Escort accommodation and address registration in Europe
Three days in Austria, two weeks in Germany, five days in the Netherlands: these are the deadlines for registering your address on arrival and what to bring in each country.
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Documents for escort work in Europe: what you need
A valid passport or ID card, the right to work, registration in the country and signing up with the tax office: these are the papers each of the six legal countries asks for.
Before looking for escort work in Europe, the first step is getting your papers in order. Without the right documents, you would be working illegally even if prostitution is legal in that country. Here is the list of what you need.
The 4 basic documents in every country
A valid passport or ID card
Always carry it with you. In the Netherlands you must carry a valid document while you work.
The right to work
With an EU passport you have it. Without one, you need a residence permit that allows you to work, and for this activity one is almost never granted.
Registration in the country
A certificate, a licence or notifying the authority, depending on the country (details below).
Registering with the tax office and social security
As self-employed, or with an employment contract in Belgium.
What papers each country asks for
| Country | Registration | Other papers |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | With the canton (for example, Geneva or Valais police) | Up to 90 days: notification on easygov.swiss at least 8 days in advance. Longer: L or B permit. |
| Germany | Registration certificate (2 years; 1 if you're under 21) | Health counselling certificate, two photos and, if you don't live there, a postal address. |
| Netherlands | Municipal licence if there is physical contact | Registration with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) with DigiD and a VAT number. |
| Austria | Notification in Vienna (police) and Burgenland (municipality) | Health check card, registration with the SVS and a tax number using form Verf. 24. |
| Greece | Personal licence valid for 3 years | Criminal record certificate and medical certificates (HIV). You must not be married. |
| Belgium | Company register (BCE) if you're self-employed | Social insurance fund; with a contract, an authorised employer and a written contract. |
If you have a European Union passport
You can work as an escort in all six countries. If you're staying more than three months, you'll need to register as a resident in the country (for example, the registration certificate in Austria or registering with the municipality in Belgium). In Austria you also have to register your address, even if you're only there for a few days.
If you only have a non-EU passport
- With a tourist visa or tourist stay you cannot work in any of these countries.
- Switzerland and the Netherlands do not grant permits to work in this field.
- In Austria, a residence permit from another EU country (for example, Spain) does not automatically allow you to work there.
If you have dual citizenship, see our article on working as an escort with an EU passport.
Tips to avoid problems
- Make photocopies and take photos of all your documents and keep them separately.
- Never hand over your passport to a venue, a middleman or anyone else.
- Keep stamped receipts (for example, the tax form in Austria): these are what you show during an inspection.
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Keep reading
How to check if an escort venue is legal in Europe
No country publishes a complete list of licensed venues, but you can check for yourself: which permit to ask for, who to contact and which signs to look out for before accepting a job.
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Escort health checks in Europe
Austria and Greece require regular health checks; Germany requires health counselling; Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium have no compulsory checks.
Read the articleAny questions? Ask us
If you can't find your situation in the guide, write to us. We will reply by email with the legal information for the country you are interested in.
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