Obtaining a Work Permit
Youth Ready Chicago is open to young Chicagoans ages 14-21. However, if you are age 14 or 15 and you are selected for employment, you will be required to obtain a Work Permit.
Obtaining a Work Permit involves several steps, including:
- Complete a required written application
- A parent / guardian must be present when the application is completed and filed
- The student (minor / child) must be present when a Work Permit is issued. A parent / guardian MAY NOT obtain a Work Permit without the student (child) recipient present, as the application requires verified signature.
The following items are needed for verification before a Work Permit can be issued:
- Letter of Intent to Hire– This is a letter from the employer interested in hiring the youth. It must be on company letterhead and include details about the job, including the hours and days per week that the student will be employed. The address and telephone number of the job location also is included.
- Verification of Age; the verification must an actual document from the following list:
- Birth Certificate
- Passport
- Baptismal Certificate
- Bible Record
- Social Security Card
- Report of a Physical Examination from the past year, along with a physician’s note stating that the minor is physically able to work, or a copy of the physician’s examination required for entering Chicago Public High School freshmen, if the exam was less than one year ago
- Written parent approval signed by the parent / guardian
- Completion of a form by the child’s school principal verifying that the student is making satisfactory academic progress, if the student is seeking part-time employment during the school year
Download work permit instructions >>