The crew tattoo conversation: the cover ups, the policy changes, the one that got someone sent home from an open day
-
#1 Virgin Australia, and I have a sleeve, covered by the uniform, cleared at the interview, and every month a candidate messages me about tattoos as though the answer is a secret. It is not. It is just different at every airline and it changes. So, the honest thread.
The general shape in 2026
Most European and US and Australian carriers: tattoos covered by the uniform are fine, visible ones on the hands, neck and face are not, and some carriers have relaxed the forearm rule for short sleeves and some have not. Most Gulf and Asian carriers: no visible tattoos at all, and 'visible' includes anything that can be seen in any uniform configuration including the summer one, and cover up makeup is not accepted at the assessment. Some Asian carriers: no tattoos anywhere, and it is asked on the form.
The cover up question
Makeup cover ups: accepted on the line at some European carriers for small tattoos, not accepted at the assessment at most, and not accepted at all at the Gulf carriers, who check. Plasters: no. Long sleeves in summer: at some carriers you can request the long sleeve uniform year round and it is a known solution for forearm tattoos, ask.
The one that got someone sent home
An Emirates open day, a small tattoo on the inside of the wrist, covered with makeup, spotted at registration when the recruiter took the candidate's hand to look at her nails. Sent home before the presentation. That story is on every crew forum because it happened to a lot of people. Do not cover up for the Gulf. It does not work and it ends the day early.
The policy changes
Virgin Atlantic relaxed visible tattoos a few years ago and the world did not end. Several US carriers have relaxed. Some Australian carriers have. The direction is towards relaxation in the West and no movement in the Gulf and Asia. The requirements page on this site tracks it and, from what I have seen, is accurate.
For candidates
Check the airline's actual current policy, not a 2019 blog. Do not cover up for the Gulf. Ask about the long sleeve option in Europe. And if you have a hand or neck tattoo, the honest answer is that most airlines are closed to you today and a few are opening, slowly.
Crew, correct me on your airline.
-
#2 Virgin Atlantic, and the relaxation is real and works: visible tattoos are allowed within a policy (nothing offensive, nothing on the face), and the sky did not fall. The passengers noticed for about a month.
-
#3 Emirates, and the wrist story is real, I was at an open day where it happened, and the recruiter's hand on the candidate's hand to check the nails is exactly how it was found. Do not cover up. They know.
-
#4 easyJet, and the long sleeve year round request is a real option and I know crew who use it for forearm tattoos. Ask at the assessment. It is a known answer.
-
#5 Korean Air, and it is asked on the form, and the honest answer is no tattoos, and a candidate with one would be wise to look at a different region. Not a judgement. A fact.
-
#7 Delta, and we relaxed for covered tattoos some time ago and are, I think, moving on visible. The direction of travel in the US is exactly as Steve says. A candidate with a forearm tattoo in 2026 has more airlines open than in 2016 and fewer than they will in 2030.