The New German Protection of Prostitutes Act applies since 1 July 2017. It states that you have to register as a sex worker. You now require an identity card, the “Prostitute’s Permit” (“Hurenpass”) with immediate effect. You may not work without registration and an identity card and you may be punished.

This is how you obtain the Identity card / prostitute’s permit (Hurenpass):

• First you go to the Department of Public Health (Gesundheitsamt).
• Then you go to the Public Order Office (Ordnungsamt).

Health counselling at the Department of Public Health (Gesundheitsamt)
You first have to go to the Department of Public Health (Gesundheitsamt) and attend a health counselling session. You only receive advice, you will not be examined!

During the counselling you will receive information on sexually transmitted infections (STI), contraceptives such as condoms and unwanted pregnancies. If you want you can have yourself examined for sexually transmitted diseases anonymously and free of charge. Following the discussion you receive a Certificate. You need the certificate to register with the Public Order Office (Ordnungsamt). The Certificate costs € 60.00 in Trier and you have to pay it in cash. The counselling is free in other towns/cities and federal states in Germany.

Counselling certificates from other towns/cities and federal states in Germany also apply in Trier!

You must regularly re-attend the health counselling sessions. Every six months if you are under 21 years old. Every 12 months if you are over 21 years old.

Your contact at the Department of Public Health (Gesundheitsamt): Tel: +49(0)651/715-579 or 0172/6348507 or EMail: sexuelle-gesundheit@trier-saarburg.de. The Department of Public Health (Gesundheitsamt) is in Trier, in the Paulinstraße 60, 54292 Trier.

Registration and Prostitute’s Permit (Hurenpass) at the Public Order Office (Ordnungsamt)
After visiting the Department of Public Health (Gesundheitsamt) you have to register at the Public Order Office (Ordnungsamt) in Trier. You obtain the Identity card (“Prostitute’s Permit” – “Hurenpass”) here.

Incidentally, you can also register under a pseudonym or an alias name. That costs € 10.00.

You require the health counselling certificate to register. Either from the Trier Department of Public Health (Gesundheitsamt) or from another town/city or another federal state in Germany.

The counselling certificates from other cities and federal states in Germany also apply in Trier!

Notice: The certificate may not be more than 3 months old!

You also require an address in Germany where your mail can be sent. In Trier you can name the Café Haltepunkt as your mail address. You have to register there for this. More information is available here. Regardless of where your address is: Don’t forget to regularly check whether you have received mail there. It is possible that you have been sent letters containing important information.

You require the following to register at the Public Order Office (Ordnungsamt):

• The counselling certificate of the Department of Public Health (Gesundheitsamt) (may not be more than 3 months old!)
• A passport photograph
• A mail address
• € 30.00 for the identity card
• € 10.00 if you want to register under a pseudonym or alias

Your contacts to register with the Trier Department of Public Order (Ordnungsamt) is Christine Schmitz, tel. +49 (0) 651 718-3217. The Trier Department of Public Order (Ordnungsamt) can be found in Wasserweg 7-9, 54292 Trier.

You have to go on your own for a discussion at the Public Order Office (Ordnungsamt). You require an interpreter if you don’t speak any German or English. The Public Order Office (Ordnungsamt) then has the discussion translated by a sworn online interpreter. The online interpreter is always available. So you don’t have to sort out the translation arrangements yourself and also don’t have to state in advance that you require an interpreter. However, you will have to pay the costs for the online interpreter yourself.

Remember: You are only allowed to work once you have been registered and have been to the Department of Public Health (Gesundheitsamt) and the Public Order Office (Ordnungsamt)!

You can enter “All the federal German states” in your identity card. Then you can work throughout the whole of Germany with the identity card. If you are 21 years old or older, then your identity card shall be valid for two years. If you are under 21 years of age, the identity card shall be valid for one year. You must always have the identity card with you while you work.

Condom requirement
The new Protection of Prostitutes Act also states that your customers must use a condom. For vaginal, anal and oral sex! If your client does not use a condom, then he may have to pay a fine. However, you will not face any fines! However, it is important to ensure that a condom is used. If you inform your client of the condom requirement and tell him that he should use a condom, then you have done everything right.

If you are the Operator of a club, brothel, a love apartment or another prostitution establishment, you must draw people’s attention to the Condom Requirement. To this end you must for instance hang up a sign which everyone can see.

Advertising
You may not do any advertising for sex without a condom. Advertising for oral sex without a condom is also forbidden! You may also advertise sex without a condomusing the abbreviations or reformulations such as (“no taboos” or “naturally horny”). If you do this despite this warning, you will be asked to pay a fine.

“Advertising that is likely to corrupt the young” is also prohibited. This is advertising that would be bad for children and adolescents if they see or hear this advertising. Advertising sex with pregnant women is also prohibited. You may not use terms in advertising which are euphemisms for sex for pregnant women. You will be asked to pay a fine if you produce advertising which is likely to corrupt the young or advertising for sex with pregnant women.

Specifications for operators
Remember: You require a permit as an Operator of a prostitution establishment. There are various Information portals on the Internet, or get some information at the Trier Public Order Office (Ordnungsamt) tel. +49 (0) 651/718-1323..