Offenses related to prostitution: procuring, using a prostitute and sex tourism
Verified 20 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice
What is at risk in the event of pimping or using a prostitute? These acts constitute infringements which are subject to criminal sanctions. The applicable rules and penalties differ depending on the circumstances of the case (offense committed abroad, on the Internet, etc.) and the age of the prostitute. There are mechanisms to get out of prostitution and protect the prostitute. We present you the information to know.
Major prostitute
The adult person who is prostituting himself cannot be punished by law.
On the other hand, clients of prostitutes and pimps may be punished. The same applies to the manager of a place where people are prostituted.
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Customer
In FranceHowever, a person who resorts to prostitution may be punished. If the facts were committed abroad by a person of French nationality or habitually living in France, we are talking about sex tourism. In some cases, sex tourism is condemned.
Use of prostitution in France
A person can be sanctioned in one of the following 3 situations:
- It solicits sexual relations from a prostitute in return for a remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind (for example, a dwelling) or the promise of such a benefit
- It accepts sexual relations from a prostitute in return for a remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit
- She obtains sexual relations with a prostitute in return for a remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit.
Sex tourism
A person may be punished when he solicits, accepts or obtains sexual relations abroad from a prostitute who is vulnerable due to illness, disability or pregnancy.
The client of French nationality or habitually resident in France may also be sentenced in the following situations:
- He resorts to prostitution on a regular basis or with several prostitutes
- He was put in contact with a prostitute through a online communication service
- He is abusing the authority that his duties give him
- He put the life of the prostitute in danger or he inflicted violence on him.
Pimp
Pimping is about profiting from or promoting another person's prostitution.
A pimp is one who commits one of the following acts:
- Assist, assist or protect a person's prostitution, even without profiting from it
- Taking advantage of another person's prostitution
- Hire a person for the purpose of prostitution, or exert pressure on the person to engage in prostitution or to continue to engage in prostitution
- Acting as an intermediary between a prostitute and his clients
- Helping an individual to give a legal appearance to the resources they derive from another person's prostitution
- Living with a prostitute without being able to justify resources that allow his lifestyle
- Prevent prevention, control, assistance, or re-education, company by agencies trained to assist prostitutes.
Tenant of a place of prostitution
The law punishes a pimp or any other person for doing any of the following:
- To own, manage, operate or finance an establishment that normally tolerates one or more persons engaging in prostitution within or seeking clients for prostitution within the establishment
- Sell, rent or own vehicles of any kind knowing that they will be used for prostitution.
A case of cyberpimping (Internet pimping) can be reported to law enforcement and the host of the site on which the illegal content was published.
How to report incidents of cyberpimping to law enforcement?
Victims and witnesses of Internet pimping can report these facts to law enforcement.
Reporting is done through the PHAROS platform:
Report illegal internet content (internet-reporting: Pharos)
FYI
The purpose of this device is to report illegal content published on the internet. The content of pimping is considered to be a publication that advocates trafficking in human beings.
If the PHAROS teams believe that the content is illegal, the report is transmitted to the competent authorities (example: investigation services of the National Police or the National Gendarmerie). An investigation may be conducted under the authority of the public prosecutor.
In addition, the police and gendarmes may contact the host of the site or platform concerned and ask him to remove the illegal content.
How to report incidents of cyberpimping to a website host?
The hosts must offer internet users mechanisms to report content published on a site or a website. online platform, when they consider it to be unlawful.Report abusive behavior on TikTok
These mechanisms must be easily accessible to anyone who wishes to report illegal data. It must be able to issue an alert electronically.
Social networks (Twitter,Facebook,InstagramSnapchat, TikTok, etc.) generally have elaborate reporting systems that explain the situation and accurately report illegal content.
In the case of independent websites (e.g. a company's website), the person who wishes to make a report must search for the host's contact details (e.g. email address).
FYI
In general, the contact details of the host can be found in the legal notice of the website.
The alert shall contain the following information:
- Identity of the person making the report
- Period during which the events took place
- Accurate description of illegal content
- Information to identify the author of the offense (for example, the URL of the site)
- Reasons why the victim or witness wishes to withdraw
- Possible steps taken to contact the perpetrator.
FYI
It is not mandatory to have tried to contact the offender to report illegal content to the web host. The victim or witness may directly report the facts to the host.
If a person reports content as illegal, knowing it is not, he or she could face up to one year in prison and €15,000 of a fine.
The person who wants to get out of prostitution can turn to an association approved assistance to victims or combating prostitution and pimping.
This association may take steps to ensure that the prostitute has access to the exit route from prostitution.
FYI
This course is open to any prostitute, whether or not he holds a valid residence permit.
To benefit from this mechanism, the person concerned and the association that follows him must specify in a document all the actions planned to allow an exit from prostitution (example: professional project). This document must be signed by the prostitute, who has an obligation to commit to stopping prostitution.
It must be transmitted to the prefecture of the department in which the facts take place.
Warning
The person who wishes to leave prostitution must provide a copy of his identity document (example: passport, residence permit).
Who shall I contact
Subsequently, a departmental commission to combat prostitution analyzed the situation of the prostitute. After receiving his opinion, the prefect may authorize the prostitute to engage in an exit route from prostitution.
The exit path from prostitution is defined according to the health, professional and social needs of the person who is prostituting.
In particular, it may benefit from:
- Accommodation (social housing, foster care, etc.)
- A provisional residence permit for an initial period of 6 months
- The payment of financial assistance for social and professional integration (if requested).
In order to obtain financial assistance for social and professional integration (AFIS), the following conditions must be met:
- Be of age
- Being involved in the exit path from prostitution
- Be French, a national of a State of the European Union, the European Economic Area, be a Swiss citizen or hold a valid residence permit
- Do not receive or have applied for the active solidarity income (RSA), asylum seeker's allowance (Ada) or temporary waiting allowance (Ata)
- Proof of monthly income below the amount of RSA for a single person.
To apply for this assistance, the prostitute must fill out a form:
Application for financial assistance for social and professional integration (Afis)
The application must be accompanied by the following documents:
- Copy of valid identity document or residence permit
- Copy of the decision of the prefect authorizing the engagement in a path out of prostitution
- One bank identity statement (if the person does not have one, he can provide a certificate of domicile election to the association that follows him)
- The identity document of each dependent child (if the prostitute is a parent).
The complete file must be sent to the MSA of Le Mans, by post or by email.
Who shall I contact
The amount of the AFIS is €343.20 per month for a single person. This amount varies depending on the dependent children :
- 1 single person : €343.20 monthly
- 1 person and 1 dependent child : €449.28 monthly
- 1 person and 2 dependent children : €555.36 monthly
- 1 person and 3 dependent children : €661.44 monthly
- Supplement by additional dependent child: €106.08 monthly.
This aid is paid by the MSA for a period of 6 months, renewable up to a maximum of 24 months.
The exit route from prostitution is planned for a period of 6 months renewable 3 times, within the limit of 24 months.
The prostitute may file a complaint against the client who uses prostitution and/or against the pimp. If he wishes to obtain damages, it may also become a civil party (at the time of the complaint and until the day of judgment).
In addition, associations combating slavery, trafficking in human beings and pimping may lodge complaints and bring civil proceedings on behalf of one or more prostitutes.
Warning
To become a civil party, associations must be declared for at least 5 years at the date of the facts.
The time limits for filing a complaint are as follows:
- 1 year from the commission of the offense, where prostitution is used
- 6 years from the commission of the offense if the person has resorted to a prostitute on several occasions (legal recidivism)
- 6 years from the last act of prostitution, in case of pimping.
The victim (or anti-prostitution associations) may lodge a complaint with a police station or gendarmerie brigade. They also have the possibility of sending a letter to the public prosecutor.
FYI
It is also possible to file a complaint against the perpetrator of physical violence, rape or a sexual assault.
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On site
To file a complaint, you must go to police station or to the gendarmerie of your choice.
Police or gendarmerie services are obliged to register your complaint if you are a victim of a infringement.
It's the public prosecutor who decides on the action to be taken on the complaint (investigation, filing without follow-up...).
By mail
You can file a complaint with the public prosecutor.
To do this, you need to send a mail to court of the place of the offense or of the domicile of the offender.
Who shall I contact
Your mail should include the following:
- Your marital status and full contact details (address and telephone number)
- Detailed account of the facts, date and place of the offense
- Name of the alleged perpetrator if you know him (otherwise, the complaint will be filed against X)
- Name and address of any witnesses to the offense
- Description and provisional or definitive estimate of injury
- Your proof documents: medical certificates, work stoppages, photographs, videos, various invoices, statements...
You can use the following mail template:
File a complaint with the public prosecutor
You can send your complaint by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (preferably), by simple letter or by followed letter.
You can also file your complaint directly at the reception desk of the court.
In any case, a receipt is sent to you as soon as the public prosecutor's office has registered your complaint.
From the time of filing a complaint until the end of the trial, the victim may be assisted by a lawyer.
Who shall I contact
If it does not have the financial resources to deal with it, it can apply for legal aid.
Each person who played a role in the victim's prostitution (client, pimp, facility manager) faces different penalties. These penalties also vary according to the circumstances in which the events took place.
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Client of a prostitute
Sentences differ depending on where the events took place. When they took place abroad on a person vulnerable, we are talking about sex tourism.
Use of prostitution in France
Using the services of a person who is a prostitute is a ticket punishable by a fine of €1,500.
Please note
In case of recurrenceHowever, the use of the services of a prostitute is no longer considered a contravention, but as a misdemeanor. The fine incurred is equal to €3,750.
If the facts were committed on a vulnerable person, the client shall be sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment and €75,000 of a fine.
Moreover, the use of prostitution is punishable by 7 years in prison and €100,000 fine in the following cases:
- Use of prostitution on a regular basis or with multiple prostitutes
- Connecting with a prostitute through a online communication service
- The client is abusing the authority given to him by his duties
- The client endangers the life of the prostitute or has inflicted violence on him.
FYI
In parallel with these sanctions, the court may impose one or more additional penalties against the client (example: awareness-raising course on the fight against the purchase of sexual services).
Sex tourism
A client of French nationality or habitually living in France who uses a prostitute abroad shall be punished by 5 years' imprisonment and €75,000 of a fine.
Moreover, the use of prostitution is punishable by 7 years in prison and €100,000 fine in the following cases:
- Use of prostitution on a regular basis or with multiple prostitutes
- Connecting with a prostitute through a online communication service
- The client is abusing the authority given to him by his duties
- The client endangers the life of the prostitute or has inflicted violence on him.
FYI
In parallel with these sanctions, the court may impose one or more additional penalties against the client (example: awareness-raising course on the fight against the purchase of sexual services).
Pimp
Pimping is punishable by up to 7 years in prison and €150,000 of a fine.
These sentences may be increased to 10 years in prison and €1 500 000 where the acts are committed:
- On a person who is particularly vulnerable due to age, illness, mental disability or pregnancy
- On several people
- In respect of a person who has been incited to engage in prostitution abroad or upon arrival in France
- By an ascendant of the person who is prostituting himself or herself or by a person who has authority over him or her by reason of his or her duties (for example, an employer)
- By a member of an anti-prostitution organization
- By a person carrying a weapon
- Under duress or with violence
- By several persons acting as co-authors or accomplices
- Through a online communication service.
These penalties are further aggravated when the procuring was accompanied by acts of torture or was committed in organized gang.
FYI
The judge may add a additional penalty the main penalty (e.g. temporary or permanent prohibition from engaging in a professional or social activity in connection with the fight against pimping).
Tenant of a place of prostitution
A person who owns, operates or finances a place of prostitution shall be liable to 10 years' imprisonment and €750,000 of a fine.
FYI
The judge may add a additional penalty the main penalty (for example, the total or partial closure of the establishment used for prostitution).
Minor prostitute
A minor who is a prostitute cannot be punished by law.
On the other hand, clients of prostitutes and pimps may be punished. The same applies to the manager of a place where people engage in prostitution.
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Customer
A person can be sanctioned in one of the following 3 situations:
- It solicits sexual relations from a prostitute in return for a remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind (for example, a dwelling) or the promise of such a benefit
- It accepts sexual relations from a prostitute in return for a remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit
- She obtains sexual relations with a prostitute in return for a remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit.
FYI
A person of French nationality or a person who habitually lives in France may be punished if he has committed one of the above-mentioned acts while he was abroad. This is about sex tourism.
Pimp
Pimping is about profiting from or promoting another person's prostitution.
A pimp is one who commits one of the following acts:
- Assist, assist or protect a person's prostitution, even without profiting from it
- Taking advantage of another person's prostitution
- Hire a person for the purpose of prostitution, or exert pressure on the person to engage in prostitution or to continue to engage in prostitution
- Acting as an intermediary between a prostitute and his clients
- Helping an individual to give a legal appearance to the resources they derive from another person's prostitution
- Living with a prostitute without being able to justify resources that allow his lifestyle
- Prevent prevention, control, assistance, or re-education, company by agencies trained to assist prostitutes.
FYI
A person of French nationality or a person habitually living in France may be prosecuted for acts of pimping committed abroad. It does not matter if the facts are not prohibited by law in the foreigner country.
Management of a place of prostitution
The law punishes a pimp or any other person for doing any of the following:
- To own, manage, operate or finance an establishment that normally tolerates one or more persons engaging in prostitution within or seeking clients for prostitution within the establishment
- Sell, rent or own vehicles of any kind knowing that they will be used for prostitution.
In order for a minor to be sheltered, it is possible to make a report of a national telephone reception service for children at risk (SNATED). On the other hand, the children's judge may be seized.
How do I report a prostitution offense to SNATED?
A victim or witness of a prostitution-related offense can alert SNATED by phone or online. This service is open to any person (adult or minor).
Who shall I contact
Childhood in danger - 119
A telephone number for any child or young person who is a victim of violence or anyone who is concerned about a situation of a child in danger or at risk of being.
By phone
119 (free and confidential call)
24/7
A call on this number is geolocated, identified and prioritized. It doesn't appear on the bills.
On the website www.allo119.gouv.fr
- Real-time chat for children under 21 (7 days a week from 3 pm to 9 pm)
- Device in French sign language for deaf and hard of hearing people
This platform is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 7 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm. - Online collection form to file a situation if you are an adult
SNATED officers contact the reporting person and a child care professional. This professional assesses the situation of the minor.
If it considers that the minor is in danger, the SNATED informs the cell for the collection, evaluation and processing of information of concern (CRIP).
FYI
119 agents can prevent emergency services (Police Secours, Samu, etc.). In this case, the CRIP shall be informed.
Can a child judge be referred to the juvenile court for a prostitution-related offense?
One of the tasks of the juvenile judge is to protect the health, safety and morals of minors.
Faced with a case of prostitution, he can be entered by:
- The minor himself
- The legal representatives of the minor
- Children's Social Assistance (CSA) or any other service with responsibility for children
- The public prosecutor (usually notified by the department's services or by any witness officer of an offense committed against or by the child).
When it is seized, it can take a educational assistance measure up to the placement of the minor.
When committed on the Internet, an offense related to child prostitution can be reported to law enforcement and the host of the site on which the illegal content was published.
How do I report a prostitution offense to law enforcement?
Victims and witnesses of an offense related to prostitution committed on the Internet (e.g. cyberpimping) can report these facts to law enforcement.
Reporting is done through the PHAROS platform:
Report illegal internet content (internet-reporting: Pharos)
The purpose of this device is to report illegal content published on the internet. Content specific to child prostitution and pimping is considered to be a publication that advocates trafficking in human beings.
FYI
It is also possible to report a case of pedophilia committed on the internet.
If the PHAROS teams believe that the content is illegal, the report is transmitted to the competent authorities (example: investigation services of the National Police or the National Gendarmerie). An investigation may be conducted under the authority of the public prosecutor.
In addition, the police and gendarmes may contact the host of the site or platform concerned and ask him to remove the illegal content.
How do I report prostitution-related content to a website host?
The hosts must offer internet users mechanisms to report content published on a site or a website. online platform, when they consider it to be unlawful.Report abusive behavior on TikTok
These mechanisms must be easily accessible to anyone who wishes to report illegal data. It must be able to issue an alert electronically.
Social networks (Twitter,Facebook,InstagramSnapchat, TikTok, etc.) generally have elaborate reporting systems that explain the situation and accurately report illegal content.
In the case of independent websites (e.g. a company's website), the person who wishes to make a report must search for the host's contact details (e.g. email address).
FYI
In general, the contact details of the host can be found in the legal notice of the website.
The alert shall contain the following information:
- Identity of the person making the report
- Period during which the events took place
- Accurate description of illegal content
- Information to identify the author of the offense (for example, the URL of the site)
- Reasons why the victim or witness wishes to withdraw
- Possible steps taken to contact the perpetrator.
FYI
It is not mandatory to have tried to contact the offender to report illegal content to the web host. The victim or witness may directly report the facts to the host.
If a person reports content as illegal, knowing it is not, he or she could face up to one year in prison and €15,000 of a fine.
A complaint may be filed against a client, against the pimp or against the manager of an establishment in which minors engage in prostitution.
The person who wishes to file a complaint must respect certain deadlines that depend on the circumstances of the case.
FYI
As soon as a complaint is lodged, the minor may be assisted by a lawyer.
If he does not have sufficient financial resources to pay his fees, he can apply for legal aid.
Who can file a complaint against the perpetrator of a prostitution-related offense?
Several persons may lodge complaints in the case of prostitution of a minor:
- The minor who is prostituting himself
- Legal representatives of the minor
- An association with more than 5 years of seniority (for example, an association for the defense of child victims of abuse or an association for the fight against slavery, trafficking in human beings and pimping).
FYI
In order for the minor to be compensated, he must be civil party. To do this, he must be accompanied by his legal representatives who will do it on his behalf.
Associations with more than 5 years of seniority may also become civil parties in the name of one or more prostitutes.
How soon can a complaint be lodged against the perpetrator of a prostitution-related offense?
The time limits for filing a complaint differ depending on the person who committed the'offense.
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Complaint against a customer
The use of prostitution and sex tourism are offenses.
Thus, the complaint can be filed within 10 years from the majority of the victim.
Complaint against a pimp
When it is committed on a minor aged 15 or over, pimping is a offense.
Thus, the complaint can be filed within 10 years from the majority of the victim.
On the other hand, if the acts are committed on a minor under 15 years of age, pimping is a crime.
The time limit for filing a complaint is therefore 30 years from the age of majority of the victim.
Complaint against a facility manager
Making an establishment available for minors to engage in prostitution is a offense.
The time limit for filing a complaint against the manager is 10 years from the majority of the victim.
How to file a complaint against the perpetrator of a prostitution-related offense?
The complaint may be lodged with a police station or a gendarmerie brigade. It may also be addressed to public prosecutor.
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On site
To file a complaint, you must go to police station or to the gendarmerie of your choice.
Police or gendarmerie services are obliged to register your complaint if you are a victim of a infringement.
The complaint is then forwarded to the public prosecutor so that it decides on the next steps (investigation, filing without follow-upetc.).
By mail
To file a complaint, you must go to police station or to the gendarmerie of your choice.
Police or gendarmerie services are obliged to register your complaint if you are a victim of a infringement.
The complaint is then forwarded to the public prosecutor so that it decides on the next steps (investigation, filing without follow-upetc.).
File a complaint with the public prosecutor
The complaint can be sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (preferably), by simple letter or by followed letter.
In any case, a receipt is sent to the person who lodged the complaint, as soon as the public prosecutor's office has registered the complaint.
Each person who has played a role in the prostitution of the minor (client, pimp, facility manager) faces different penalties.
Reminder
A person of French nationality or a person habitually living in France may be prosecuted for an offense related to prostitution committed abroad. It does not matter if the facts are not prohibited by law in the foreigner country.
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Client of a minor prostitute
The penalties applicable depend on the age of the minor who engages in prostitution.
Under 15 years of age
A client who uses the services of a prostitute under 15 years of age shall be liable to a penalty of 10 years of imprisonment and €150,000 of a fine.
In addition to these sentences, the judge may additional penalties (e.g. prohibition of professional or voluntary activity involving habitual contact with minors).
Minor 15 years of age or older
The use of the services of a minor prostitute is punishable by 5 years of imprisonment and €75,000 of a fine.
These penalties shall be increased to 7 years of imprisonment and €100,000 of a fine whereinfringement was committed in any of the following circumstances:
- Usually or in respect of several minors
- The minor was put in contact with the perpetrator via the Internet
- By a person who abuses the authority of his or her duties (for example, an employee of a child welfare agency)
- The perpetrator endangered the minor's life or committed violence against him.
In addition to these sentences, the judge may additional penalties (e.g. prohibition of professional or voluntary activity involving habitual contact with minors).
Pimp
Pimping on minors is punishable by penalties of up to:
- 10 years' imprisonment and €1.5 million fine, if the minor is between 15 and 17 years of age
- 20 years' imprisonment and €3 million fine, if the minor is under 15 years of age
- 20 years' imprisonment and €3 million of a fine, if the acts are committed in organized gang
- Criminal imprisonment in perpetuity and €4.5 million a fine for acts of torture or barbarity.
In addition to these sentences, the judge may additional penalties (e.g. prohibition of professional or voluntary activity involving habitual contact with minors).
Tenant of a place of prostitution
A person who owns, operates or finances an establishment or spaces used for prostitution shall be liable to 10 years' imprisonment and €750,000 of a fine.
In addition to these sentences, the judge may additional penalties (e.g. prohibition of professional or voluntary activity involving habitual contact with minors).
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
To get help to get out of prostitution and fight against pimping
116 006 - Victim Assistance Number
This service allows victims of infringements (excluding damage to property on the internet) to be listened to and referred to a victim support association or a specialized service. It is accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people.
In metropolitan France
116,006
Free call
Service available every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm.
Outside metropolitan France (or from the foreigner)
+ 33 (0)1 80 52 33 76
Free call
Service available every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm (Paris time).
By email
By email: victimes@116006.fr
For information on the exit route from prostitution
PrefectureTo get support as a female prostitute
Violence Women Info - 3919
Listen, inform and guide women victims of violence, and witnesses to such violence.
Deals with physical, verbal or psychological violence, at home or at work, and of any kind (including sexual harassment, assault and rape).
Does not deal with emergencies (this is not a police or gendarmerie service).
For other types of violence, 3919 provides a first-level response and directs or forwards to a useful number.
By phone
39.19 (free call from a landline or mobile phone in metropolitan and DOM)
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Anonymous call
Call not listed on phone bills
Penalties for clients of adult prostitutes
Penalties for procuring
Penalties for repeat clients of adult prostitutes and clients of minor prostitutes
Application of the french law in case of sex tourism (for pimps)
Application of the french law in case of sex tourism (for clients)
Penalties for endangering a minor
Penalties for failure to report a crime or offense
Amount of financial assistance for social and professional integration (AFIS)