Tattoo regulations in Ireland
Ireland has no specific law or licensing scheme for tattoo studios. Studios follow general health and safety law, waste rules for sharps and the HSE's infection control guidance. Inks follow the EU REACH restriction and health answers fall under the GDPR, supervised by the Data Protection Commission.
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
No Irish statute sets a tattoo age. In practice studios tattoo only adults and check photo ID. Inkeva defaults to 18.
Consent
What the customer signs before each tattoo.
Client records
What to record and how long to keep it.
Keep for 5 years
Common practice, not set by law
- Accounting records: 6 years
What to record
- Full name
- Date of birth
- 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.