Child performance licence

School age children must have a licence to take part in performances. This includes broadcast performances, child photography or modelling.

When you apply for a licence, we must be sure that there is good child supervision and protection. We must also be sure that their education is disrupted as little as possible.

Read the child performance licence criteria guidance (PDF 40.73 KB) to find out when your child needs a performance licence. 

Children are only allowed to miss school in accordance with what is said on the licence when it is issued.

When a licence is not needed

You do not need a child performance licence if no payment is made to the child and one of the following applies:

• they have not taken part in performances in the previous 6 months on more than 3 days
• the performance is arranged by a school
• the performance is exempted by Secretary of State (for example, Scout gang shows)

If the performance runs for 4 days or less, you may be able to apply for a child performance licence exemption.

Multiple children

If multiple children are involved in the performance, and they won't need absence from school, organisations may be able to apply for a Body of Person Approval (BOPA) licence.

Apply for a child performance licence

Apply for a child performance licence

You will also need to download and complete the child performance licence application part 2 (PDF 345.62 KB) and send it along with the online application.

There is no fee.

We will try to help when licences are needed at short notice, but there must be enough time to assess the application properly. If necessary, we can insist on 21 working days' notice.