Commercial brothel and escort agency registration

Access Canberra regulates commercial brothels and escort agencies under the Sex Work Act 1992 (the Act).

Sex work is legal in the ACT but if you are operating a commercial brothel or commercial escort agency you must register it.

Sole operators

Under the Act, if you are an individual sex worker operating as a sole operator, you don’t need to register with Access Canberra.

Register a commercial brothel or commercial escort agency

Individuals, partnerships and corporations can register a commercial brothel or commercial escort agency.

At least 7 days before commencing operations, you must apply for registration.

After the registration fee, you need to pay an annual fee when lodging your annual notice.

Brothels, including those that also offer escort services, may only operate in the suburbs of Mitchell and Fyshwick.

Police Certificates

Your application needs to include the original or a certified copy of a fingerprint verified Police Check Certificate.

Complete the fingerprint service booking form to have your fingerprints taken with Access Canberra.

Attach your fingerprint scan to your application for a police history check from one of the following agencies:

• the Australian Federal Police
• an Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission agency
• a State Police force.

Police certificates must not be dated more than two months before the date of lodging a licence application with Access Canberra.

If in the last 5 years you’ve lived as an adult outside of Australia continuously for more than one year you may need to provide a criminal history record from that country.

Applying as an individual or partnership

1. Use the Adult Entertainment Industry application form.
2. Upload:
   • a Police Certificate with fingerprints for all applicants (issued within 2 months of applying)
   • two current proof of identity documents for all applicants. One needs to include a photograph of the applicant.
3. Provide your building and street address.
4. Complete the declaration that you/your partner have not committed certain offences.
5. Pay the fee.

Applying as a corporation

1. Use the Adult Entertainment Industry application form.
2. Upload:
   • a company police certificate issued by the Australian Federal Police (issued withing 30 days of applying)
   • a current company extract issued by ASIC (issued within 30 days of applying).
   • a Police Certificate with fingerprints for all applicants (issued within 2 months of applying)
   • for each company director, 2 current proof of identity documents including one with a photograph.
3. Provide your building and street address.
4. Complete the declaration that you/other directors have not committed certain offences.
5. Pay the fee.

Access Canberra will contact you if we have any questions about your application or answers in the declaration.

Once approved, your registration certificate will be emailed to you and listed in the Brothel and escort agency registration public register.

Pay your annual return

To lodge and pay the annual notice, use the Adult Entertainment Industry application form.

Register or pay an annual return for a brothel or escort agency

Fees

Fees current from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.

• Application for brothel or escort agency: $448.00
• Annual fee for brothel or escort agency: $206.00.

Public register

The Commissioner for Fair Trading keeps a register of brothel and escort agency operators.

The public register is available for public inspection. The names and addresses of sole operators are not available for public inspection.

Complaints about alleged illegal brothels and escort agencies

Complaints should be directed to ACT Policing.