Work Permits

Please read below to see if you need a work permit.

Work Permit Requirements for Employment of Minors

•   A work permit is required before anyone under the age of 16 is allowed to work in any job with the exception of agriculture or domestic service work.
•   Employers must have a work permit on file for the minor being employed before they may allow the minor to begin work
•   16- and 17-yearold minors do NOT need to obtain a work permit prior to beginning work. Work permits will not be issued for monors ages 16 or 17

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How to Obtain a Work Permit:

The Department of Workforce Development's Equal Rights Division has developed a new online work permit application tool. The online application is available to the parents of minors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from any computer, tablet, smartphone, or similar device. The application improves accessibility for minors who live in rural or underserved areas and eliminates the difficult logistics involved in working parents having to take off work to make a trip to a work permit office.   

 

The application is live now. A parent can access the site using these instructions. Payment is made directly to the department through the application, using a credit or debit card or by ACH direct withdrawal. Once the permit application process is complete, the Department mails a paper copy of the permit directly to the employer.