Can You Donate Blood With Tattoos? Rules in the UK, US, Canada and Australia

One of the most persistent tattoo myths is that having a tattoo means you can never give blood. It is not true. Millions of tattooed people donate every year. What you may need is a short waiting period after a new tattoo, and the length depends on which country you live in.

Here are the current rules in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, and why the waiting periods exist.

Why there is a waiting period at all

Any procedure that breaks the skin with needles carries a small risk of transmitting bloodborne infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV, particularly if equipment is not sterile. Donated blood is screened for these infections, but tests have a "window period" shortly after infection during which a virus may not yet be detectable.

A waiting period after a new tattoo covers that window, protecting patients who receive blood. It is not a judgement about tattoos, and once the wait is over, tattoos do not affect your eligibility.

United Kingdom: wait 4 months

NHS Blood and Transplant, which runs blood donation in England, asks donors to wait four months after getting a tattoo before giving blood. The same wait applies to semi-permanent make-up, microblading and body piercings. The four months are counted from the date of the tattoo, not from when it looks healed.

Blood services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own donor services, so check with your local service for its current rules.

United States: often no wait at all

The American Red Cross does not require a waiting period if your tattoo was done by a state-regulated tattoo facility using sterile needles and ink that is not reused. That covers most states.

If the tattoo was done in a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities, or by an unregulated or unlicensed artist, the Red Cross asks you to wait three months. Other US blood centres set their own criteria, so check with your local centre.

Canada: wait 3 months

Canadian Blood Services asks donors to wait three months after a tattoo, including permanent makeup and microblading. The wait was shortened from six months in 2018. Any new session that breaks the skin, including a touch up, restarts the three-month period.

Australia: plasma straight away, blood after 7 days

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood changed its rules following a study of tattooed donors carried out with the Kirby Institute at UNSW. If your tattoo was done in a licensed Australian tattoo parlour or cosmetic clinic:

• You can donate plasma straight away.
• You can donate whole blood and platelets after seven days.

If the tattoo was done anywhere else, including overseas or by an unlicensed artist, the wait is four months.

Quick comparison

• UK (England): 4 months after a tattoo.
• US (American Red Cross): no wait if done at a state-regulated facility, otherwise 3 months.
• Canada: 3 months.
• Australia: plasma immediately and blood after 7 days if done in a licensed Australian parlour, otherwise 4 months.

Rules change over time, so always check your national blood service before booking a donation.

Tattoos abroad and at home

Several services treat tattoos differently depending on where they were done. A tattoo from a licensed studio in your own country may carry a shorter wait than one from a holiday resort, a beach stall or a friend's kitchen. If you are unsure whether your artist was licensed, tell the donation staff. They will tell you exactly when you can donate.

Other tattoo related questions donors ask

Can I donate if my tattoo is still healing? Wait until it has healed and the relevant waiting period has passed. Many services also ask that the skin at the needle site is healthy and unbroken.

Can blood be taken through a tattoo? Staff will generally choose a vein away from any broken or healing skin. A fully healed tattoo is not usually a problem, but let the staff know.

Does tattoo removal count? Some services have rules for laser treatments and other cosmetic procedures, so mention any recent treatments at your appointment.

Does getting a tattoo right after donating matter? Many artists recommend avoiding tattooing on the same day as giving blood, since you may feel lightheaded and your body is recovering. Eat well and rest first.

Planning your next tattoo? Our first tattoo guide covers everything from choosing an artist to aftercare, and our tattoo healing timeline explains how long healing really takes.

Sources: NHS Blood and Transplant; American Red Cross; Canadian Blood Services; Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.