Prostitution laws in AlbaniaShqipëria
Albania criminalises both parties. Article 113 of the Criminal Code punishes engaging in prostitution with a fine or up to three years' imprisonment, and since Law No. 23/2012 the same penalty applies to giving remuneration for prostitution for personal benefit, that is, to buyers. Inducing, mediating or receiving remuneration for prostitution carries two to five years (seven to fifteen in aggravated cases), and keeping, operating, financing or renting premises for prostitution a fine or up to ten years. Law No. 8/2026 of 28 January 2026 amended Article 114 and added a separate offence of exploiting the prostitution of minors. No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found.
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
Both selling and paying for sex are criminal offences under Article 113 of the Criminal Code (fine or up to three years). Buyers were added in 2012. Exploiting prostitution and keeping premises for it are separate, heavier crimes.[1]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Engaging in prostitution ("ushtrimi i prostitucionit") is a criminal offence punishable by a fine or up to three years' imprisonment.[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Giving remuneration for prostitution for personal benefit is punishable by a fine or up to three years' imprisonment, the same as selling. The paragraph was added by Law No. 23/2012.[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Keeping, operating, financing or renting out premises for prostitution is punishable by a fine or up to ten years' imprisonment.[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Inducing, mediating or receiving remuneration for prostitution is punishable by two to five years; seven to fifteen years where committed against several people, by relatives or guardians, by abuse of office, jointly, repeatedly or by public officials. Exploiting the prostitution of minors is a separate offence since 2026.[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Restricted | No offence specifically targeting the advertising of sexual services was found in the Criminal Code. Advertising on behalf of a third party may amount to inducement or mediation under Article 114; an adult advertising their own services would be evidence of the Article 113 offence.[1] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Engaging in prostitution ("ushtrimi i prostitucionit") is a criminal offence punishable by a fine or up to three years' imprisonment.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Giving remuneration for prostitution for personal benefit is punishable by a fine or up to three years' imprisonment, the same as selling. The paragraph was added by Law No. 23/2012.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Keeping, operating, financing or renting out premises for prostitution is punishable by a fine or up to ten years' imprisonment.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Inducing, mediating or receiving remuneration for prostitution is punishable by two to five years; seven to fifteen years where committed against several people, by relatives or guardians, by abuse of office, jointly, repeatedly or by public officials. Exploiting the prostitution of minors is a separate offence since 2026.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No offence specifically targeting the advertising of sexual services was found in the Criminal Code. Advertising on behalf of a third party may amount to inducement or mediation under Article 114; an adult advertising their own services would be evidence of the Article 113 offence.[1]
Confidence: low. Inference from the absence of a specific provision; media and electronic communications law was not reviewed.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Ligj nr. 7895, datë 27.1.1995 "Kodi Penal i Republikës së Shqipërisë" (i ndryshuar, deri me ligjin nr. 8/2026) Criminal Code (Law No. 7895 of 27 January 1995, as amended) neni 113 · neni 114 · neni 114/a/1 · neni 115 | Articles 113–115 criminalise selling, buying, exploitation of prostitution and keeping premises for it.[1] |
Timeline
Sources
- Ligj nr. 7895, datë 27.1.1995 "Kodi Penal i Republikës së Shqipërisë" (i ndryshuar, deri me ligjin nr. 8/2026) (Criminal Code of the Republic of Albania (consolidated, including Law No. 8/2026)). Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026