Gemany generally has a nationwide ban in regards of employment of minors. Therefore if filming with children is planned - an exceptional permit from the relevant supervisory authority is needed. Which supervisory authority is responsible depends on the adress of the production company headquarter.

The employer applies for the exceptional permit and it applies to all listed filming locations. If the area of ​​activity extends over several supervisory districts, the relevant offices should receive a copy of the permit. 

• authorities / health and safety at work in Berlin and Brandenburg

The permit is limited and revocable at any time. It determines the duration and location of employment as well as rest breaks and the maximum hours of presence at the set.
It may also contain other terms and conditions.
The exemption permit is associated with costs.

• Children under 3 years: 
  Employment of children under 3 years is strictly prohibited.

• Children from 3 to 6 years:
  Employment is allowed up to 2 hours a day from 8 am to 5 pm. An official approval requires agreements of parents, school, youth welfare office and paediatrician. 

• Children from 6 years and young people up to the end of full-time compulsory education:
  Employment up to 3 hours a day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m..An official approval requires agreements of parents, school, youth welfare office and paediatrician. The time on set fort he children can be up to 5 hours, working time on set is limited to 3 hours.

• Children who have finished full-time compulsory education but are not yet 18 years old:
  An official approval must not required. They are allowed to work a maximum of 8 hours a day (5 days / week) until 11 pm. Young people must be given at least 12 hours of free time every day. On Sundays and bank holidays, work is only permitted in regards of music, theater or other performances as well as direct broadcasts (radio and television).

• a written declaration from the responsible youth welfare office
• agreement of the custodian
• the presentation of a medical certificate, which is not older than three months to the day the application is submitted

• proof that protective measures have been taken

• ensuring care and supervision

• ensuring the prescribed time off for 14 hours    

• ensuring that school progress is not affected.

The application must include the following:

• name, address and accessibility of the employing production company
• name and date of birth of the child / adolescent
• time and place of employment (exact information about the planned shooting time and locations - x days in the period from - to)
• brief description of the role, possibly extracts from the script or a complete script (depending on the scope and type of role)
• film title / director       
• completed declaration of agreements, in which the signature of the paediatrician is not older than 3 months

Application deadline:

• The application should be submitted no later than two weeks in advance of the shooting!