Booking child models in France.
What the official sources say about permits, hours, school, supervision and earnings for models under 18. Checked October 2026.
Who decides
The prefect of the department where the company has its seat, or the prefect of Paris if the seat is abroad. The file is prepared by the DDETS (labour administration) after the opinion of a specialised departmental commission (Ministry of Labour booklet). Model agencies can hold a yearly approval (agrément) granted by the same authority on the commission's binding opinion (R7124-10).
Permit or licence
A child under 16 cannot be hired as a model without prior individual authorisation from the administrative authority (Code du travail L7124-1, 3°). The legal representative applies to the labour inspectorate (Service-Public). No individual authorisation is needed when a licensed model agency holding the yearly, renewable, non-named approval (agrément) engages the child (Ministry booklet). The agrément lasts one year and is renewable (R7124-10). A medical exam by a paediatrician or GP is required before work. It is repeated every 3 months under age 3, every 6 months from 3 to 6, and every year over 6 (R7124-9). A negative medical opinion means the child cannot be employed. The legal representatives must send the job description to the doctor at least 15 days before the exam (Ministry booklet).
Age bands
Under 16 needs authorisation. Model hour limits use these bands: up to 6 months, 6 months to 3 years, 3 to 6, 6 to 11, 12 to 16 (14 to 16 for one weekly limit).
Working hours
Under 6 (R7124-27): per day, 1 hour (max 30 minutes continuous) up to age 3, and 2 hours (max 1 hour continuous) from 3 to 6. Per week: 1 hour up to 6 months, 2 hours from 6 months to 3 years, 3 hours from 3 to 6. Age 6 to 16 in school term (R7124-29): only on weekly rest days or half days other than Sunday. Per day 3 hours (max 1.5 h continuous) for 6 to 11, and 4 hours (max 2 h continuous) for 12 to 16. Half these limits for a half day. Per week 4.5 hours for 6 to 11 and 6 hours for 12 to 16. School holidays (R7124-30): only during half of the holiday. Per day 6 hours (max 2 h continuous) for 6 to 11, and 7 hours (max 3 h continuous) for 12 to 16. Per week 12 hours for 6 to 11, 15 hours for 12 to 14, 18 hours for 14 to 16. Night work: in entertainment (spectacle) a child under 16 may be authorised to work only until midnight (R7124-30-1). The sources do not state a separate night rule for models.
School
A child in school may be employed or selected only on rest days and half days other than Sunday (R7124-28). A child not in school may work only two days a week, not Sunday (Ministry booklet). The commission checks the working conditions against school attendance.
Chaperone and supervision
When it reviews a request, the commission checks whether the family or carers can supervise the child effectively, especially during rest time and travel (R7124-5, 6°). No fixed chaperone ratio is stated in the sources checked.
Earnings
Part of the child's pay may be left with the legal representatives. The commission sets that amount in the authorisation or agrément. The rest (the 'pécule') is paid by the employer directly to the Caisse des dépôts et consignations and kept until the child comes of age or is emancipated (L7124-9, per Ministry booklet).
Good to know
The same authorisation regime also covers children filmed as the main subject of videos posted for profit on online platforms (L7124-1, 5°). Selection or casting for a modelling job counts within the hour limits (R7124-27 to R7124-30).