Official Site of The State of New JerseyFrequently Asked Questions: Working Papers for Minors
According to New Jersey law, all youth workers – under the age of 18 – who accept a job offer need Working Papers to be employed in the state. Remember: Minors only apply for Working Papers after getting an offer of employment.
As of June 1, 2023, the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) oversees and administers Working Papers for minors.
Employers can hire minors as young as 12 for some jobs, but there are minimum age requirements for certain types of work, including retail and food service. Click here for more information, and a list of allowable jobs for minors.
No, you can only submit your application once you have an offer of employment. If you submit an application without an offer, the employer will reject your application.
Working Papers protect the rights and safety of youth workers. NJDOL won’t approve an application for Working Papers if the job is unsafe or asks a minor to work more than the maximum hours allowed by law.
The process is designed to be quick and seamless. We've streamlined the paper process into an online application for minors, caregivers, and employers. You, your caregiver, and your employer will be emailed every step of the way. Click here for a step-by-step guide.
You will need the following information:
- Your email address
- Your caregiver’s email address (different from your own email)
- Your Social Security number
- Your employer’s unique 8-digit code (they will provide it to you after offering you a job)
- The business name, worksite location, and email address for the employer
Yes. However, according to the legislation, if your caregiver does not approve or reject your application within 14 days, the status will change to "Application Approved (Provisional)" unless and until your caregiver takes action. Learn more about application statuses.
Your caregiver will be asked to upload proof of age (acceptable documents can be found here) when they complete their part of the application. Your employer will also ask for proof of age via the federal I-9 form (Employment Eligibility Verification).
Our online application system requires that a caregiver’s email address cannot be the same as the minor’s email address. If your caregiver needs to set up a new email address, many service providers such as Google or Yahoo allow users to create email accounts at no cost.
If this is not your email or an email address you no longer have access to, please call us at 609-659-9047 or email myworkingpapers@dol.nj.gov for assistance.
No, you should log in using the same account. Then click the "Apply for Working Papers" link to start an application for your new employer. You will need an approved Working Papers application for every employer you work for.
You do not need to submit an application annually if your employer and job duties have not changed. However, if you change employers, job title, or duties, you will need to submit a new application.
No, minors authorized to work under the former paper system before June 1, 2023, do not need to reapply online. However, if your paper application was incomplete by that date or you have changed positions, job duties, or employer, you must reapply.
If you need to submit an application to the same employer, please call us at 609-659-9047 or email myworkingpapers@dol.nj.gov for assistance.
If your application was rejected/denied:
- Confirm that you got a job offer from the employer. You only apply for Working Papers after receiving an offer of employment.
- If the business has more than one location, you might have selected the wrong one. Start a new application and make sure you choose the correct worksite location from the employer list.
- Are you 18 or older? If so, you no longer need Working Papers. Applications submitted by anyone 18+ will be rejected.
- If your application was rejected/denied, the rejection reason will be noted on the application. If the application was rejected/denied by mistake, you will need to submit a new one. Please call us at 609-659-9047 or email myworkingpapers@dol.nj.gov for further assistance.
Yes. The minor, caregiver, and employer have access to print by logging into their respective accounts, clicking the application number, and clicking “printable view” in the upper right-hand corner.
Yes. Any minor who resides outside of New Jersey but accepts a job in New Jersey must obtain working papers.
No, minors who were hired to work outside of New Jersey will need to follow the child labor laws from the state where they will be physically working. For example, if a minor lives in New Jersey but is working at a fair in Pennsylvania, they will need to follow Pennsylvania’s child labor laws.
Yes, minors who will be employed only during the summer still need approved Working Papers.
Yes, all minors working in New Jersey below 18 years of age will need to apply for Minor Working Papers and receive authorization to work.
Workers under 18 are entitled to minimum wage in the following jobs:
- Retail
- Food service (restaurant)
- Hotel/motel
- Beauty culture
- Laundry/cleaning/dyeing
- Light manufacturing apparel
- First processing of farm products
Click here to learn more about minimum wage requirements for minors.
Employers can hire minors as young as 12 for some jobs, but there are higher minimum age requirements for certain types of work, including retail and food service. Click here for more information, including allowable jobs for minors.
Working Papers protect the rights and safety of youth workers. NJDOL won’t approve an application for Working Papers if the job is unsafe or expects a minor to work more than the maximum hours allowed by law.
According to New Jersey law, all youth workers – under the age of 18 – need to apply for Working Papers be employed in the state. As of June 1, 2023, the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) oversees and administers Working Papers for minors. (This process was previously handled by the New Jersey Department of Education.)
We’ve streamlined the paper process into an easier online application for minors, caregivers, and employers at myworkingpapers.nj.gov. Click here for a step-by-step guide to the process.
You will be asked to upload proof of age (acceptable documents can be found here) as part of the process. Separately, the employer will also verify the minor’s age via the federal I-9 form (Employment Eligibility Verification).
When the minor applies for Working Papers, they’ll give us your name and email address. If you don't already have an account in our system, we’ll send you an email to set up a caregiver account and review the minor’s application. The application will include job title, description, and proposed working hours.
You’ll approve or reject the application, and if approved, upload proof of the minor’s age. If the minor works for more than one employer, you will review the Working Papers application for each one.
You’ll also be notified by email when both the employer and NJDOL review, approve, or reject the minor’s application.
Yes. However, according to the legislation, if a caregiver does not submit an approval or rejection of a Minor Working Papers application within 14 days after employer approval, the application will remain in "Application Approved (Provisional)" status unless you take action through your account in our online system. Learn more about application statuses.
Our online application system requires a caregiver’s email address. This email address cannot be the same as the minor’s email address. Many service providers such as Google or Yahoo allow users to create email accounts at no cost.
The system automatically creates your caregiver account. When a minor applies for Working Papers, they provide their caregiver information on their application. If this is your first time going through this process, you will get an email notification with a link to complete your registration. If you have previously approved/rejected an application, you will login to your existing account. Once the employer approves the application, the caregiver will receive another email prompting them to take action.
Yes, each new application requires a separate upload of proof-of-age documents.
Minors do not need to submit an application annually if the employer and the job duties have not changed. However, if the minor changes employers, job titles, or duties, they will need to submit a new application which will require caregiver approval.
Yes, if they only started the paper process, but did not receive their full work authorization before June 1st, they must apply through myworkingpapers.nj.gov.
No, minors that have been approved and authorized to work using the former paper system will not need to reapply online. However, if you started the paper process, but did not receive full work authorization, the minor must apply online.
Yes, all minors working in New Jersey below 18 years of age will need to apply for Minor Working Papers and receive authorization to work.
Yes. The minor, caregiver, and employer have access to print by logging into their respective accounts, clicking the application number, and clicking “printable view” in the upper right-hand corner.
According to New Jersey law, all youth workers – under the age of 18 – need to apply for Working Papers to be employed in the state. As of June 1, 2023, the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) oversees and administers Working Papers for minors. (This process was previously handled by the New Jersey Department of Education.)
First, register in our online system. You only need to register once, but you will need to review the application of every minor you hire. You will need your FEIN and the worksite address to register. After registering, you will receive your 8-digit Employer Unique Code (EUC). Minors will need this EUC to submit a Minor Working Paper application. Click here for more information.
If the minor applied for Working Papers for a job with your business before you register with us, they were asked to provide your email address so we could send you an invitation to create an account. If you didn’t get that invitation, you can still create an account yourself.
Only one email address can be used to register. The system sends emails to the employer or staff representative who registers an account. If you need to update the email address on file, call us at 609-659-9047 or email myworkingpapers@dol.nj.gov for assistance.
No, minors who have been approved and authorized to work using the former paper system will not need to reapply in the online system unless they accept a new position or duties. However, if they started the paper process, but did not receive their full work authorization before then, they must apply online.
Minors do not need to submit an application annually if the employer and the job duties have not changed. However, if a minor changes employers, job titles, or duties, they will need to submit a new application online.
No, if you have not provided your approval within 14 days, the status will change to "Null/Void." The minor should submit a new application, and the employer must take action as soon as possible. Learn more about application statuses.
Yes, according to the legislation, if a caregiver does not approve or reject an application within 14 days, the minor can begin working. However, the caregiver can approve or reject the application at any time. If the application is rejected, the minor must stop working immediately.
No. Once the application is approved, you do not have to make any changes to the hours on the minor’s application.
Yes. The minor, caregiver, and employer have access to print by logging into their respective accounts, clicking the application number, and clicking “printable view” in the upper right-hand corner.
If you need to change your employer contact information, call us at 609-659-9047 or email myworkingpapers@dol.nj.gov.
Our online application system requires that all users must have a unique email address. If you need to set up a new email address, many service providers such as Google or Yahoo allow users to create email accounts at no cost.
You will receive an email explaining the reason for the rejection along with information about next steps.
No action is needed when a minor stops working.
No, minors who were hired to work outside of New Jersey will need to follow the child labor laws from the state where they will be physically working. For example, if a minor lives in New Jersey but is working at a fair in Pennsylvania, they will need to follow Pennsylvania’s child labor laws.
Yes, any minor who resides outside of New Jersey but obtains a job in New Jersey must obtain working papers.
No. Minors only apply for Working Papers after getting an offer of employment. Minors who are volunteering or helping without receiving monetary compensation are not required to apply for Minor Working Papers.
Yes, all minors working in New Jersey below 18 years of age will need to apply for Minor Working Papers and receive authorization to work.
Yes. If the One-Stop or Workforce Development Board is the entity paying the minor, it is required to register as an employer and include the One-Stop or Workforce Development Board address as the worksite address.
Yes. There is no separate process for public entities. All public entities that hire minors will be required to file online as employers.
Yes. In both cases, the minor is required to apply for Working Papers. Ultimately, for any scenario in which a minor is required to complete an I-9 form, a Working Papers application is also required.
Application is pending action from the employer.
Application is pending action from the caregiver.
If the employer checks the box that indicates that the worksite may be considered “hazardous,” the application will go under further review.
Both the employer and caregiver have approved the application. The minor may begin working.
Minor was not approved to begin working.
According to the legislation, if the caregiver did not take action within 14 days, the status will be updated to "Application Approved (Provisional)." The minor may begin working unless and until the caregiver takes action.
Caregiver rejected application after 14 days. Minor must stop working.
The employer did not take action within 14 days, rendering the application invalid.
If you have a question about a working papers application that's already been submitted, email us.
For other questions, call 609-659-9047.
