Booking child models in Estonia.
What the official sources say about permits, hours, school, supervision and earnings for models under 18. Checked October 2026.
Who decides
Tööinspektsioon (Labour Inspectorate). Data goes through the employment register run by the Tax and Customs Board.
Permit or licence
A child aged 7 to 12 may do light work only in culture, art, sport or advertising (Employment Contracts Act § 7(4)). The Labour Inspectorate names work as a model as an example. No separate permit is applied for. The employer must register the child in the employment register 5 working days before work starts. The employer also sends the Inspectorate the legal representative's consent, the working conditions and duties, and data on compulsory schooling (§ 8(3) and (4)). The inspector checks the work is allowed and the child wants to work. Consent is presumed after the 5 working days if the inspector has not refused (§ 8(5) and (6)). Any minor under 18 needs the legal representative's consent (§ 8). The Act provides for this work only from age 7.
Age bands
7 to 12 (light work in culture, art, sport or advertising only). 13 to 14. 15 and over still in compulsory schooling. 15 to 17 not in compulsory schooling. Compulsory schooling lasts until basic education or age 17 (§ 7(1¹)).
Working hours
Ages 7 to 12: 2 hours per school day and 5 hours on a non school day, max 12 hours a week in term outside school time. In holidays 6 hours a day and 30 a week (§ 43(4)1). Ages 13 to 14: 2 hours per school day, 7 on a non school day, max 12 a week in term. In holidays 7 a day and 35 a week (§ 43(4)2). For light work in culture, art, sport or advertising, a pupil may work 3 hours per school day in term, max 12 hours a week (§ 43(4²)). Pupils may not work 20:00 to 06:00. This does not apply to light work in culture, art, sport or advertising under adult supervision from 20:00 to 24:00 (§ 49(1) and (2)). No work just before the school day starts (§ 49(3)). Daily rest of at least 14 hours for ages 7 to 14 and older pupils (§ 51(2)).
School
A parent may consent to a pupil working no more than: 2 months in the summer break, with at least 4 weeks off in a row; 5 calendar days in a one week break; 10 calendar days in a two week break (§ 8(2)). The work must not hinder education (§ 7(2)).
Chaperone and supervision
Evening work from 20:00 to 24:00 in culture, art, sport or advertising must be under adult supervision (§ 49(2)). No other chaperone rule is stated in the sources checked.
Earnings
Children must be paid at least the same minimum hourly wage as adults (Labour Inspectorate). No trust or set aside rule is stated in the sources checked.
Good to know
If in doubt, the inspector may check the child's wishes with a child protection worker present (§ 8(7)). A contract with a 7 to 12 year old is void if the inspector refuses consent (§ 8(8)). The Inspectorate warns that contracts with children labelled as service contracts are often treated as employment contracts.