Purpose: Surgical gold standard for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is open posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion. This approach causes significant soft tissue disruption and paravertebral muscle detachment. This review attempts to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge of minimally invasive (MIS) surgery for AIS. Methods: The results of MIS for adult scoliosis are briefly reviewed as the rationale for its application to AIS. A review of the two currently available MIS techniques for AIS is then given, including indications, surgical technique, and results in the literature. Results: Thoracoscopic anterior spinal fusion and instrumentation (TASF) offers similar results and complication rates with decreased blood loss but is technically demanding and has limited indications. The posterior MIS technique seems to offer similar results and complication rates, decreased blood loss and shorter length of hospital stay, at the expense of a longer operative time. Conclusion: Both TASF and posterior MIS are valid alternatives to the gold standard. They have proven similar results and short-term safety to open posterior fusion, with the added theoretical advantage of a less traumatizing exposure and improved cosmesis. While TASF has fallen out of favor due to its technical challenges, specific instrumentation and limited indications, posterior MIS does not suffer from these drawbacks. The limited amount of literature on this technique warrants studies with further follow-up, demonstrating its long-term safety before recommending its routine use.