Sex Work Service Provider's Licence - Victoria

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for this licence, you must:

• apply as an individual or partnership (a licence cannot be held by a company or other body corporate)
• be at least 18 years of age
• be a suitable person to trade as a sex work service provider
• not have been found guilty or convicted of an indictable offence in the last five years (or have an individual or body corporate associate convicted)
• not have had a sex work service provider's licence cancelled in the last five years
• not be insolvent under administration
  
• not be a represented person within the meaning of the Guardianship and Administration Act 1986.

In addition, the Authority considers the following before granting this licence:

• are you and any associates of good repute, taking into account character, honesty and integrity
• are you able to obtain adequate financial resources to ensure the business' financial viability
• have you sufficient ability to establish and maintain a successful business
• can you ensure employees' occupational health and safety and comply with prescribed requirements or restrictions set out in a licence
  
• your proposed business structure so your associates, whether individuals or bodies corporate, can be readily identified.
  

Check with your local council regarding individual planning permit requirements. If you intend to operate the business as a partnership, each member of the partnership is required to be individually licensed.

Ongoing eligibility requirements

It is an ongoing requirement of this licence that you lodge an annual statement with an annual licence fee in the six weeks before the anniversary of the date you became licensed as a sex work service provider.

Brothels must be personally supervised by a licensee or an approved manager on the premises at all times when they are open for business.

Various signage and other requirements must be adhered to at all times.

Various offences are liable for prosecution under current legislation. Please ensure you are compliant with all national, state and local laws relevant to your business.

Duration

Licences are ongoing until suspended, cancelled or surrendered.

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Forms

Act(s) name

Sex Work Act 1994 Victoria

Regulation(s) name

Sex Work Regulations 2016 Victoria

Application process

Apply

In addition to your application, you must provide:

• details of assets and liabilities
  
• a business plan 
• a cash flow forecast for the first 12 months of business
• a copy of the contract to purchase the business, or a copy of the lease agreement.
  

Please lodge all forms and additional information directly with the Authority. You will need to specify on the application form whether you are applying for a sex work service provider's licence to run a brothel, an escort agency, or both. If your application is accepted, you will then be required to attend an interview, where you will be tested on your knowledge of the relevant legislation.

Approval time

The time taken to process an application will vary according to individual applications.

Administering agency

Business Licensing Authority

Contact details

Supporting information

Apply for a Sex Work Service Provider's Licence (Opens in new window)