Prostitution Prostitution laws in NorwayNorge / Noreg
Norway criminalises the purchase of sex, not its sale. Under § 316 of the Penal Code anyone who obtains sexual intercourse or a sexual act by giving or agreeing payment faces a fine or up to one year in prison; since 2021 this also covers paying someone to perform sexual acts on themselves. § 315 punishes promoting the prostitution of others and renting out premises for prostitution with up to six years, and an unequivocal public announcement offering, mediating or requesting prostitution with a fine or up to six months. The Penal Code Council proposed decriminalising purchases between adults in 2022; the government declined, and in 2026 the Storting rejected a proposal for a public review of the law.
Legal model
Buying criminalised (Nordic model). Buying sex is an offence; selling it is not (the "Nordic" or "Equality" model).
Buying sex has been an offence since 2009 (straffeloven § 316, the 'sexkjøpsloven') and applies to Norwegian nationals and residents abroad. Selling is not an offence. Promoting another person's prostitution, renting out premises for it and public announcements offering or mediating it are offences under § 315.[1][2][3]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Legal | Selling sex is not an offence. The Penal Code's prostitution provisions are aimed at buyers and third parties; the person who sells is not penalised under § 315 or § 316.[1][3] |
| Buying sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Obtaining sexual intercourse or a sexual act for oneself or another by giving or agreeing payment, or benefiting from payment made by someone else, is punishable by a fine or up to one year in prison. Since 1 January 2021 it also covers paying someone to perform sexual acts on themselves, which reaches paid remote acts.[1][2] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Running a brothel is covered by the offence of promoting another person's prostitution. Renting out premises while understanding, or being grossly negligent as to whether, they will be used for prostitution is a separate limb of the same offence. Both carry a fine or up to six years.[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Promoting the prostitution of others (hallikvirksomhet) is punishable by a fine or up to six years in prison. The provision defines prostitution as receiving payment for sexual intercourse or a sexual act, including acts performed on oneself.[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Anyone who, in a public announcement, unequivocally offers, mediates or requests prostitution is liable to a fine or up to six months in prison. The offence covers the person advertising their own services, a buyer posting a request, and an intermediary.[1] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Selling sex is not an offence. The Penal Code's prostitution provisions are aimed at buyers and third parties; the person who sells is not penalised under § 315 or § 316.[1][3]
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Obtaining sexual intercourse or a sexual act for oneself or another by giving or agreeing payment, or benefiting from payment made by someone else, is punishable by a fine or up to one year in prison. Since 1 January 2021 it also covers paying someone to perform sexual acts on themselves, which reaches paid remote acts.[1][2]
§ 316 letter c was added by an amending act of 4 December 2020 (no. 135), in force 1 January 2021. Under § 5 first paragraph no. 9 the provision also applies to acts committed abroad by Norwegian nationals, people resident in Norway and companies registered in Norway, whether or not buying sex is legal where it happens.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Running a brothel is covered by the offence of promoting another person's prostitution. Renting out premises while understanding, or being grossly negligent as to whether, they will be used for prostitution is a separate limb of the same offence. Both carry a fine or up to six years.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Promoting the prostitution of others (hallikvirksomhet) is punishable by a fine or up to six years in prison. The provision defines prostitution as receiving payment for sexual intercourse or a sexual act, including acts performed on oneself.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
Anyone who, in a public announcement, unequivocally offers, mediates or requests prostitution is liable to a fine or up to six months in prison. The offence covers the person advertising their own services, a buyer posting a request, and an intermediary.[1]
The offence is in the second paragraph of § 315. A website that publishes such announcements for payment could also be treated as promoting the prostitution of others under the first paragraph, which carries a higher penalty.
Confidence: medium. The statutory text is clear. We did not verify case law or prosecution practice against online advertising platforms, so the platform point is a reading of the statute only.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Lov om straff (straffeloven) – Kapittel 26. Seksuallovbrudd Penal Code (Act of 20 May 2005 no. 28), chapter 26 on sexual offences § 315 · § 316 | § 315 (procuring, renting premises, public announcements) and § 316 (buying sexual services from adults).[1] | |
| Lov om straff (straffeloven) – Kapittel 1. Straffelovgivningens virkeområde Penal Code (Act of 20 May 2005 no. 28), chapter 1 § 5 | § 5 extends §§ 309-316, including the purchase offence, to acts abroad by Norwegian nationals and residents.[2] |
Pending and under review
Rejected · updated 28 May 2026
Representative proposal on rights and safety for people who sell sex (Dokument 8:204 S (2025–2026))
Four members from the Green Party proposed on 24 March 2026 that the government appoint a public committee to review the purchase and procuring provisions and their unintended effects. The justice committee, in Innst. 428 S of 28 May 2026, recommended that the proposal not be adopted, with Labour and Centre Party members citing the 2014 evaluation and agreeing with the ministry that no new evaluation is needed. The Storting has closed the case.[3][4]
Rejected · updated 28 May 2026
Penal Code Council proposal to repeal § 316 (NOU 2022: 21)
In NOU 2022: 21, delivered on 19 December 2022, the Penal Code Council recommended decriminalising the purchase of sex between adults. The government did not take the proposal forward in Prop. 132 L (2024–2025), and the Storting's justice committee majority endorsed that decision in May 2026.[3][5]
Timeline
- 2009Buying sexual services criminalised, on the proposal in Ot.prp. nr. 48 (2007–2008).[3]
- 1 January 2021§ 316 extended to paying someone to perform sexual acts on themselves.[1]
- 19 December 2022The Penal Code Council delivered NOU 2022: 21, recommending repeal of the purchase offence for adults.[5]
- 28 May 2026The Storting's justice committee recommended rejecting a proposal for a public review of the purchase and procuring provisions.[3]
Sources
- Lov om straff (straffeloven) – Kapittel 26. Seksuallovbrudd (Penal Code – Chapter 26. Sexual offences). Lovdata. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Lov om straff (straffeloven) – Kapittel 1. Straffelovgivningens virkeområde (Penal Code – Chapter 1. Scope of criminal legislation). Lovdata. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Innst. 428 S (2025–2026) Innstilling fra justiskomiteen om representantforslag om rettigheter og trygghet for personer som selger sex (Recommendation of the Standing Committee on Justice on the proposal on rights and safety for people who sell sex). Stortinget, 28 May 2026. parliament · accessed 30 October 2026
- Representantforslag om rettigheter og trygghet for personer som selger sex (Dokument 8:204 S (2025–2026)) (Representative proposal on rights and safety for people who sell sex). Stortinget, 24 March 2026. parliament · accessed 30 October 2026
- Straffelovrådet vil fjerne sexkjøpsloven (The Penal Code Council wants to remove the sex purchase law). PION, 21 December 2022. ngo · accessed 30 October 2026