificate. The County Governor of Rogaland (Statsforvalteren), which manages offshore health requirements for all of Norway, states that British and Dutch health certificates are approved and give you the right to work offshore in Norway.
You are still subject to all the rules in the Norwegian health requirements regulation. And it is your operator and employer who decide which certificate they ask for.
Book your certificate directly
Both cost DKK 1,580 incl. VAT and take 30-45 min.
Need an appointment today? Call +45 70 60 33 38.
The Norwegian regulation on health requirements says that anyone holding a health certificate under another set of rules, Norwegian or foreign, with at least equally strict requirements, is considered to meet the Norwegian requirements. The County Governor of Rogaland decides which rules this applies to, and has approved the British and Dutch ones.
OEUK itself says that acceptance of OEUK certificates outside the UK is entirely at the discretion of the country, employer or operator concerned. Standard certificates are generally accepted in Norway and the Netherlands. A location-specific certificate is only valid for the installations it names.
| OEUK Medical | Norwegian health certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Doctor registered with OEUK | Petroleum doctor approved by the Norwegian health authorities. Doctors abroad can be approved |
| Validity | Up to 2 years | Up to 2 years. Up to 1 year for work under raised ambient pressure |
| Weight | 124 kg clothed on the UK shelf from 1 November 2026 | No fixed limit. Action at BMI above 35, individual assessment |
| If you do not meet the requirements | You can ask the OEUK Medical Adviser to review it | Dispensation or appeal via the County Governor of Rogaland |
Norwegian petroleum doctors can be approved even if they work outside Norway. They must have documented knowledge of the Norwegian rules and of offshore conditions, and must master a Scandinavian language or English.
The County Governor also states that operators carry out checks in line with normal practice. So you can be refused travel offshore if the operator believes you do not meet the health requirements, whatever certificate you hold.
The Norwegian health certificate covers work on fixed and mobile installations. According to the County Governor, people who only travel on a vessel do not need one. Seafarers on Danish ships need a Danish seafarer medical instead.
Sources: Statsforvalteren i Rogaland, Helseerklæring offshore; Norwegian regulation on health requirements for persons working on petroleum installations offshore, section 20; same regulation, chapter 2 on petroleum doctors; chapter 4 on validity and appeals; Offshore Energies UK, FAQs for doctors and offshore workers; OEUK, Safe Weight Limit Explanatory Note, April 2026; Danish order on medical examination of seafarers and fishermen, section 3. Read September 2026. This page is practical guidance and does not replace the doctor's assessment on the day.
As a starting point, yes. The County Governor of Rogaland approves British and Dutch health certificates. You are still subject to the Norwegian health requirements, and your operator may ask for a specific certificate.
It is up to the employer and operator which certificate they want to see. OEUK itself says acceptance outside the UK depends on the country, employer and operator. If your mobilisation letter says Norwegian health certificate, get that one.
Both are valid for up to 2 years. The Norwegian one is valid for up to 1 year for work under raised pressure, and both can be issued with a shorter validity.
Yes, both can be done in the same visit in Esbjerg. Mention it when booking so we set aside enough time.
Seafarer and petroleum doctor with more than 20,000 medical examinations. OEUK-approved since 2006 and approved in Denmark, Norway, the UK and Sweden.