There are criminal offences prescribed in tattoo industry legislation that automatically exclude you from being granted a tattoo licence.
You cannot be granted a tattoo licence if you have been convicted of a prescribed offence in the past 10 years.
Offences that automatically disqualify an applicant include those:
- Relating to firearms or weapons
- Relating to prohibited drugs
- Involving serious violence
- Involving organised criminal groups, consorting and recruitment
- Involving money laundering
- Of a sexual nature
- Relating to tattooing and body piercing of children and young people
- Relating to riot
- Involving stalking or intimidation
- Involving kidnapping or abduction
- Involving robbery
- Involving fraud
- Relating to terrorism
- Relating to blackmail
Existing licence holders will have their licence revoked if they are found guilty of a disqualifying offence.
Further details can be found in section 16 of the Tattoo Industry Act 2012 and Schedule 4 of the Tattoo Industry Regulation 2023.