Prostitution laws in SloveniaSlovenija
In Slovenia, selling and buying sex between adults are legal and unregulated. Offering sexual services in a public place in an importunate way that disturbs, alarms or outrages people is a minor offence punished by a fine. The Criminal Code punishes 'abuse of prostitution': taking part in another person's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation, or recruiting or inducing a person into prostitution by force, threat or deception (three months to five years; one to ten years for minors, several victims or organised crime). There is no licensing of venues, and no rule specific to advertising was found.
Legal model
Legal, organisation banned. Selling and buying are legal, but brothels, procuring and organising are criminal offences.
Neither selling nor buying sex between adults is an offence and there is no registration or licensing scheme. The Criminal Code (KZ-1, Art. 175) punishes taking part in another person's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation and inducing a person into prostitution by force, threat or deception. The public-order act only penalises offering sexual services in public in an importunate way. The status of non-exploitative third parties, such as venue operators, is not settled by the statute.[1][2]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Restricted Breach: administrative offence | Selling sex is not an offence. Whoever has sexual intercourse, exposes their genitals or offers sexual services in an importunate way ("na vsiljiv način") in a public place, and thereby disturbs others or causes alarm or outrage, commits a minor offence punished by a fine (Art. 7(3) ZJRM-1).[2] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | No offence of paying an adult for sex was found in the Criminal Code or the public-order act. Offences protecting minors and victims of trafficking apply separately.[1][2] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | No law licenses or expressly bans brothels. A venue operator who takes part in a sex worker's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation commits abuse of prostitution (Art. 175 KZ-1, three months to five years). Whether a venue run without exploitation is lawful is not settled by the statute.[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | Abuse of prostitution (Art. 175 KZ-1): whoever takes part in another person's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation, or recruits, obtains or incites another person into prostitution by force, threat or deception, faces three months to five years. If committed against a minor, against several persons or within a criminal association, the penalty is one to ten years.[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Legal | No provision specific to advertising sexual services was found in the Criminal Code or the public-order act. A third party who profits from advertising would only be caught by Art. 175 KZ-1 if they take part in a sex worker's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation. No rule on the liability of ad websites was found.[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Selling sex is not an offence. Whoever has sexual intercourse, exposes their genitals or offers sexual services in an importunate way ("na vsiljiv način") in a public place, and thereby disturbs others or causes alarm or outrage, commits a minor offence punished by a fine (Art. 7(3) ZJRM-1).[2]
Confidence: medium. Read in the 2006 text as published in the Official Gazette (fines then in tolars); the current consolidated text on PISRS could not be opened, so later amendments and the current fine amounts are not reflected.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
No offence of paying an adult for sex was found in the Criminal Code or the public-order act. Offences protecting minors and victims of trafficking apply separately.[1][2]
Confidence: medium. Based on the 2008 Criminal Code as published; amendments since then were not checked against a consolidated text.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
No law licenses or expressly bans brothels. A venue operator who takes part in a sex worker's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation commits abuse of prostitution (Art. 175 KZ-1, three months to five years). Whether a venue run without exploitation is lawful is not settled by the statute.[1]
Confidence: low. No case law or official guidance on venues was found; treat the status as uncertain.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Abuse of prostitution (Art. 175 KZ-1): whoever takes part in another person's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation, or recruits, obtains or incites another person into prostitution by force, threat or deception, faces three months to five years. If committed against a minor, against several persons or within a criminal association, the penalty is one to ten years.[1]
Confidence: medium. Wording and penalties are from the Criminal Code as published in 2008 (Uradni list RS, št. 55/2008); the current consolidated text on PISRS could not be opened, so amendments since then are not reflected.
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No provision specific to advertising sexual services was found in the Criminal Code or the public-order act. A third party who profits from advertising would only be caught by Art. 175 KZ-1 if they take part in a sex worker's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation. No rule on the liability of ad websites was found.[1][2]
Confidence: low. Media, advertising and e-commerce legislation were not checked; a restriction elsewhere cannot be excluded.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Kazenski zakonik (KZ-1), Uradni list RS, št. 55/2008 z dne 4. 6. 2008 Criminal Code (KZ-1), Official Gazette No. 55/2008 Art. 175 | Abuse of prostitution: exploitative participation in, and coerced inducement into, prostitution.[1] | |
| Zakon o varstvu javnega reda in miru (ZJRM-1), Uradni list RS, št. 70/2006 Protection of Public Order Act (ZJRM-1), Official Gazette No. 70/2006 Art. 7(3) | Minor offence of offering sexual services importunately in a public place.[2] |
Timeline
Sources
- Kazenski zakonik (KZ-1), Uradni list RS, št. 55/2008 z dne 4. 6. 2008 (Criminal Code (KZ-1), Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No. 55/2008 (original text)). Uradni list Republike Slovenije, 4 June 2008. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Zakon o varstvu javnega reda in miru (ZJRM-1), Uradni list RS, št. 70/2006 (Protection of Public Order Act (ZJRM-1), Official Gazette No. 70/2006 (original text)). Uradni list Republike Slovenije, 2006. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026