To get NJ A300 working papers today, a minor, a caregiver, and the employer each complete a portion of an online application at myworkingpapers.nj.gov. New Jersey retired the paper A300 form in June 2023 and replaced it with this fully digital process.1New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Working Papers The old form still turns up in school guidance offices and employer files, but the application itself is now done through the state portal.
Who Needs an Application
Every minor under 18 working in New Jersey needs an approved employment certificate before the first shift, and the employer must have that approval on file.2New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Child Labor Laws and Regulations Full-time, part-time, seasonal, summer, retail, food service — it all counts. A new application is required any time you change employers, change job titles, or take on different duties. As long as you stay with the same employer in the same role, the approval remains valid with no annual renewal.3New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Frequently Asked Questions: Working Papers for Minors
Three types of work use a different track. Newspaper carriers aged 11 through 15 need a special newspaper carrier permit. Performers under 16 need a theatrical permit — a formal permit for engagements of 3 or more days, or an emergent permit for productions of 1 to 2 days. Agricultural workers aged 12 through 15 need a special agriculture permit. Once any of these minors turn 16, they move to the standard employment certificate process.2New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Child Labor Laws and Regulations
What to Have Ready Before You Start
The minor cannot begin an application without an 8-digit Employer Unique Code (EUC) from the employer, so get that first. Then gather:
- Your Social Security number
- Your own email address, separate from your caregiver’s
- Your caregiver’s name and email address
- The business name, worksite address, and employer email
- The employer’s 8-digit EUC
- A proof-of-age document the caregiver will upload (birth certificate or certified transcript, driver’s license or learner’s permit, passport, baptismal certificate, USCIS certificate of arrival showing age, or a life insurance policy at least one year old)
If none of those age documents is available, the paper A300 accepted a sworn parent or guardian affidavit as an alternative.4New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. A300 Combined Certification Form
How the Online Application Moves
The portal at myworkingpapers.nj.gov walks each party through their own section and emails everyone at each step.3New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Frequently Asked Questions: Working Papers for Minors
Step 1: Employer Registers and Shares the EUC
The employer creates an account once at myworkingpapers.nj.gov using their Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and worksite address. The system then issues the 8-digit EUC. The employer gives that code to every minor they intend to hire. If a minor starts an application before the employer has registered, the system emails the employer an invitation to create the account.3New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Frequently Asked Questions: Working Papers for Minors
Step 2: Minor Completes Their Section
The minor creates a personal account and fills in the fields that used to appear in Sections A and B of the paper A300: personal details, Social Security number, caregiver contact, and the employer information tied to the EUC. Submitting this section triggers the caregiver invitation.
Step 3: Caregiver Authorizes and Uploads Proof of Age
When the minor enters the caregiver’s name and email, the system creates a caregiver account automatically and sends a registration link. The caregiver logs in, authorizes the employment, and uploads the proof-of-age document. The caregiver has 14 days to act. If they do nothing in that window, the status shifts to “Application Approved (Provisional)” and the minor can begin working. A caregiver who rejects the application later — even after the minor has started — stops the employment immediately.3New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Frequently Asked Questions: Working Papers for Minors
Step 4: Employer Confirms
After the caregiver acts, the employer reviews the application and either approves or rejects it. Employers also have 14 days. Miss that window and the application flips to “Null/Void,” which forces the minor to start a brand-new application from scratch. This is the step where applications most often stall, so it is worth confirming with the employer that the notification email arrived and did not land in a spam folder. The employer separately verifies age for federal purposes through the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form.3New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Frequently Asked Questions: Working Papers for Minors
Step 5: NJDOL Reviews
Once the employer approves, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development reviews the application and either approves it or sends an email explaining the rejection and next steps. NJDOL reviewers now hold the gatekeeping role that once belonged to a school issuing officer, who under the paper A300 could refuse to issue working papers if the proposed job would interfere with the minor’s schooling or health.5New Jersey Department of Education. A300 Combined Certification Form
Reading the Paper A300 If You Still Have One
Some school districts still hand out the paper form or reference it by section. Knowing what each section asked for helps you pull the same information together for the digital application.
- Section A collected the minor’s name, Social Security number, date of birth, physical description, address, and the parent or guardian authorization signature.
- Section B collected employment details: business name, industry type, worksite address, job title, scheduled hours and wages, and whether the business sells or serves alcohol, followed by the employer’s “Promise of Employment” signature.
- Section C was a physician’s certification that the minor was physically qualified to work, with the exam provided at no cost by the school district.
- Section D recorded which document verified the minor’s age.
- Section E was the school record, signed by the principal, listing the district, county, school name, and last grade completed.
- Section F was the issuing officer’s certification, classifying the certificate as Regular Employment, Vacation Employment, or an Age Certificate.6Rutgers NJMS. New Jersey A300 Combined Certification Form
After Approval: Printing and Keeping the Record
Once the application is fully approved, the minor, caregiver, and employer can each log in, click the application number, and choose “printable view” to print or save a copy. The employer should keep that record accessible in case of a Department of Labor inspection. If the minor later leaves the job, the employer does not need to close anything out in the system; the application stays in the account as a historical record. Changes to the minor’s scheduled hours after approval do not require an update to the application.3New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Frequently Asked Questions: Working Papers for Minors A change of employer or a change of duties, however, does — start a new application before the new work begins.