How to apply for a higher risk personal appearance services licence

When starting a new Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services business you must obtain relevant planning, building and plumbing approvals before you submit the application.

Before you start

  1. Check if you need a licence and find out how to apply. If your business provides any service that has a higher risk of causing infection or spreading disease, such as tattooing and body piercing, then you will need a higher risk personal appearance service licence.
  2. Check your design and fit-out meets Queensland Health’s Design and Fit-Out Guide(PDF, 338KB) and the Queensland Development Code, Part MP 5.2 - Higher-Risk Personal Appearance Services.
  3. Check that the site has the correct land use for the proposed business and if any Development Approval is required.
  4. Check whether the work requires building or plumbing approval
  5. Check if you need to lodge any related applications (e.g. for other licences such as tattoo operator/tattooist or laser).
  6. Check if any mandatory qualifications are required. Anyone at your business who provides a higher risk personal appearance service must hold a 'HLTINF005 - Maintain infection prevention for skin penetration treatments' qualification. This course is available from a number of registered training organisations, for more information visit training.gov.au. You need to provide copies of your employee's statement of attainment to Council, before starting your business.
  7. Review the information in Queensland Health’s booklet Personal Appearance Services Guide for Businesses.

If you are planning to operate from a mobile premises, have a look at Queensland Health’s factsheet licenced mobile premises providing higher risk personal appearance services, what the business proprietor needs to know.

Starting a new business, amending or transferring an existing licence

You can apply for a licence online. You will need to register an Online Services account in order to lodge an application.

The fit out of Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services premises needs to comply with the Personal Appearance Services Fit Out Guide(PDF, 338KB).

Prepare the supporting documents for your application

Plans are required for new businesses and where changes are made to the fit-out of an existing business. Your plans need to include:

  • a plan showing all equipment, benches, storage cupboards (storage of staff personal items), sinks, non-hand touch hand basin, door/window openings, location of staff areas and chemical/cleaning equipment storage areas to a suitable scale (e.g. 1:100)
  • cross sectional drawings through separate areas of the storage and customer service areas. Details are to include finishes to walls, floors and ceilings, heights of fixtures from floors and benches, junctions of walls and floors and lighting provisions to a suitable scale (e.g. 1:50)
  • a site plan showing location of premises in regard to other premises, including wastewater treatment devices, waste storage area and staff toilets, to a suitable scale
  • details of location and types of sterilising equipment and laundry facilities for sanitising towels, wraps and any other relevant items
  • Copies of infection control qualifications. This course is available from a number of registered training organisations. Anyone at your business who provides a higher risk personal appearance service must hold a 'HLTINF005 - Maintain infection prevention for skin penetration treatments' qualification. For more information visit training.gov.au.

Applying for a licence

To apply for a higher risk personal appearance services licence or to amend or transfer an existing licence:

  1. Click 'Apply now' below and sign in to Online Services (Instructions)
  2. Go to 'Enquiries'
  3. Find 'Permits and Licences - Environmental Health, Public Health and Food' and click 'Start' to begin the process
  4. Payment via Visa or Mastercard is required at the time of application.

Apply now

Related applications

Infection control qualification

Each person who performs a Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services must hold an infection control qualification - 'HLTINF005 - Maintain infection prevention for skin penetration treatments'. You need to provide copies of your employee’s Statement of Attainment before starting your business. For more information visit training.gov.au.

Laser licence

If you are removing a tattoo using a laser you will need a laser licence issued by Queensland Health.

Tattoo operator licence or tattooist licence

Businesses wanting to give tattoos also need a tattoo operator licence from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). You will need both the OFT licence and Council’s higher risk personal appearance service licence to operate.

If you haven’t applied for either licence yet, you are encouraged to apply for the OFT tattoo operator licence first. This will save you time and money if you are not eligible for the tattoo operator licence.

Fees

The following fees are applicable for Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services licences:

Application fee

Applicable on application for a licence, or an amendment of a licence.

Annual fee

Applicable prior to issue of the licence, and annually thereafter. A renewal notice and invoice will be issued each year prior to expiry of the licence.

Fees are outlined in Council’s Fees and charges.

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