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Applying for a Licence

Before you apply for your licence, you should:

• Seek independent legal advice if uncertain whether or not you need a prostitution service providers licence
• Asses your eligibility

The Business Licensing Authority (BLA) considers if applicants meet specific eligibility criteria and whether you are suitable. Suitability includes consideration of whether:

• You are of good repute with regards to character, honesty and integrity
• Your associates are of good repute, character, honesty and integrity
• You are able to obtain adequate financial resources to ensure business viability
• You have sufficient ability to establish and maintain a successful business
• You can provide appropriate occupational health and safety and comply with prescribed requirements or restrictions set out in a licence
• You have a proposed business structure that is transparent enough to readily identify your associates, whether individuals or bodies corporate.

The BLA will not class someone as unsuitable to operate as a prostitution service provider just because he or she has worked as a prostitute. For more information, see sections 37 and 38 of the Prostitution Control Act 1994.