Prostitution laws in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste's Penal Code, approved by Decree-Law 19/2009 of 8 April 2009, does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence. Under Article 174 (sexual exploitation of a third party), anyone who with intent to profit, or making it a way of life, fosters, facilitates or in any way contributes to another person practising prostitution faces three to ten years' imprisonment, rising to four to twelve years where the offender exploits the victim's abandonment or economic need, uses violence or threats, moves the victim to another country or keeps their identity documents. Exploiting the prostitution of a person under 17 carries four to twelve years (five to fifteen if aggravated) even with the minor's consent, as does offering, obtaining or delivering a minor for prostitution (Article 175). Trafficking is covered by Articles 163–164.
Legal model
Legal, organisation banned. Selling and buying are legal, but brothels, procuring and organising are criminal offences.
The Penal Code (Decree-Law 19/2009) contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. It punishes anyone who, for profit or as a way of life, fosters, facilitates or in any way contributes to another person's prostitution (Article 174), and child prostitution below age 17 (Article 175).[1]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Legal | No offence of selling sex between adults was found in the Penal Code. The prostitution offences target third parties who profit from or contribute to another person's prostitution.[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Sexual acts with minors, including through child prostitution, are separate crimes.[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | There is no separate brothel offence, but running a venue for profit from others' prostitution falls within Article 174, which punishes fostering or facilitating another's prostitution with intent to profit (three to ten years).[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Fostering, facilitating or in any way contributing to another person's prostitution, with intent to profit or as a way of life, carries three to ten years; four to twelve where there is exploitation of need, violence, threats, cross-border movement or retention of identity documents.[1][2] |
| Advertising sexual services | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | No offence specifically on advertising sexual services was found. A sex worker advertising their own services commits no offence, but anyone who advertises another person's services for profit could be "contributing in any way" to that person's prostitution under Article 174.[1] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
No offence of selling sex between adults was found in the Penal Code. The prostitution offences target third parties who profit from or contribute to another person's prostitution.[1]
Confidence: medium. Read in the 2010 annotated edition published by the Court of Appeal on the Ministry of Justice site; amendments after 2010 and minor-offence or municipal rules were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Sexual acts with minors, including through child prostitution, are separate crimes.[1]
Confidence: medium. Read in the 2010 annotated edition; later amendments not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
There is no separate brothel offence, but running a venue for profit from others' prostitution falls within Article 174, which punishes fostering or facilitating another's prostitution with intent to profit (three to ten years).[1]
Confidence: medium. Inference from the wording of Article 174; no case law was reviewed.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Fostering, facilitating or in any way contributing to another person's prostitution, with intent to profit or as a way of life, carries three to ten years; four to twelve where there is exploitation of need, violence, threats, cross-border movement or retention of identity documents.[1][2]
Article 174(1) reads: "Quem, com intenção lucrativa ou fazendo disso modo de vida, fomentar, facilitar ou de qualquer maneira contribuir para que outra pessoa exerça a prostituição ou pratique outros actos sexuais é punido com pena de prisão de 3 a 10 anos."
Confidence: medium. Translation of the Portuguese text by the editor of this entry; later amendments not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No offence specifically on advertising sexual services was found. A sex worker advertising their own services commits no offence, but anyone who advertises another person's services for profit could be "contributing in any way" to that person's prostitution under Article 174.[1]
Confidence: low. Inference from the broad wording of Article 174; media and communications rules were not reviewed.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Código Penal / Kódigu Penál, aprovado pelo Decreto-Lei 19/2009, de 8 de Abril, e alterado pela Lei 6/2009, de 15 de Julho (2.ª edição anotada, Tribunal de Recurso, 2010) Penal Code (approved by Decree-Law 19/2009 of 8 April, amended by Law 6/2009 of 15 July) Artigo 163.º · Artigo 164.º · Artigo 174.º · Artigo 175.º | Article 174 on sexual exploitation of a third party, Article 175 on child prostitution, Articles 163–164 on trafficking.[1] | 2009 |
Timeline
- 8 April 2009Decree-Law 19/2009 approves the Penal Code, including the offence of sexual exploitation of a third party.[1]
Sources
- Código Penal / Kódigu Penál, aprovado pelo Decreto-Lei 19/2009, de 8 de Abril, e alterado pela Lei 6/2009, de 15 de Julho (2.ª edição anotada, Tribunal de Recurso, 2010) (Penal Code, approved by Decree-Law 19/2009 of 8 April and amended by Law 6/2009 of 15 July (2nd annotated edition, Court of Appeal, 2010)). Ministério da Justiça, República Democrática de Timor-Leste, March 2010. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report: Timor-Leste. U.S. Department of State, 2026. government · accessed 30 October 2026