At what age can I…
Smoking
You can smoke cigarettes at any age, but you are not allowed to buy them until you are 18.
s.7 (1) Children and Young Persons Act 193 as amended by the Children and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc) Order 2007
If you are caught smoking by a uniformed police officer or park keeper in a public place when under 16, he or she can take away your tobacco and cigarette papers.
s.7 Children and Young Persons Act 1933
At the age of 18, you can buy cigarettes, tobacco and cigarette papers.
s.7 Children and Young Persons Act 1933. As amended by the Children and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc) Order 2007
Pets
At the age of 16, you can buy a pet.
s.11 Animal Welfare Act 2006
Body Piercing
You can have your body pierced at any age, although your parents may have to go with you and provide consent. Different local authorities and piercing parlors have their own rules so you should check these before you book an appointment.
It could be considered sexual assault to have a genital or female nipple piercing if you are under 18.
Change of Name
Your parents can change your name at any age without your consent, but you can seek a Prohibited Steps Order from the court if you do not agree. For advice on how to do this use our Contact Form.
s.8 Children Act 1989
If you want to change your name, and you are under 16, you will need the consent of every person with parental responsibility for you. You can make an application to court if your parents do not consent.
ss.13 and 33(7) Children Act 1989
At the age of 16 you can change your name by deed poll without parental consent or the consent of the court.
Ward of court
You can be made a ward of court until the age of 18.
s.41 Supreme Court Act 1981
For more information, see Wardship.
Medical Treatment and Examination
You can give consent to surgical, medical (including contraceptive) or dental treatment at any age provided the doctor decides that you fully understand what it involves.
Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority [1985] 3 All ER 402
The court can make a decision on your behalf if they feel that you’re not acting in your best interests.
Re W (A Minor) (Medical Treatment: A Court’s Jurisdiction) [1992] 3 WLR 758
You have the right to seek advice and counselling at any age once you have the maturity to understand what that request fully means. However, your right to complete confidentiality could be restricted if you are at risk of significant harm.
Department of Health Guidance: ‘Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice 2003’
At the age of 16, you can consent to surgical, medical or dental treatment, including the taking of blood samples (see also ‘At Any Age’). You can also choose your own doctor.
ss.8 and 21(2) Family Law Reform Act 1969
At the age of 16, if you are female, you can buy emergency contraception (the ‘morning after’ pill) over-the-counter in a pharmacy.
s.2 Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment (No 3) Order 2000
At the age of 16, you have to pay prescription charges, unless you are in full-time education, pregnant, receiving income support, on a low income or in certain other circumstances.
Regulation 7 National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2000
At the age of 16, you have to pay for a sight test and for glasses unless you are in full-time education.
Regulations 3 and 8 National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997
At the age of 18, you have to pay for dental treatment unless you are still in full- time education, pregnant or certain other circumstances apply.
Schedule 5 National Health Service (dental Charges) Regulations 2005
At the age of 19, you have to pay for dental treatment even if you are in full-time education, but you can apply to be exempt if you have a low income.
The National Health Service (Dental Charges) Regulations 2005
Organ Donation
If you are under 16 you need your parents’ consent to carry a donor card and your parents will need to agree to your organs being used after death.
For more information, see Healthcare.
Religion
You can choose your own religion at any age once you have the maturity to understand what that decision means. However, if you are under 18 and follow a religion that may be harmful to you, your parents could ask the court to intervene by making you a ward of court.
Sunbeds
You cannot use a sunbed under the age of 18 unless it is for medical treatment under the supervision or direction of a registered medical practitioner.
s.1 and 3 Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010
Armed Forces
At the age of 15, you can apply to the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force at 15 years and 9 months, but you will not be able to serve until you are 16.
At the age of 16, you may join the Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Marines with the consent of your parents or guardian.
Regulation 9 Army Terms of Service Regulations 2007
At the age of 17, you can join the Royal Navy or the Royal Marines as an officer with parental consent at 17, the Royal Air Force at 17 years and six months, and the Army at 17 years and nine months.
You can join the Royal Marines Reserve and the Territorial Army with parental consent.
At the age of 18, you can join the armed forces and all volunteer reserves (part-time armed forces) without parental consent.
s.9 Armed Forces Act 1966 to be repealed and replaced by s.328 Armed Forces Act 2006 on such a day as the Secretary of State appoints
Change of Name
Your parents can change your name at any age without your consent, but you can seek a Prohibited Steps Order from the court if you do not agree. For information on how to do this use our Contact Form.
s.8 Children Act 1989
If you want to change your name, and you are under 16, you will need the consent of every person with parental responsibility for you. You can make an application to court if your parents do not consent.
ss.13 and 33(7) Children Act 1989
At the age of 16, you can change your name by deed poll without parental consent or the consent of the court.
Leaving Home
At the age of 16, you can usually leave home without the consent of your parents or anyone else with parental responsibility. However, there are certain circumstances where an application can be made to court for you to return.
s.1(3)(a) Children Act 1989.
At the age of 16, if you are or have been a child ‘looked after’ by the local authority, you will be given a personal advisor and a pathway plan will be created to give you with advice, help and support.
s.3 Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
At the age of 18, you can leave home without parental consent.
Marriage and Civil Partnership
At the age of 16, you can marry or register a civil partnership with parental consent. You will need the consent of all people who have parental responsibility for you.
If parental consent is refused, a court can authorise the marriage.
s.3(1) Marriage Act 1949. s.4 Civil Partnership Act 2004
At the age of 18, you can get married without parental consent.
s.1 Family Law (Reform Act) 1968
At the age of 18, you can register a civil partnership without parental consent.
s.4 Civil Partnership Act 2004
Sex
At the age of 16, you can consent to all sexual activity (heterosexual and homosexual) involving anyone aged 16 years and over.
ss.9 and 13 Sexual Offences Act 2003
Travel
If you travel abroad you will need your own passport.
You must be in the correct child restraint when travelling in a motor vehicle.
The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Amendment) Regulations 2006. s.23 Road Traffic Act
You can be a pillion passenger (sitting behind the driver) on a motorbike at any age, provided your crash helmet fits properly and both feet reach the passenger foot rests.
1988 and Regulation 102 Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986
You MUST NOT be a pillion passenger if the driver only has a provisional license.
s.16(6) Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999
At the age of 12, if you are getting a new passport, it must be signed by you and not your parent.
https://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport
At the age of 14, it is your responsibility to make sure that you are wearing a seat belt in a car or mini bus if there is one fitted.
s.15 Road Traffic Act 1988
At the age of 16, you can apply for your own passport without parental consent.
Blood Donation
At the age of 17, you can donate blood without parental consent, if a qualified health professional thinks that you have sufficient knowledge and understanding of what is involved.
Part 3 of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005
Adoption
At the age of 18, you cannot be adopted.
ss.56-64 Adoption and Children Act 2002
At the age of 18, if you have been adopted, you can contact the adoption agency responsible for your adoption for more information, for example, a copy of your original birth certificate.
s.80 Adoption and Children Act 2002
At the age of 18, if you have been adopted, you can apply to have your name and address put on the Adoption Contact Register.
s.21 Adoption and Children Act 2002
For more information, see Adoption-locating.
At the age of 21, you can adopt a child.
ss.50 and 51 Adoption and Children Act 2002
Contracts and Property Ownership
At the age of 18, you can enter contracts, this means you can make binding contracts in your own right. You can own land, buy a house or flat, hold a tenancy or apply for a mortgage. You can become entitled to any property that has been held in trust for you.
s.35 Finance Act 2005
At the age of 18, you can act as an executor or administrator of a deceased person’s estate.
s.1(a) Minors’ Contracts Act 1987
At the age of 18, you can sell an item at a pawnshop.
s.114(2) Consumer Credit Act 1974
Fire Service
You can apply to certain fire brigades at 17 years and 10 months old.
At the age of 18, you can join the fire service at 18 years old.
Regulation 5 of the Fire Services (Appointments and Promotion) Regulations 1978 as revoked by the Fire Services (Appointments and Promotion)(England and Wales) Regulations 2004, which lapsed on the repeal of the Fire Services Act 2004
Gender Change
At the age of 18, you can make an application for a gender change certificate if you have been living as the other gender or have changed gender.
s.1 Gender Recognition Act 2004
Police
At the age of 18, you can apply to join and can be appointed to the police service.
The Police (Minimum Age for Appointment) Regulations 2006
Political Participation
At the age of 18, you can vote in general and local elections.
s.1 Representation of the People Act 2000
At the age of 18, you can become a Member of Parliament
s.17 Electoral Administration Act 2006
At the age of 18, you can become a local councilor or a mayor.
s.79(1) Local Government Act 1972 as substituted by s.17 Electoral Administration Act 2006
Tattoo
At the age of 18, you can get a tattoo.
s.1 Tattooing of Minors Act 1969
Leaving Care
At the age of 21, if you are or were a ‘looked after’ child, your personal advisor pathway plan will usually end when you are 21 unless you are in further education or training.
s23C Children Act 1989, inserted by s.3 Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
At the age of 21, if you were ‘looked after’ by the local authority between the ages of 16 and 18, the local authority continues to be under a duty to advise and befriend you. If you are in higher education the local authority has a duty to assist you financially up until the age of 24 if necessary.
s.24 Children Act 1989, inserted by s.4 Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
For more information, see Support post-16.
