Short answer
Tattoo studios use Sign PDF to send a consent and release form covering health questions, an 18-or-over declaration and aftercare, which the client signs on their phone before the session. Minimum age and record-keeping rules for tattooing are set by your state, country or local health authority, so check them; you still check photo ID in person, because we do not verify identity.
Updated 25 October 2026
Age rules: check where you work
Age is the part of a tattoo consent form that carries legal weight. In England, Wales and Scotland, the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969 makes it an offence to tattoo anyone under 18, with or without a parent. In the US, each state sets its own rule: many ban tattooing under 18, and some allow it with a parent present and signing. Cities and counties can add their own conditions.
Sign PDF records what the client declared and the device they signed on. It does not check ID. Look at photo ID yourself, and record the type on the form. Where your local rules allow a minor to be tattooed with parental consent, add the parent as a signer and follow whatever ID and attendance rules apply.
What a tattoo consent form covers
Your local health department may also require you to keep these records for a set number of years. Check the rule and store the sealed PDFs accordingly.
- Health questions: blood thinners, diabetes, pregnancy, skin conditions at the site, allergies to latex or pigments.
- No alcohol or drugs before the session.
- Design approval: spelling, placement and size checked on the stencil.
- Risks: infection, allergic reaction, scarring, and that colours fade and settle as they heal.
- Aftercare instructions received, and the client's responsibility for following them.
- Permission to photograph the work, as a separate yes or no.
Sign before the client sits down
Send the form with the appointment reminder and the client signs on their phone the night before. Or send it at the counter while they finish their coffee. They confirm a six-digit code sent to their email and sign with a finger. Lettering clients can initial beside the spelling line, which ends the argument about whether it was 'their' or 'there'.
Deposits and drawing fees belong in your booking or payment tool. We do not take payments; the form only records the deposit policy the client agreed to.
Which plan suits a studio
A form for every client means dozens a month, so Full at $10 a month for unlimited documents and a saved template is the plan. A guest artist doing a couple of custom sessions might get by on Light at $5 for 2 documents. Health questions and waivers are not legal or medical advice, and the rules on what a waiver can exclude vary; have your form checked locally.
Questions people ask
Can a parent sign a tattoo consent form for a 16-year-old?
Only where local law allows it. In the UK it is illegal at any age under 18 regardless of consent, and many US states also ban it. Check your state or local rules.
Does Sign PDF verify the client's age?
No. We record the declaration, the email, IP address, device and signing time. Checking photo ID is your job.
Can I use the same form for piercing?
You can, but piercing often has different age and consent rules. Many studios keep a separate piercing form.
Can clients sign on a studio tablet?
Yes. The link works in any browser. The client still confirms a code sent to their email first.
How do I prove the form was not changed after signing?
The completed PDF is sealed with a digital signature and an independent timestamp. Any later edit breaks the seal, and anyone can check a copy at signpdf.ai/verify.
Send your next tattoo consent and release for signature
Upload it from your phone or laptop. The boxes go in the right places, your client signs on their phone, and you get a sealed copy back.
Upload a document