Where Are Tattoos Allowed or Not Allowed? : prohibited by the Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force; permitted with limitations by the Army and Coast Guard; fully permitted by the Navy.
The Army tattoo policy was updated and relaxed in 2022 but is still one of the most strict in the military. It prohibits any tattoos on the head, face, neck, wrists, hands, or above the t-shirt collar. Essentially, any visible body tattoos are prohibited.
It's against Army regulations to have tattoos that are visible while wearing the service dress uniform. This means hands, head, face and neck are off limits for tattoos. Also tattoos that display hate speech or represent hate groups are forbidden and must be removed or altered before enlisting.
Marines can have tattoos on any area of the body, except for the head, neck, and hands in most cases. Banned tattoos include those that are ``drug-related, gang-related, extremist, obscene or indecent, sexist, or racist.''
The Navy tattoo regulations, updated in 2021, are now some of the most lenient in all military branches. Prior rules prohibited any neck tattoos and limited the amount of ink that could be shown on forearms or legs. New regulations allow unlimited tattoos on the legs, arms, neck, hands and behind the ears.
Tattoos, brands or piercings anywhere on the body that are prejudicial, or of a nature that may bring discredit to the organization, are prohibited. There are no size or area limitations for authorized tattoos on the chest (below an open collar), back, arms and legs.
Key factors for grooming policies
Some departments still have policies that any visible tattoo must be covered when on duty. This results in firefighters needing to wear long-sleeve shirts even in the heat of summer or covering their ink with bandages or forearm sleeves.
Where's It Not Allowed. Army tattoo policy prohibits tattoos on the head, face, neck above the t-shirt collar, wrists or hands other than one ring tattoo per hand that must rest where a normal ring would. Army tattoo policy also states that leg tattoos must be two inches below or above the knee.
However, the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) website states, “Tattoos will not disqualify you from gaining employment at the CIA, and all professionally-qualified persons are encouraged to apply.”
Defence Recruiting will assess whether your tattoo is acceptable on a case by case basis. If you have a visible tattoo then tattoo removal to join military services may be just what you need. And whether you want to join the navy, army or air force, laser tattoo removal will allow you to meet these strict standards.
The World of Healthcare. For many healthcare professionals, tattoos are strictly forbidden as they work directly with patients. Tattoos can present a problem for anyone entering the field from being hired, as many hospitals and clinics have strict guidelines on professional appearance.
Tattoos, brands, and body markings are prohibited on the head, face, neck, tongue, lips, and scalp. Hand tattoos are limited to one ring tattoo on one finger on each hand.
Size: The size restriction for visible tattoos is limited to the area of the neck and behind the ear only. As a result of this change, leg and arm tattoos can be of any size. Tattoo on the neck or behind the ear will not exceed one inch in measurement in any dimension (height/width).
The airline's regulation prohibits tattoos from being visible while in cabin crew uniform, and cosmetic and bandage coverings aren't allowed.
Facial hair, especially beards, can compromise the airtight seal of these masks, leading to potential inhalation of harmful substances or reduced oxygen intake during firefighting operations.
Certain medications including blood thinners -
A tattoo won't make you pour with blood, but it does open the skin. Generally we say no to people taking blood thinners, but if you speak to your GP and they have a different answer then please come and chat to us about it.
As mentioned above, there is no rule concerning tattoos on nurses by the American Nursing Association (ANA). What's more, these days, many medical facilities will allow small tattoos on nurses to be visible.
Lawyers are not, say, lifeguards. They don't expose a lot of skin. And just about all of the advice we saw on the internet said lawyers can definitely rock a tat — just make sure it's not exposed.
The Navy has one of the most relaxed tattoo policies compared to the other military branches. Sailors can have neck and hand tattoos as long as they are not larger than one inch in diameter. Tattoos located behind the ears are also allowed.
Age limits
Air Force: 17 - 42. Army: 17 - 35. Coast Guard: 17 - 41. Marine Corps: 17 - 28.