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Minimum age to get a tattoo in various European countries (2023):
  18 years exclusively
  18 years, from 16 years with authorisation
  18 years, from 14–17 years (varies by region) with authorisation
  18 years, no minimum age with authorisation
  16 years exclusively
  no regulation
  no data

Legislation controlling tattooing varies among countries in Europe. In many countries there is no particular legislation. In countries that do have legal controls, they relate mainly to the minimum age of clients. Greece and Denmark impose further stipulations.

Legal controls by European country

Country Age (with authorisation) Age (without authorisation) Notes
 Armenia No legislation[1]
 Austria 16 18 Parental consent can be written.[2]
 Belgium 16 18 Parents must be present to give consent for children.[citation needed]
 Bulgaria No legislation[3]
 Croatia 16 18 Parents must be present to give consent for children.[citation needed]
 Cyprus 16 18
 Czech Republic No legislation
 Denmark 18 The Danish tattoo law was valid from 15 June 1966. It is unlawful to tattoo someone under the age of 18. In addition to this it is unlawful to tattoo someone on the head, neck and hands.[3][4]
 Estonia 18
 Finland Unspecified age 18 Permit required for anyone under 18.[citation needed]
 France 16 18 Parental consent required for anyone under 18.[citation needed]
 Germany No legislation[5]
 Greece 16 18 Greek tattoo law only covers tattoos and not permanent make-up. Other key provisions, in a non-exhaustive summary:[3]
  • Only tattoo persons who are at least 18 years of age. Persons under the age of 18 may only be tattooed in the presence of a guardian who has given the required written consent.
  • Not advise on the customer's state of physical health or offer any medical opinion.
  • Not effect any medical procedure, be it on the recommendation, under the guidance or with the help of any form of medical specialist.
  • Not proceed in any manner whatsoever to remove a tattoo.
 Guernsey 18 As in the UK, a person under 18 may not be tattooed except for medical reasons, per the Tattooing, Piercing, Acupuncture and Electrolysis (Guernsey and Alderney) Law, 2000. In practise the law is rarely enforced.[6][7]
 Hungary No legislation
 Republic of Ireland No legislation 16 is de facto with parents present throughout Ireland, but there is no legislation. From the age of 18 without parental authorisation.[8]
 Isle of Man 18 As in the UK, a person under 18 may not be tattooed except for medical reasons, per the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1984.[9]
 Italy No legislation You must be over 18 years of age to get a tattoo freely without parental consent. Those over the age of 16 must have parental consent.[citation needed]
 Jersey 16 18 Unlike in the UK, the Isle of Man or Guernsey, the minimum age to obtain a tattoo in Jersey is set at 16 (with parental consent), under the Piercing and Tattooing (Jersey) Law 2002.[10]
 Latvia 18
 Lithuania 16 18 In Lithuania you can get a tattoo from the age of 16, or in the presence of a guardian or a parent who has given the required written consent if you are under this age.[citation needed]
 Luxembourg 18
 Malta 16 18[11]
 Netherlands 16 In the Netherlands, the age at which persons may decide for themselves to have a tattoo and piercing is 16 years. This age limit is suspended for earlobe piercing but pertains to all other areas. Informed consent forms, with information concerning health (including allergies) must be available and must be signed by the client. In the case of young adults under 16 years, a parent or guardian must sign. If they have signed but are not present with the client, the tattooist or piercer must verify their consent by telephone. Signed consent forms must be kept by the studio in a locked file for ten years.[12]
 Norway No legislation
 Poland 16 18
 Portugal 16 18
 Romania 18
 Slovakia 16 18
 Slovenia No legislation
 Spain 14–17 18 Age varies by region.
 Sweden No legislation
 United Kingdom None 18 In the United Kingdom, tattoos are regulated by both the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969 and the Tattooing of Minors (Northern Ireland) Order 1979.[13][14]

The former applying to Great Britain and the latter applying to Northern Ireland. Both acts in principle define a minor (in relation to obtaining a tattoo) as any person under the age of 18.

However both acts do allow for exceptions in which any person below the minimum age may obtain a tattoo for medical reasons, when performed by a duly qualified medical practitioner or by a person working under their direction.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "How old do you have to be to get a tattoo in the world". inkhappened.com. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  2. ^ "Age limits". Infomobil.org. Archived from the original on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  3. ^ a b c "Justice and Consumers". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  4. ^ "The Danish Law on Tattooing". Tattoo.dk. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  5. ^ "Jugendschutzgesetz 2013: Ab wann sind Tattoos und Piercings erlaubt?". T-online.de. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  6. ^ "'Piercing law almost impossible to enforce'". guernseypress.com. 26 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Tattooing and Piercing". www.gov.gg. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  8. ^ "Children and rights in Ireland". Citizensinformation.ie. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  9. ^ "Isle of Man Government - Body piercing". www.gov.im.
  10. ^ "Piercing and Tattooing (Jersey) Law 2002". www.jerseylaw.je.
  11. ^ "CONTROL OF TATTOOING ACT". Retrieved 2019-02-04.
  12. ^ Hoek, J. A. R. van den; Coutinho, R. A.; Boonstra, A.; Worp, J. (1 January 2006). "Tattooing, permanent makeup and piercing in Amsterdam; guidelines, legislation and monitoring". Eurosurveillance. 11 (1): 5–6. doi:10.2807/esm.11.01.00591-en. PMID 29208151.
  13. ^ "Tattooing Of Minors Act 1969". Legislation.gov. 1969. Retrieved 2019-10-14.
  14. ^ ((cite news |date= 1979 |title= Tattooing Of Minors (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 |url= ((https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1979/926#:~:text=Prohibition%20of%20tattooing%20of%20minors&text=%E2%80%94(1)%20Subject%20to%20Article,F1%20five%20hundred%20pounds%5DF1.}}
  15. ^ "Tattooing Of Minors Act 1969". Legislation.gov. 1969. Retrieved 2019-10-14.
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