On this page:
Update your details
You can update your licence details at any time. Document your proposed changes and send them to the Business Licensing Authority (BLA) via:
Email:
Use the BLA enquiry form
or
Post:
Business Licensing Authority
GPO Box 322
Melbourne VIC 3001
When to update your details
You must notify the BLA within 10 days if any of the following details change:
- principal place of business or any other place of your sex work service providing business
- business name(s) of your sex work service providing business
- brothel managers or your associates, including companies
- your personal addresses or contact details, including email addresses
- landlord of your sex work service providing business premises
- number of rooms in use for provision of sexual services
- if you have ceased or intend to cease trading as a sex work service provider.
You must notify the BLA within 10 days if you or a brothel manager are committed to serve a jail term, or have been found guilty or convicted of:
- an indictable offence punishable by 12 months jail or more; or an offence which would have been indictable and punishable by the same terms if committed in Victoria. For information about spend convictions, view the Spent convictions page
- an offence against the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Victoria) or corresponding or similar law outside Victoria
- an offence against the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) listed in Schedule 3
- providing the BLA with false or misleading information.
You must also notify the BLA within 10 days if:
- you are found guilty or convicted of an offence in relation to the effective control requirements. You could face a penalty of up to 60 penalty units if you fail to comply with this requirement
- you or a brothel manager become an insolvent under administration (bankrupt)
- you or a brothel manager become a represented person under the Guardianship and Administration Act 1986.
Annual statement and fees
Lodgement
Your licence annual statement will be sent to you by post six weeks prior to your licence anniversary date. If you do not receive the annual statement, call the BLA on 1300 135 452. Calling this number costs the same as a local call. Additional charges may apply if you are calling from overseas, on a mobile or payphone.
Once you receive your annual statement, you must complete and return it to the BLA prior to your licence anniversary date.
Late notice and cancellation of licence
If the BLA has not received your annual statement by your anniversary date, you will be sent a late notice.
If after 21 days your annual statement has not been received, your licence will be cancelled automatically.
Extension of time
Prior to your anniversary date, you can make a written request for an extension of time to lodge your annual statement. You can also request a further extension of time to lodge your annual statement. Email the request using the BLA enquiry form.
Waiving of fees
In recognition of the impending repeal of the licensing system in December 2023, most fees for existing licence holders will be waived.
Fees that were waived from 1 July 2022 include:
- first licence fees, which were payable as part of the application
- annual licence fees,
- extension of time fees, which are to request an extension of time to pay the licence fee or lodge the annual statement
- further extension of time fees, which are to request a further extension of time to pay a licence fee or lodge an annual statement
- late payment fees, which are incurred if the required annual fee is late
- late lodgement fees, which are incurred if the required annual statement is late.
Reduction of fees
The following fees were reduced to 50% of their 2021-22 level on 1 July 2022, and will be reduced to 25% of their 2021-22 level on 1 July 2023:
- licence application fees, which are to apply for a sex work service provider licence
- • licence amendment fees, which are payable if a licensee wishes to amend conditions or restrictions on their licence.
Applicable fees are set out on our Fees and forms – sex work service providers page.
Changes to your business
Changing from a brothel to an escort agency or vice versa
You will need to apply to the BLA for a variation to your licence. The BLA considers a brothel business and an escort business to be quite different, even though they both involve the provision of sexual services.
The BLA will need to be satisfied that you are capable of operating the other form of business in accordance with the Act and Regulations.
You will need to go through a detailed process before the BLA can make a decision about your application.
Relocating your business
You can relocate your sex work service providing business, but you will have to obtain the consent of the BLA because the location condition on your licence will need to be changed.
The BLA needs to be satisfied about the circumstances surrounding the relocation.
Selling your business
If you sell your business, it is important that the purchaser does not operate of have a financial interest in the business until the BLA has granted them a licence as the new licensee.
You should take this into account in any negotiations you have with prospective purchasers. Penalties that apply for a breach include a substantial fine and imprisonment.
You can sell your sex work service providing business and retain your licence, but once you do so, you will need to notify the BLA.
For more information on changing your licence, email the BLA using the BLA enquiry form or call 1300 135 452. Calling this number costs the same as a local call. Additional charges may apply if you are calling from overseas, on a mobile or payphone.