Prostitution laws in Venezuela
Venezuelan law does not punish people who sell sex or their adult clients. The Penal Code makes it an offence, punishable by one to six years, to induce, facilitate or favour the prostitution of any person repeatedly or for profit and to satisfy the passions of another, with a higher penalty where the person is a minor. Separate provisions in the chapter on corrupters punish inducing or facilitating the prostitution of minors and forcing a descendant, wife or ward into prostitution by violence or threats. This overview could only check the text through a copy of the 2000 version of the Code; the Code has been reformed since and current secondary copies number the chapter on corrupters one article lower, so provision numbers here are approximate.
Legal model
Legal, organisation banned. Selling and buying are legal, but brothels, procuring and organising are criminal offences.
The Penal Code does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence. It punishes whoever, repeatedly or for profit and to satisfy the passions of another, induces, facilitates or favours the prostitution of any person, which reaches third parties who organise or profit from prostitution, including brothel keepers. Other provisions protect minors and punish coercion by relatives or husbands.[1]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Legal | No provision of the Penal Code makes selling sex between adults an offence; the prostitution offences target those who induce, facilitate or profit from the prostitution of others.[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | Paying an adult for sex is not an offence under the Penal Code. Sexual acts with minors are covered by separate offences.[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | No licensing regime for brothels was found. Running a venue where others sell sex, for profit, falls within the offence of inducing, facilitating or favouring the prostitution of any person repeatedly or for profit, punishable by one to six years.[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Whoever, repeatedly or for profit and to satisfy the passions of another, induces, facilitates or favours the prostitution or corruption of any person is punished with one to six years; if the person is a minor, the penalty is applied between the midpoint and the maximum.[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Advertising a third party's sexual services for profit could fall within the facilitation offence; self-advertising by an adult who sells sex is not addressed.[1] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
No provision of the Penal Code makes selling sex between adults an offence; the prostitution offences target those who induce, facilitate or profit from the prostitution of others.[1]
Confidence: low. Based on a secondary copy of the 2000 Penal Code text; the official current text could not be opened. Municipal ordinances and police practice were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Paying an adult for sex is not an offence under the Penal Code. Sexual acts with minors are covered by separate offences.[1]
Confidence: low. Based on a secondary copy of the 2000 Penal Code text; the official current text could not be opened.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
No licensing regime for brothels was found. Running a venue where others sell sex, for profit, falls within the offence of inducing, facilitating or favouring the prostitution of any person repeatedly or for profit, punishable by one to six years.[1]
Confidence: low. That the facilitation offence covers brothel keeping is an interpretation of its wording; no case law was checked. Article number is from the 2000 text and may have changed in later reforms.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Whoever, repeatedly or for profit and to satisfy the passions of another, induces, facilitates or favours the prostitution or corruption of any person is punished with one to six years; if the person is a minor, the penalty is applied between the midpoint and the maximum.[1]
The 2000 text reads: "El que reiteradamente o con fines de lucro y para satisfacer las pasiones de otro, induzca, facilite o favorezca la prostitución o corrupción de alguna persona, será castigado con prisión de uno a seis años." The chapter "De los corruptores" adds offences of inducing or facilitating the prostitution of minors and of forcing a descendant, a wife (even an adult) or a ward into prostitution by violence or threats. Trafficking is dealt with in separate laws not reviewed here.
Confidence: low. Quoted from a copy of the 2000 Penal Code (Gaceta Oficial N° 5.494 Extraordinario) supplied by the National Assembly's legislative information service to Justia; the official consolidated current text could not be opened, so the wording and numbering may differ.
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Advertising a third party's sexual services for profit could fall within the facilitation offence; self-advertising by an adult who sells sex is not addressed.[1]
Confidence: low. Not verified against current official law, telecommunications or media regulation; treat as unconfirmed.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Código Penal (Gaceta Oficial N° 5.494 Extraordinario, 20 de octubre de 2000) Penal Code (2000 text; later reformed) art. 382 (2000 text) · "De los corruptores" | Contains the offences of inducing, facilitating or favouring prostitution and the chapter on corrupters of minors.[1] |
Sources
- Código Penal (Gaceta Oficial N° 5.494 Extraordinario, 20 de octubre de 2000) (Penal Code (Official Gazette No. 5,494 Extraordinary, 20 October 2000)). Justia Venezuela (text supplied by the Servicio Autónomo de Información Legislativa), 20 October 2000. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026