Tattoo regulations in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, tattooists and their premises register with the district council under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, and council byelaws set hygiene rules. Unlike Great Britain, Northern Ireland still applies EU REACH rules to many products, which we understand includes the tattoo ink restriction. Health answers are special-category data under the UK GDPR.
Last checked September 25, 2026
Minimum age
Who you can tattoo, and with whose permission.
Minimum age
No age set by law
Younger clients
Parental consent is not an exception
As far as we can tell, the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969 does not extend to Northern Ireland, and we found no equivalent statute. Councils and studios generally work only with adults. Inkeva defaults to 18; check with your council.
Consent
What the customer signs before each tattoo.
Client records
What to record and how long to keep it.
Keep for 3 years
Common practice, not set by law
- Accounting records: 6 years
What to record
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Type of ID checked
- Date of the procedure
- Placement on the body
- Artist
- Ink brand, colour and manufacturer
- Ink lot numbers
- Health questionnaire answers
- Client signature
Ink
What can go into the skin and what you must record.
Sterilization and waste
Cleaning, sterilizing and getting rid of sharps.
Licensing
What you need to open a studio and work in it.
Guest artists
Hosting artists from somewhere else.