The piercer's expertise and kindness made the experience enjoyable for both my daughter and our family. Impeccable hygiene, quality jewelry, and excellent aftercare support added to the positive experience.
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How old do you have to be to get a tattoo in Nova Scotia? The province sets no minimum age for tattoos or piercings, so each studio sets its own. At Tattoo Lab in Halifax, tattoos start at 16.
Free consultation. No deposit yet.
Clients aged 16–17 need consent from a parent or legal guardian, who must be present for the entire session, and every tattoo client brings government-issued photo ID.
No consent needed. Bring photo ID.
Consent from a parent or legal guardian, who must stay for the entire session.
No tattoos.
Most at 16 on your own; eyebrow, lip, labret and nipple at 18. With a parent or guardian who consents and stays: ear lobes from 5, cartilage from 12, nostril from 13, navel from 14.
Valid government-issued photo ID showing your date of birth. For a piercing, a child under 16 with no other ID can bring a health card or student photo ID.
Tattoo and piercing studios in Nova Scotia are regulated under the Safe Body Art Act, its Safe Body Art Regulations and the Nova Scotia Safe Body Art Standard. These cover permits, training, sterilisation, consent forms, aftercare information and client records.
The regulations and Standard don’t include a minimum age or a parental-consent requirement for clients. That’s why age policies can differ from one studio to another, and why it’s worth checking before you book.
Rules for personal services also vary across Canada, so a policy you’ve seen in another province may not apply here.
Clients 18 and over don’t need anyone’s consent.
Clients aged 16–17 need consent from a parent or legal guardian. That person must be present for the entire session, not just to sign a form.
We don’t tattoo clients under 16.
Your artist may also suggest waiting on some placements or designs, and talking that through is part of your consultation. Consultations are always free.
| Piercing | On your own | With a parent present |
|---|---|---|
| Ear lobe | 16+ | From 5 |
| Ear cartilage or helix | 16+ | From 12 |
| Nostril | 16+ | From 13 |
| Septum | 16+ | Not under 16 |
| Eyebrow | 18+ | Not under 18 |
| Lip or labret | 18+ | Not under 18 |
| Tongue | 16+ | Not under 16 |
| Navel | 16+ | From 14 |
| Nipple | 18+ | Not under 18 |
On your own, most piercings start at 16. Eyebrow, lip, labret and nipple piercings start at 18.
With a parent or legal guardian consenting and present for the whole procedure, we go younger on some types: ear lobes from 5, ear cartilage and helix from 12, nostril from 13, and navel from 14. We never go below those ages, for anyone.
Septum and tongue are 16+ only; eyebrow, lip, labret and nipple are 18+ only, with or without a parent.
Both the client and the parent or guardian bring valid government-issued photo ID, and we keep a signed consent form on file. For a piercing, a child under 16 who has no government-issued photo ID can bring a health card or student photo ID instead. Your piercer can also decline any piercing at their discretion. The full table, and what a child’s first ear piercing looks like, are on our body piercing page.
Everyone 16 and over must bring valid government-issued photo ID showing their date of birth, for tattoos and piercings, whether you book ahead or walk in. Examples include:
Visiting from outside Canada? Your passport works. If you’re not sure your ID will be accepted, ask us before your appointment.
Studios keep records for every client: Nova Scotia’s regulations require them to keep a client record, including the signed client awareness form, for at least 2 years.
The piercer's expertise and kindness made the experience enjoyable for both my daughter and our family. Impeccable hygiene, quality jewelry, and excellent aftercare support added to the positive experience.
For clients aged 16–17, a parent or legal guardian must be present for the whole session.
Talk about placement, size and how the tattoo might look in the future.
A new tattoo needs daily care for several weeks. See our tattoo aftercare guide.
Use our checklist for choosing a safe tattoo studio in Halifax.
This guide explains Tattoo Lab’s own policy and is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so check the Province of Nova Scotia’s website for the current regulations.
Nova Scotia’s Safe Body Art Regulations and Standard don’t set a minimum age or a parental-consent rule for clients. Studios set their own policies. At Tattoo Lab, the minimum age for tattoos is 16.
At Tattoo Lab, yes, with consent from a parent or legal guardian who is present for the entire session. Other studios may have different policies.
Not at Tattoo Lab. Nova Scotia’s rules set no minimum age, but ours is 16, and at 16 or 17 a parent or legal guardian consents and stays for the whole session. We don’t tattoo anyone under 16, even with a parent’s consent.
No. For clients aged 16–17, the parent or legal guardian must be present for the entire session.
Yes. Everyone 16 and over must bring valid government-issued photo ID showing their date of birth.
It depends on the piercing. On your own, most start at 16, and eyebrow, lip, labret and nipple at 18. With a parent or guardian present and consenting: ear lobes from 5, cartilage and helix from 12, nostril from 13, navel from 14. We never go below those ages. See the full table on our piercing page, and call 902-448-2211 to check when our piercer is in.
Yes. A valid passport is government-issued photo ID showing your date of birth.
Call or text 902-448-2211 about age or ID. For your tattoo idea, use the Book Now form: what you want, roughly how big, where on your body and the days you are free.
