Prostitution Prostitution laws in PalauBeluu er a Belau
In Palau, the Penal Code (17 PNC) criminalises both selling and buying sex: engaging in, or agreeing or offering to engage in, sexual conduct for a fee, and paying, agreeing or offering to pay a fee for it, are misdemeanours (§4801). Knowingly advancing or profiting from prostitution, which includes procuring or soliciting patrons, permitting premises to be regularly used and operating a house of prostitution, is a class B felony (§4804); doing so by force, threat, fraud or intimidation, or with a person under 18, is a class A felony (§4803). The Code also has offences of loitering for prostitution (§4805) and promoting travel for prostitution (§4806).
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
The Penal Code (Title 17 of the Palau National Code, as revised by RPPL 9-21) makes prostitution a misdemeanour for both the person paid and the person paying (§4801), and promoting prostitution a felony (§§4803-4804).[1]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | A person who engages in, or agrees or offers to engage in, sexual conduct with another person for a fee commits the misdemeanour of prostitution. Loitering for the purpose of engaging in or advancing prostitution is a separate offence.[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | A person who pays, agrees to pay or offers to pay a fee to another to engage in sexual conduct commits the misdemeanour of prostitution.[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Permitting premises to be regularly used for prostitution, or operating or assisting in the operation of a house of prostitution or a prostitution enterprise, is 'advancing prostitution', which is promoting prostitution in the second degree, a class B felony.[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Knowingly advancing prostitution (other than as the sex worker or client) or profiting from it is a class B felony. Advancing it by compelling or inducing a person through force, threat, fraud or intimidation, or advancing or profiting from the prostitution of a person under 18, is a class A felony.[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | There is no advertising-specific offence, but a sex worker's ad is an 'offer' under §4801, and anyone who 'procures or solicits patrons for prostitution' or engages in other conduct designed to 'aid, or facilitate' it advances prostitution, a class B felony. A site that knowingly publishes such ads could fall within that definition.[1] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
A person who engages in, or agrees or offers to engage in, sexual conduct with another person for a fee commits the misdemeanour of prostitution. Loitering for the purpose of engaging in or advancing prostitution is a separate offence.[1]
Prostitution is a misdemeanour (§ 4801(c)), punishable by up to one year's imprisonment (17 PNC § 664) and a fine of up to $1,000 (§ 651(a)(4)).
Note. Read from the annotated Penal Code (17 PNCA, Supplement 9) published by Palau's Office of the Special Prosecutor; amendments after that supplement were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
A person who pays, agrees to pay or offers to pay a fee to another to engage in sexual conduct commits the misdemeanour of prostitution.[1]
Prostitution is a misdemeanour (§ 4801(c)), punishable by up to one year's imprisonment (17 PNC § 664) and a fine of up to $1,000 (§ 651(a)(4)).
Note. Read from the annotated Penal Code (17 PNCA, Supplement 9) published by Palau's Office of the Special Prosecutor; amendments after that supplement were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Permitting premises to be regularly used for prostitution, or operating or assisting in the operation of a house of prostitution or a prostitution enterprise, is 'advancing prostitution', which is promoting prostitution in the second degree, a class B felony.[1]
Note. Read from the annotated Penal Code (17 PNCA, Supplement 9) published by Palau's Office of the Special Prosecutor; amendments after that supplement were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Knowingly advancing prostitution (other than as the sex worker or client) or profiting from it is a class B felony. Advancing it by compelling or inducing a person through force, threat, fraud or intimidation, or advancing or profiting from the prostitution of a person under 18, is a class A felony.[1]
Note. Read from the annotated Penal Code (17 PNCA, Supplement 9) published by Palau's Office of the Special Prosecutor; amendments after that supplement were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
There is no advertising-specific offence, but a sex worker's ad is an 'offer' under §4801, and anyone who 'procures or solicits patrons for prostitution' or engages in other conduct designed to 'aid, or facilitate' it advances prostitution, a class B felony. A site that knowingly publishes such ads could fall within that definition.[1]
Confidence: low. Inference from the statutory definitions; no case law or guidance on advertising or platform liability was found, and electronic-communications laws were not reviewed.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Penal Code, 17 PNCA (Palau National Code Annotated), Supplement 9 Penal Code, Title 17 Palau National Code (RPPL 9-21) §§4801-4806 | Chapter 48: prostitution (§4801), definitions (§4802), promoting prostitution in the first and second degree (§§4803-4804), loitering (§4805) and promoting travel for prostitution (§4806).[1] |
Sources
- Penal Code, 17 PNCA (Palau National Code Annotated), Supplement 9. Office of the Special Prosecutor, Republic of Palau. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026