In response to the spread of COVID-19, the Prime Minister has announced the National Cabinet has placed a ban on conducting all tattooing procedures in Australia until further notice.
This ban means tattooists and operators cannot perform any tattooing anywhere in Australia including their own home, until the government relaxes the restrictions. There is no estimated time as to when this will occur.
As a result, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is not issuing new licences for tattoo operators or tattooists. However, we want to offer existing tattoo licensees, as much assistance and flexibility as possible with regards to your licence and renewals.
If you recently lodged a new application and paid your licence fees, but have not been issued your licence, you can either:
- withdraw your application and seek a refund of the licence fee
- leave your application and licence fee with the OFT until the ban is lifted.
Please email the OFT if you would like a refund for a recent renewal.
For existing licensees, the government ban does not affect the validity of your licence. It remains valid until the current licence period expires (either one or three years after the licence was granted or your last renewal).
If your licence is due for renewal during this COVID-19 ban, we recommend you lodge a renewal application without the relevant renewal fee to ensure your licence does not expire.
The OFT will contact you at a later date about payment of the renewal fee. Renewal fees can be put on hold during the ban, but it is up to you to ensure your licence remains current in order to avoid having to apply for a new licence again when the crisis is over.
Tattoo Operator Licence Description
If you operate or intend to operate a body art tattooing business in Queensland, including working from home, you need a tattoo operator licence.
This licence authorises you to run a body art tattooing business (whether on your own, or managing for another person) at the location specified on the licence. To apply for a tattoo operator licence fill in the application form in the resources section.
An application for an operator licence must be made by an individual. If the business is owned by a corporation, partnership, or trust, the licence application can only be made by an individual nominated by the organisation to be the business manager.
If you're self employed and run a body art tattooing business, even if it's not a formal tattoo parlour, you only need an operator's licence. You do not need to apply for a separate tattooists licence.
In your application, you must nominate where you will operate the body art tattooing business. If your business has a number of locations, a separate operator licence is required for each location where a body art tattooing business is conducted.
It is a requirement of the Tattoo Industry Act 2013 that all records relating to the operation of a tattoo studio be kept on the licensed premises at all times.
