Prostitution laws in KosovoKosova / Kosovo
Kosovo treats prostitution as a minor offence against public order. Under Article 7 of Law No. 03/L-142 on Public Peace and Order (2009), anyone involved in a sexual act of prostitution is liable to a fine of EUR 100–900 or up to 60 days' imprisonment; the law defines prostitution as performing sexual acts for material benefit. The 2019 Criminal Code punishes recruiting, organising, assisting, keeping, hiding or controlling another person for prostitution (fine and six months to four years), knowingly providing premises for prostitution (fine and up to four years), and using the sexual services of a trafficking victim (six months to five years), with higher penalties near schools and where minors are involved. 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.
Article 7 of the 2009 Law on Public Peace and Order makes it a minor offence for "anyone" to be involved in a sexual act of prostitution, wording that on its face covers both seller and buyer. Facilitating prostitution and providing premises are crimes under the 2019 Criminal Code.[1][2]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Administrative offence | Being involved in a sexual act of prostitution is a minor offence punishable by a fine of EUR 100–900 or up to 60 days' imprisonment. Prostitution is defined as performing sexual acts for material benefit, in money or other equivalent value.[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Illegal Administrative offence | Article 7 applies to "anyone" involved in a sexual act of prostitution, so on its wording the buyer is liable to the same fine of EUR 100–900 or up to 60 days. Using the sexual services of a trafficking victim is a crime punishable by six months to five years.[1][2] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Knowingly providing premises to another person for prostitution, as owner, landlord, tenant, operator or responsible person, is punishable by a fine and up to four years; six months to five years within 350 metres of a school or other place used by children.[2] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Recruiting, organising, assisting, keeping, hiding or controlling another person for prostitution is punishable by a fine and six months to four years; one to five years within 350 metres of a school, and more where the person is under 18.[2] |
| Advertising sexual services | Restricted | No offence specifically targeting the advertising of sexual services was found. Advertising on behalf of another person could fall within "assisting" or "organising" prostitution under Article 234, and an adult advertising their own services would be evidence of the minor offence in Article 7.[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Being involved in a sexual act of prostitution is a minor offence punishable by a fine of EUR 100–900 or up to 60 days' imprisonment. Prostitution is defined as performing sexual acts for material benefit, in money or other equivalent value.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Article 7 applies to "anyone" involved in a sexual act of prostitution, so on its wording the buyer is liable to the same fine of EUR 100–900 or up to 60 days. Using the sexual services of a trafficking victim is a crime punishable by six months to five years.[1][2]
Confidence: medium. The reading that Article 7 covers buyers rests on its wording ("kushdo që përfshihet"); enforcement practice against buyers was not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Knowingly providing premises to another person for prostitution, as owner, landlord, tenant, operator or responsible person, is punishable by a fine and up to four years; six months to five years within 350 metres of a school or other place used by children.[2]
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Recruiting, organising, assisting, keeping, hiding or controlling another person for prostitution is punishable by a fine and six months to four years; one to five years within 350 metres of a school, and more where the person is under 18.[2]
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No offence specifically targeting the advertising of sexual services was found. Advertising on behalf of another person could fall within "assisting" or "organising" prostitution under Article 234, and an adult advertising their own services would be evidence of the minor offence in Article 7.[1][2]
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ligji Nr. 03/L-142 për Rendin dhe Qetësinë Publike Law No. 03/L-142 on Public Peace and Order (2009) neni 7 | Article 7 makes involvement in a sexual act of prostitution a minor offence.[1] | |
| Kodi Nr. 06/L-074 Kodi Penal i Republikës së Kosovës Criminal Code No. 06/L-074 (2019) neni 228 · neni 234 · neni 235 | Articles 228, 234 and 235 cover trafficking-victim clients, facilitating prostitution and providing premises.[2] |
Timeline
Sources
- Ligji Nr. 03/L-142 për Rendin dhe Qetësinë Publike (Law No. 03/L-142 on Public Peace and Order). Gazeta Zyrtare e Republikës së Kosovës, 29 October 2009. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Kodi Nr. 06/L-074 Kodi Penal i Republikës së Kosovës (Criminal Code No. 06/L-074). Gazeta Zyrtare e Republikës së Kosovës, 14 January 2019. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026