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Prostitutes; registration of activity

If you wish to work as a prostitute, you must register with the competent authority.

Responsible for you

In Bayern ist es grundsätzlich in Gemeinden bis zu 30.000 Einwohnern verboten, der Prostitution nachzugehen, es sei denn die Regierungen haben Ausnahmen erlassen. In Städten und Gemeinden bis zu 50.000 Einwohnern ist zudem ein vollständiges Verbot der Ausübung der Prostitution durch sogenannte Sperrbezirksverordnungen möglich. Aktuell ist Prostitution in 27 bayerischen Städten erlaubt. 👉 Im ausgewählten Ort ist es verboten, der Prostitution nachzugehen. Daher ist keine Behörde zuständig.

Procedure details

You must register your activity as a prostitute in person with the authority in whose jurisdiction you primarily wish to carry out your activity before taking up the activity.

Prostitutes are persons who provide sexual services. A sexual service is a sexual act performed by at least one person on or in front of at least one other person directly present in return for payment or allowing a sexual act to be performed on or in front of oneself in return for payment. Sexual services are not performances of an exclusively performative nature in which no other person present is actively involved in a sexual way.

When you register, you will receive important information (see below) and advice about working as a prostitute in an information and counseling session.

The information and counseling session must at least include

  1. Basic information on the legal situation under the Prostitutes Protection Act, under the Prostitution Act and on other regulations relevant to the practice of prostitution that apply to the practice of prostitution within the territorial jurisdiction of the authority,
  2. Basic information on health insurance and social security in the event of employment,
  3. Information on health and social counseling services, including pregnancy counseling services,
  4. information on the availability of help in emergency situations and
  5. information on the existing tax liability of the activity taken up and the obligations to be fulfilled in this connection under turnover and income tax law.

You will receive a certificate of registration (registration certificate). The registration certificate is valid for two years for persons aged 21 and over who are required to register and for one year for persons under the age of 21 who are required to register. It can be extended after expiry of its validity.

In addition, a so-called alias certificate can be issued. Instead of your first name and surname, this contains an alias of your own choice, i.e. a name that you choose to use in your work.

You must always carry the original registration certificate with you when carrying out your work. You may not work as a prostitute without a registration certificate. Anyone who engages in prostitution without or with an invalid registration certificate is committing an administrative offense. This can be punished with a fine of up to 1,000 euros.

The obligation to register applies regardless of whether the activity is carried out on a self-employed basis or as part of an employment relationship.

The registration certificate may not be issued if

  1. the required information and evidence is not available, in particular proof that health advice has been provided,
  2. the person is under 18 years of age,
  3. the person is an expectant mother in the last six weeks before giving birth at the time of registration,
  4. the person is under 21 years of age and there are indications that they are being or will be induced by third parties to take up or continue prostitution, or
  5. if there are indications that the person is or is to be induced into prostitution by third parties by exploiting a predicament, their helplessness associated with their stay in a foreign country or their personal or economic dependency, or that this person is or is to be exploited by third parties.

  • Identity card, passport, substitute passport or substitute identity card
  • two photographs
    (recent photographs without border, 45 mm high and 35 mm wide)
  • Evidence of health counselling provided
  • where applicable, proof that you are entitled to pursue an activity as an employed or self-employed person
    (only foreign nationals who are not entitled to freedom of movement)

You must register in person with the authority in whose jurisdiction you primarily wish to work.

The personal registration and the information and counseling session should be conducted in a confidential setting.

During the consultation, the competent authority will provide the prostitute with information on the practice of prostitution in a suitable form. The information should be written in a language that the prostitute understands.

The competent authority shall issue the person subject to registration with a registration certificate as proof of registration.

  • 35 euros for the issue of a registration certificate
  • 35 euros for the issue of an alias certificate

You must register your activity before starting work.

In accordance with Section 5 (1) ProstSchG, the competent authority issues a registration certificate within five working days as proof that the person subject to the registration requirement has registered.

Possible requirements for restricted areas must be observed.

Administrative court action

  • Prostituiertenschutzgesetz (ProstSchG)
    Die Internetseite des Bayerischen Staatsministeriums für Familie, Arbeit und Soziales (StMAS) enthält neben grundsätzlichen Informationen zum ProstSchG auch eine Übersicht über die in Bayern für die Anmeldung zuständigen Stellen.
  • Prostitutionsgesetz (ProstG)
    Gesetz zur Regelung der Rechtsverhältnisse der Prostituierten (Prostitutionsgesetz - ProstG)

Status: 23.06.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Familie, Arbeit und Soziales
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