How Old Do You Have to Be to Go Skydiving?

Do you have a child interested in skydiving, but you’re unclear on the rules and regulations? It probably seems like no matter where you search, you can’t get a straight answer. Some say skydiving under 18 is illegal, while others say it’s possible. Don’t worry! I’ll straighten this out for you.

In the USA, to land at a USPA-affiliated drop zone, you must be 18. However, drop zones not affiliated with the USPA can accept children as young as seven years old. Each drop zone has its own regulations. Also, certain countries accept children of all ages if they fall within the weight bracket.

I will take you through a bit more of the rules and regulations surrounding this topic in this article. There’s also a chart below reflecting the different age restrictions of other countries. That way, you know where to plan your next trip if you are supportive of your children skydiving!

Can Kids Go Skydiving?

If you are wondering how old you have to be to skydive, chances are that everyone says 18. However, there is a bit of a loophole to this. There are some places in the USA that accept individuals under the age of 18, but these drop zones are not USPA drop zones.

Also, different countries have different regulations. For example, the UK, Mexico, and New Zealand all allow people under 18 to skydive. Keep in mind that these places also have additional regulations such as height and weight.

What’s tricky is each drop zone has its own regulations. So, for example, while Mexico doesn’t have a set minimum age, you may find that some facilities still require a child to be at least 13 or up to the age of 16.

The same can be said for the non-USPA-affiliated drop zones in the USA. Just because they don’t need to follow the rules and regulations set by the USPA, does not mean that they don’t have an age requirement.

Can Kids Go Solo Skydiving?

You must be at least 18 years old to do a solo dive in the USA. Even if the drop zone is not a USPA drop zone, the FAA states that no one under the age of 18 can do a solo skydive.

Read our related post on Skydive Licenses here.

Overall, there are no minors (anyone under the age of 18) allowed to land at USPA-affiliated drop zones. The only exception to this is when the jump is through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

However, in other countries, such as the UK, Switzerland, and Thailand, anyone 16 or older can do a solo jump. Regardless of how ‘safe’ skydiving is as an overall sport, it’s extremely dangerous. One mistake, and you fall to your death.

Because children are not fully developed mentally, most instructors and facilities worldwide do not want to take the chance of catastrophic accidents; most facilities operate and get their clients based on their safety statistics. It’s assumed that these statistics would reflect more accidents and injuries if a child under 16-18 were to jump solo. This could falsify statistics as the sport is mostly safe when adults participate in solo skydives.

Why Can’t Kids Jump At USPA-Affiliated Drop Zones?

To become a USPA Member, a drop zone must go through a rigorous process conducted by the organization’s office. Once approved, the facility must also follow specific standards and practices to maintain its membership.

Part of these standards is that each person landing at the drop zone is at least 18 years of age unless the jump is in accordance with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Ensuring that each diver is an adult helps to keep the safety bracket in the best position and also keeps accident rates down. Skydiving is a very serious business; if a jumper does not understand protocols, it increases the risk of accidents and deaths.

Do Kids Need Parental Consent to Go Skydiving?

The waiver for children aged 12 to 17 must be signed by their legal guardian or parent. If they are planning on skydiving, they must bring their parent or guardian along. This is because children cannot sign legal-binding contracts as they may need to understand precisely what it is they’re signing for, especially regarding safety and liability.

How Old You Have to Be to Skydive Based on Location

As you can see in the table above, different countries have different regulations regarding skydiving. Mexico, New Zealand, and Fiji don’t have a minimum age requirement, however they do have weight requirements.

Each country varies with age restrictions. However, if you’re planning on skydiving in another country, it’s important to make sure it’s with a reputable company to ensure the safest jump possible.

Who Is the Youngest Skydiver to Ever Jump?

Four-year-old Toni Stadler of South Africa became one of the youngest people to ever skydive. She was strapped to a instructor’s chest as they jumped out of a plane at around 10,000 feet. They were able to freefall for around 30 seconds before opening their parachute.

Another youngest ever to skydive was Joshua Pine, likely the youngest person ever to go skydiving in the world. For His 4th birthday he jumped connected to his dad and joined by his uncle and cousin. You can watch the video of Josh here:

However, in California the youngest person to skydive was eight-year-old Max Hook. Watch him jump below:

Is there a Maximum Age Limit for Skydiving?

There is no maximum age limit for skydiving, and the thrill of the jump can be enjoyed by adults and senior citizens alike. 

Skydiving has become more advanced due to the equipment and training provided by instructors. The oldest person to ever skydive was 103 years old.

Who is the Oldest Person to Ever Skydive?

A 103-year-old woman from Sweden jumped out of a plane and became the oldest known tandem parachute jumper.

Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson jumped out of a plane with her instructor while her family were waiting for her on the ground. Her interest in skydiving and parachuting started before her birthday.

Additionally, there was another person named Alfred Blaschke, who was 103 years old as well at the time of his skydive. This makes him the oldest male to ever skydive.

Final Thoughts

Everyone should be able to experience an amazing adventure such as skydiving, no matter their age. However, because skydiving is closely regulated, it’s not always possible to find a drop zone that will allow a child under the age of 18 unless the skydive is one handled by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

If you want to allow your child to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, you will need to search for drop zones that are not affiliated with the USPA. Or, alternately, you can travel to another country that allows children to skydive within their age range.

If you do decide to travel to another country for this, make sure that your child falls in line with the other regulations such as weight, height, and health. That way, you don’t plan the trip and find out that you did it for nothing!

Heather Wright

When Heather is not participating in extreme sports you can find her working the events across the country, or writing about these amazing adrenaline rushes. She loves to go skydiving, snowboarding, parasailing, hang gliding, dirt boarding, off-roading and hiking.