Austria

Austria operates a legalised dual-tier regulatory model. Federal law sets the tax, social insurance, criminal (StGB §§201–220b), and public-health framework; each of the 9 Bundesländer writes its own prostitution statute. Dedicated state laws exist in Vienna (Wiener Prostitutionsgesetz 2011), Lower Austria, Styria and Carinthia; the other states regulate prostitution inside their Landes-Polizeistrafgesetz. Six states (Styria, Tyrol, Carinthia, Salzburg, Upper Austria, Vorarlberg) follow a "Bordellsystem" where sex work is legal only in licensed brothels; Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland use a "protected-zone" model. Under StGB §216 it remains illegal to derive regular income from another person's prostitution, so sex workers must operate as self-employed and cannot legally be employees. Federal law requires a health check every 6 weeks (STI swab) plus HIV/blood testing every 12 weeks under §11 Geschlechtskrankheitengesetz; the document is officially the Gesundheitsbuch, colloquially the "Deckel". Minimum age is 18 (Styria: 19).

Vienna remains the largest market, with legal street work confined to specific outdoor zones (historically Stuwerviertel and parts of the Gürtel), plus licensed Laufhäuser and studios in the outer districts. Salzburg, Graz, Linz and Innsbruck operate under brothel-only regimes — independent indoor work outside a licensed venue is unlawful. Austrian Federal Criminal Police estimate 5,000–6,000 registered sex workers post-pandemic (down from 7,000–8,000 pre-COVID) plus an estimated 2,000–3,000 working illegally in private apartments and hotels. Roughly 90% of workers are migrants, predominantly Hungarian, Romanian, Bulgarian and Slovak.

EU GDPR plus Austria's Datenschutzgesetz (DSG) apply. Advertising rules are state-specific; the registration database (Bundespolizeidirektion in Vienna) records real name and photo, creating outing risk if leaked. Advertising must avoid implying services from unregistered persons or unlicensed venues.

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens may register and work freely. Non-EU nationals need a residence title that allows self-employment (Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte or equivalent); a tourist visa does not cover sex work. All workers must carry passport/ID and the Deckel on the job for police inspection. Initial registration in Vienna takes around three weeks (police interview, health screening, then permit issuance).

kontaktbazar.at (largest Austrian classifieds, Vienna-heavy), sexyguide.at, escortgirls-wien.at, savage.at, AnnonceX (DACH-region).

• SOPHIE BildungsRaum (Volkshilfe Wien)
• LEFÖ-IBF — migrant trafficking-victim support
• PIA Salzburg — counselling for sex workers
• Berufsvertretung Sexarbeit — professional representation