Decriminalised Sex Work Countries Information
⚠️ MSWI.net is informational only and does not endorse or encourage sex work.
Aotearoa | New Zealand Sex Work Information
⚠️ MSWI.net is informational only and does not endorse or encourage sex work.
🇳🇿 Aotearoa |New Zealand
Major Cities:
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
🛂 Immigration Status:
✅ A visa that lets you work in any job to do sex work legally.
❌ Temporary visa holders
❌ Student or working holiday
⚠️ Doing sex work on the wrong visa could get you deported or banned from coming back.
Sex workers must pay tax to Inland Revenue Department (IRD)
✅ Legal:
✅ Sex work is decriminalised — it’s treated like any other job.
✅ You can work independently, in a brothel, or with others.
✅ Brothels must meet local council rules (e.g. building and zoning rules).
✅ You have the legal right to say no to any client or service.
✅ Condoms must be used for oral and anal sex. $2000 fine.
✅ Must pay tax to IRD
🚫 Illegal:
👉 You must be 18 or older to work or pay for sex no exceptions.
👉 It’s illegal to force or pressure anyone into sex work.
👉You must not knowingly spread STIs, including HIV.
💡 Local councils can set rules about where sex workers or brothels can operate, so check your area for any specific bylaws.
België|Belgium Sex Work Information
⚠️ MSWI.net is informational only and does not endorse or encourage sex work.
🇧🇪 België|Belgium
🛂 Immigration Status:
✅ EU/EEA/Swiss Citizen
👉 Register your residence if staying long-term
✅ Non-EU Citizen
You must have:
👉A valid residence permit, and
👉a work permit
💰 Tax
You must pay tax to Federal Public Service - Finance
✅ What’s LEGAL
✅ Selling sexual services (if you’re 18+ and doing so voluntarily)
✅ Working independently as a self-employed sex worker
✅ Advertising your services (online or in print)
✅ Refusing any act or client
✅ Clients paying for sex
✅ Working in licensed venues or through non-coercive platforms
✅ Assessing social programs
❌ What’s ILLEGAL
❌ Working under the age of 18 (illegal for both seller and buyer)
❌ Forcing someone into sex work (coercion, manipulation, or trafficking)
❌ Third parties profiting from sex work through force, control, or exploitation
❌ Advertising sex with minors or deceptive advertising
❌ Operating in areas where local rules prohibit sex work without proper permits
❌ Using violence, threats, or manipulation against sex workers
Colombia Sex Work Information
⚠️ MSWI.net is informational only and does not endorse or encourage sex work.
🇨🇴 Colombia
Bogotá etc
🛂 Immigration Status:
✅ Colombian citizens or legal residents
✅ Foreign national with:
👉 ✔️ A visa that allows you to live and work (like a migrant or resident visa)
👉 ✔️ You have legal status and pay taxes on your income
❌ On a tourist visa
❌ Working without a valid visa or overstaying your visa
✅ Legal
✅ Selling sex as an adult (18+) is legal.
✅ Operating independently is legal – sex workers can work on their own without a pimp or agency.
✅ Brothels and “tolerance zones” are allowed in some cities under local regulation.
✅ Health services are available and supported by various public and NGO programs.
❌ Illegal
❌ Human trafficking, coercion, or exploitation of sex workers (especially minors) is criminalised.
❌Sex work by people under 18 is illegal.
❌Sex work by undocumented migrants can lead to detention or deportation.
❌Third-party control (pimps, exploitative brothel owners) is illegal if it involves coercion or abuse.
❌Street-based sex work may be restricted or prohibited in some cities due to local ordinances (zoning laws or public decency rules).
❌Advertising for sex work can be legally risky and is generally discouraged or policed under broader moral or media laws.
Australia Sex Work Information
⚠️ MSWI.net is informational only and does not endorse or encourage sex work.
🇦🇺 Australia
Note: MSWI.net acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
Sex work is legal in parts of Australia, but the laws are different in each state and territory. In all areas, you must be 18 or older to do sex work legally.
🛂 Immigration Status:
✅ Citizen, permanent resident, or having the correct working visa. It’s important to ensure your visa status aligns with the work you are doing to avoid legal issues.
❌ On a tourist visa
❌ On a visa that doesn’t allow work
❌ Working outside your visa conditions
❌ A temporary visa holder without explicit work rights
💰 Tax - Sex workers, must pay taxes.
You must register with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and submit your tax returns as required. This includes keeping records of your income and expenses, and paying Goods and Services Tax (GST) if you are earning above the threshold. Not paying taxes can result in fines or legal consequences.💰
State|Region Overview
South Australia (SA)
⚠️ Sex work in South Australia is not fully decriminalised, making it one of the most punitive states in Australia. While the act of selling sex itself is not inherently illegal, many associated activities—such as operating brothels, street soliciting, and pimping are illegal under the Summary Offences Act 1953 and Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935.
✅ Legal:
✅ Sex work is legal and regulated.
✅ Independent sex workers and brothels are allowed.
❌ Illegal:
❌ Soliciting in public places.
❌ Unlicensed brothels or agencies.
❌ Exploitation, coercion, or trafficking is prohibited.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Canberra etc
✅ Legal:
✅ Sex work is legal and regulated.
✅ Brothels and escort agencies are allowed to operate.
✅ Sex workers can work independently or as part of an agency.
❌ Illegal:
❌ Exploitation or coercion of sex workers is prohibited.
❌ Illegal drugs and unsafe work conditions are not allowed
ℹ️ More local law information here
New South Wales (NSW)
✅ Legal:
✅ Brothels, escort agencies, and independent sex work are legal and regulated.
✅ Laws focus on health and safety, ensuring a safe working environment.
❌ Illegal
❌ Soliciting in public places.
❌ Operating without registration or compliance with health and safety standards.
❌ Exploiting, trafficking, or coercing sex workers is illegal.
ℹ️ More local law information here
Queensland (QLD)
✅ Legal:
✅ Sex work is legal and regulated under the Prostitution Licensing Authority (PLA).
✅ Brothels are legal if licensed by the PLA.
✅ Independent sex work is allowed with conditions.
❌ Illegal:
❌ Operating an unlicensed brothel or agency.
❌ Soliciting in public places. Street work.
❌ Coercion, trafficking, and any forms of exploitation are prohibited.
Victoria (VIC)
✅ Legal:
✅ Sex work is legal and regulated.
✅ Licensed brothels, escort agencies, and independent sex work are allowed.
❌ Illegal:
❌ Unlicensed brothels or agencies.
❌ Soliciting in public places (except for designated areas in some cases).
❌ Trafficking or exploitation is strictly prohibited.
Western Australia (WA)
Perth etc
✅ Legal:
✅ Brothels are legal only if they meet certain conditions.
✅ Independent sex work is allowed under certain conditions.
❌ Illegal:
❌ Unlicensed brothels and agencies.
❌ Soliciting in public places.
❌ Trafficking, exploitation, and coercion are strictly prohibited.
Tasmania (TAS)
✅ Legal:
✅ Sex work is decriminalised.
✅ Brothels, escort agencies, and independent sex work are allowed.
❌ Illegal:
❌ Exploiting or trafficking sex workers is prohibited.
❌Soliciting in public places is not allowed.
Northern Territory (NT)
✅ Legal:
✅ Sex work is legal and regulated.
✅ Brothels and escort agencies are allowed with a licence.
✅ Independent sex work is also allowed under certain conditions.
❌ Illegal:
❌ Operating without a licence.
❌ Soliciting in public places.
❌ Trafficking, exploitation, and coercion are illegal.
⚠️ MSWI.net is informational only and does not endorse or encourage sex work.
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