There is no single U.S. work permit application for minors. The process depends on the state where the young person will work, their age, school status and type of job. Start with that state’s labor or education agency to learn whether it requires a work permit, age certificate or other paperwork. Federal and state child-labor rules still govern which jobs and schedules are allowed.
How do you get a work permit for a minor?
- Identify the state and job. Check the rules for the state where the minor will work. Note the minor’s age, whether school is in session, and whether the work is regular employment, farm work or entertainment; special categories can have different procedures.
- Find the state’s official instructions. Use the state labor or education department’s website, or contact the agency directly. Not every state uses a document called a “work permit.” The U.S. Department of Labor’s state certification table describes differing state practices and directs readers to state labor departments for details. Its table is dated January 1, 2024, so use current state guidance for an actual application: U.S. Department of Labor state age-certificate information.
- Ask whether a job offer is needed first. Some processes involve the employer before an application can be completed. California, for example, typically starts with an employer agreeing to hire the minor.
- Complete the current form and collect required records. Depending on the state, the application may require proof of age, parent or guardian consent, school records, or an employer’s information and signature. Follow the state’s list rather than assuming another state’s requirements apply.
- Submit it to the named issuer and wait for authorization. The issuer may be a school official, district office or agency. Do not let the minor begin work until the required authorization is in place.
- Check job, hours and renewal rules separately. A permit does not make every duty or schedule legal. Confirm prohibited occupations, allowable hours, school-attendance rules and any expiry or renewal date.
Do you need working papers to get a job at 14?
It depends on the state and the job. There is no nationwide age-14 application or universal rule that every minor must get the same document. Check the official state instructions for the minor’s age and situation before applying or accepting a start date. New York, for example, requires working papers for young people ages 14–17 and uses separate instructions for ages 14–15 and 16–17; that is a New York rule, not a national standard: New York youth work permits.
What California’s process looks like
California illustrates a process in which the employer and school both play a role. Except for limited circumstances, employed minors under 18 need a permit to work, and the employer must have a valid “Permit to Employ and Work” before the minor starts.
- After agreeing to hire the minor, the employer typically provides or directs them to the “Statement of Intent to Employ Minor and Request for Work Permit” form from the school.
- The minor and employer complete the form, and the parent or guardian and employer sign it.
- The form goes back to school officials, who may issue the work permit. When school is not in session, the permit is obtained from the superintendent of the district where the minor resides.
- Renew the school-year permit as required. The California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement says: “Permits issued during the school year expire five days after the opening of the next succeeding school year and must be renewed.”
California has a separate entertainment-industry process. Minors aged 15 days to 18 years working in entertainment need a work permit, and employers need a permit to employ. The Labor Commissioner’s Office issues both; the requirements also cover phonographic recordings and advertising or photographic modeling, including noncommercial entertainment work. See the state’s California entertainment work permit guidance and application instructions.
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What New York’s process looks like
New York requires working papers for youth ages 14–17, with one group of instructions for ages 14–15 and another for ages 16–17. School districts issue them, and an applicant may apply in the district where they live, attend school or will be employed. Start with the New York State Education Department’s employment certificate information.
New York’s labor department also provides age-specific work-hour limits that vary depending on whether school is in session, along with prohibited-occupation guidance. Check those rules for the particular job rather than treating a working paper as permission for any hours or duties: New York youth work permits and restrictions.
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New York’s labor department describes a digital process as planned for 2027. That is a future change, not the current application route. The state statute lists evidence of age and written parental consent among required materials, and a schooling record for a full-time employment certificate. Its displayed versions distinguish rules effective until May 9, 2027, from changes effective on that date; consult the version that applies when applying: New York Education Law § 3217.
Does a parent have to sign?
Do not assume the answer is the same nationwide. Parental or guardian consent may be part of a state’s application, but requirements vary. California’s typical school form requires a parent or guardian signature. New York’s statute lists written parental consent among the required materials. Check the current form and instructions for the state where the minor will work.
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A work permit does not override child-labor restrictions
Federal and state law both matter. The U.S. Department of Labor says federal requirements apply when state child-labor law is less restrictive; when state law is more protective, the more restrictive state rule applies. A state-issued permit is therefore not blanket approval for every task or schedule. Check federal and state limits on hours, hazardous or prohibited occupations, school attendance and any special rules for the work involved: Federal child-labor and age-certificate guidance.
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What to have ready before contacting the agency
- The state and city or school district where the minor will work.
- The minor’s age and whether school is in session.
- The type of job, including whether it involves agriculture, entertainment or another special category.
- Any employer details or offer information the state process requires.
- Questions about proof of age, parent or guardian consent, school records, issuing office, start date and renewal.
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