Am I allowed to buy or sell sex in Sweden?
Selling sex is legal in Sweden, but buying it is a crime — the so-called Swedish model. Under the Penal Code ch. 6 §11 ("purchase of a sexual act") it is an offence to obtain a sexual act against payment, and an attempt is punishable too. The person who sells is never punished — that is the whole point of the design. The penalty for buying is up to 1 year prison, and fines were removed from the scale on 1 August 2022, which many people still do not know. Since 1 July 2025 the offence also covers remote purchase, for example paying for sexual acts by video or livestream. Procuring is a separate offence: up to 4 years prison, gross 2–10 years.
📋 The rules
- Selling sex is legal; buying is a crime
- Penalty for buying: up to 1 year prison
- Fines were removed from the scale on 1 August 2022
- Since 1 July 2025: also covers remote purchase (webcam)
- The person who sells is never punished
🔓 Exceptions
- Attempting to buy sex is also punishable
- The remote offence does not apply retroactively before 1 July 2025
- Buying a sexual act from someone under 18 is a separate, more serious offence
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Purchase of a sexual act brings up to 1 year prison, and since 1 August 2022 there is no fine option left in the scale — the court can no longer choose a fine. An attempt is punishable too, so liability can bite before anything has happened. Procuring brings up to 4 years prison and gross procuring 2–10 years, far harsher than the purchase itself. Buying a sexual act from someone under 18 is a separate and more serious offence. The person who sells is never punished, whatever the circumstances.
📎 Official sources
- Penal Code (1962:700) ch. 6 · Riksdagen →
- Government · Prop. 2024/25:124 →
- Gender Equality Agency · Laws on sex purchase →
❓ Frequently asked
Is it legal to sell sex in Sweden?
Yes, selling sex is legal, while buying it is a crime — that is the Swedish model. Someone who sells their own sexual services is never punished, whatever the circumstances and whether the purchase was in person or remote.
What is the penalty for buying sex?
Up to 1 year prison under Penal Code ch. 6 §11. Fines were removed from the scale on 1 August 2022, so the court can no longer choose a fine — and even an attempted purchase of a sexual act is punishable.
Does the law also cover webcam purchases?
Yes, since 1 July 2025 the offence also covers remote purchase of sexual acts, for example by video or livestream. The change does not apply retroactively to the time before that date.
What is the penalty for procuring?
Procuring brings up to 4 years prison, and gross procuring 2–10 years. It is a separate offence from the purchase, with a considerably harsher scale than the single year that applies to buying.
Is the person who sells sex punished?
No. Someone who sells their own sexual services is never punished under the law, and that still holds after the 2025 tightening. Liability rests entirely on the buyer and on anyone guilty of procuring.
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