Prostitution laws in RomaniaRomânia
Romania removed prostitution from its criminal law when the 2009 Criminal Code replaced the 1968 Code on 1 February 2014; the old Article 328 had punished people who made their living from prostitution with three months to three years. Today, soliciting people in bars, parks, streets or other public places for paid sex, or urging someone to do so, is a contravention under Law No. 61/1991, fined RON 500–1,500; venue managers who tolerate it are fined and can have the venue suspended. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence unless the buyer knows the person is a trafficking victim. Procuring ("proxenetism"), defined as inducing or facilitating prostitution or profiting from it, carries two to seven years; its aggravated paragraphs were repealed in November 2024. 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.
Prostitution was a crime under Article 328 of the 1968 Criminal Code until the new Code took effect on 1 February 2014, which has no such offence. Soliciting in public places for paid sex remains a contravention (fine) under Law No. 61/1991; private selling and buying between adults are not sanctioned. Borderline: the remaining offence targets public solicitation rather than selling as such.[1][2][3]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Restricted Breach: administrative offence | Attracting people in any form in venues, parks, streets or other public places for paid sexual relations, or urging a person to do so, is a contravention punishable by a fine of RON 500–1,500. Selling sex in private is not sanctioned.[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Using the services of a person whom the buyer knows to be a victim of trafficking in persons or minors is punishable by six months to three years or a fine; any sexual act with a minor who practises prostitution carries six months to three years.[2] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Facilitating the practice of prostitution, or obtaining financial gain from another person's prostitution, is procuring, punishable by two to seven years. Managers of hotels, bars, clubs and similar venues who accept or tolerate public soliciting on their premises commit a contravention, and the venue's activity can be suspended for 10 to 30 days.[1][2] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Inducing or facilitating the practice of prostitution, or obtaining financial gain from the prostitution of one or more persons, is punishable by two to seven years and a ban on certain rights. The aggravated forms in paragraphs (2), (3) and (3^1) were repealed by Law No. 269/2024 with effect from 3 November 2024.[2] |
| Advertising sexual services | Restricted | No offence specifically targeting the advertising of sexual services was found. Advertising on behalf of another person could amount to "facilitating" prostitution under Article 213, and inciting a person in a public place to paid sex is covered by the Law No. 61/1991 contravention.[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Attracting people in any form in venues, parks, streets or other public places for paid sexual relations, or urging a person to do so, is a contravention punishable by a fine of RON 500–1,500. Selling sex in private is not sanctioned.[1]
Point numbering follows the 2020 republication of Law No. 61/1991 (Monitorul Oficial No. 125 of 18 February 2020). Article 3(1)(c), which sets the fine for points 5–10, was last amended by Law No. 92/2026 with effect from 13 June 2026.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Using the services of a person whom the buyer knows to be a victim of trafficking in persons or minors is punishable by six months to three years or a fine; any sexual act with a minor who practises prostitution carries six months to three years.[2]
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Facilitating the practice of prostitution, or obtaining financial gain from another person's prostitution, is procuring, punishable by two to seven years. Managers of hotels, bars, clubs and similar venues who accept or tolerate public soliciting on their premises commit a contravention, and the venue's activity can be suspended for 10 to 30 days.[1][2]
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Inducing or facilitating the practice of prostitution, or obtaining financial gain from the prostitution of one or more persons, is punishable by two to seven years and a ban on certain rights. The aggravated forms in paragraphs (2), (3) and (3^1) were repealed by Law No. 269/2024 with effect from 3 November 2024.[2]
Article 213(4) defines prostitution as having sexual acts with different persons to obtain financial gain for oneself or another.
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 amount to "facilitating" prostitution under Article 213, and inciting a person in a public place to paid sex is covered by the Law No. 61/1991 contravention.[1][2]
Confidence: low. Inference from the absence of a specific provision; advertising and audiovisual legislation and case law on online ads were not reviewed.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Codul penal din 17 iulie 2009 (Legea nr. 286/2009), forma consolidată Criminal Code (Law No. 286/2009) art. 213 · art. 216 · art. 216^1 | Defines and punishes procuring (Art. 213) and use of exploited persons (Art. 216); contains no offence of selling sex.[2] | 1 February 2014 |
| Legea nr. 61/1991 pentru sancționarea faptelor de încălcare a unor norme de conviețuire socială, a ordinii și liniștii publice (republicată), forma consolidată Law No. 61/1991 on public order contraventions (republished 2020) art. 2 pct. 6) · art. 2 pct. 7) · art. 3 | Fines public soliciting for paid sex and venues that tolerate it.[1] | |
| Codul penal din 21 iunie 1968 (republicat) Criminal Code of 1968 (repealed) art. 328 | Article 328 criminalised making a living from prostitution until 31 January 2014.[3] |
Timeline
- 1 February 2014New Criminal Code takes effect; the 1968 Code's Article 328 offence of prostitution lapses.[2][3]
- 3 November 2024Law No. 269/2024 repeals the aggravated paragraphs of the procuring offence (Article 213(2)–(3^1)).[2]
- 13 June 2026Law No. 92/2026 amends the fine bands of Law No. 61/1991, including the band applying to public soliciting.[1]
Sources
- Legea nr. 61/1991 pentru sancționarea faptelor de încălcare a unor norme de conviețuire socială, a ordinii și liniștii publice (republicată), forma consolidată (Law No. 61/1991 on sanctioning breaches of social coexistence, public order and peace). Portal Legislativ, Ministerul Justiției. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Codul penal din 17 iulie 2009 (Legea nr. 286/2009), forma consolidată (Criminal Code (Law No. 286/2009), consolidated). Portal Legislativ, Ministerul Justiției. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Codul penal din 21 iunie 1968 (republicat) (Criminal Code of 1968 (repealed)). Portal Legislativ, Ministerul Justiției. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026