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The Licensing Process

The Licensing Process

In the UK, most children of compulsory school age who perform professionally will require a Child Performance Licence.

  • The licence application is usually made by the production company or organiser to the Local Authority where your child lives.
    • This is different for Northern Ireland children performing outside NI. In those cases the LA where the production’s head office is based or the applicant resides. If neither of these are in Great Britain it is where the first performance is.  NI only licence NI children to perform in NI.
       
  • Timescale: Licensing timescales vary considerably between Local Authorities. Processing can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on where you live and the complexity of the application. Because of this, submitting information promptly can be important.
    • Most LAs will require a minimum of ten working days but some may need more time and some less.  Never assume an LA will turnaround a licence in a few days.  Productions can check if it is possible but at certain times of the year when the LA officer is on leave or has a large number of licences it might not be possible.  Some LAs also charge the production for faster licences.
       
  • You will need to provide a birth certificate or passport, a recent photo, and a medical declaration. These documents are often collected by your agent or the production company and submitted to the Local Authority as part of the licensing application.
     
  • It is VERY important that you are honest and complete in terms of the medical declaration or any additional access requirements your child may have. It will not prejudice your child’s work but it will help to keep them safe on the job.
     
  • School Consultation: As part of the process, the Local Authority will usually contact your child’s school to ensure the proposed work is compatible with their education and wellbeing.
     
  • Important Note on Age 16: A child requires a performance licence until the last Friday in June of the academic year in which they turn 16. Even if your child has already turned 16 in March or April, they are still legally considered of school age for licensing purposes until that specific date in June.