Minimum working age · Federal
Minimum working age in Federal.
The youngest age a person can work in Federal and what changes at each age. Enter an age to see the rule that applies.
Federally regulated employers may employ a person under 18 only in an occupation specified by the regulations and subject to the conditions the regulations set.
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Rule for this age
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Federal: minimum working age rules in detail
| Point | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Section 179 | An employer may employ a person under the age of 18 only in an occupation specified by the regulations, subject to the conditions fixed by the regulations |
| Canada.ca conditions | Not required by provincial law to attend school; work not likely to endanger health or safety |
Notes on this rule
The Code was current to 30 September 2026 and last amended 12 December 2025 on the Justice Laws site.
How to use this page
Enter an age to see the rule for that age. The bands run from the youngest age to adult, so you can step through each one to see what changes: permits, consent, hours of work and prohibited jobs.
Sources, read directly 19 October 2026: Canada Labour Code, s. 179; Canada.ca - Pay, deductions and wage recovery.
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to work in Federal?
Federally regulated employers may employ a person under 18 only in an occupation specified by the regulations and subject to the conditions the regulations set.
What is the general minimum in Federal?
The general position is: 18. Younger workers are covered by the permit, consent, hour and job limits listed above.
Does a family business have different rules?
The source read for Federal does not set out a separate family-business rule on the page used here, so none is stated. Ask the employment standards office before relying on a family exception.
Is this legal advice?
No. Youth-employment rules also depend on school-attendance law, occupational health and safety rules and the specific job. This page summarises the employment standards rules the sources state; check the source or the employment standards office before hiring or starting work under the minimum age.
Where does this Federal information come from?
Every figure on this page was read on 19 October 2026 from: Canada Labour Code, s. 179; Canada.ca - Pay, deductions and wage recovery. The links are listed under the rules table above. If a source changes, this page is regenerated from one data file and the verified date is updated.
Reference only — not legal advice
This page states the statutory minimum working age rules from the published employment-standards legislation or the government’s own guide, read on 19 October 2026. It is not legal advice, does not model a collective agreement or an individual contract, and rules change. For a binding answer, contact the employment standards office named in the source or a lawyer.