Prostitution in Latvia is legal and regulated. The country is a destination for sex tourism. Sex trafficking , child prostitution , and HIV are all problems in Latvia. Legally, the prostitution in Latvia is governed by the "Regulations Regarding Restriction of Prostitution" issued by the Cabinet of Ministers. Prostitutes must have reached age of majority , which is 18 in Latvia. A prostitute may not provide services while having herpes infection , dermatophytosis , pubic lice , gonococcal infection , chlamydia , scabies , leprosy or syphilis.
A person who has HIV infection is banned from providing sexual services. Although prostitution is regulated in Latvia, brothels and other forms of procuring are illegal. Persons are prohibited to join in groups in order to offer and provide sexual services for fee or to receive orders for sexual services. The managers of entertainment and recreational establishments must ensure that sexual services for fee are not offered, provided and received in their establishments.
According to the law "Any activity of the third person which promotes prostitution is prohibited" and "Persons are prohibited to join in groups in order to offer and provide sexual services However, they may not provide services if neighbours object.
Furthermore, the residence may not be closer than one hundred meters from a school or a church. Any violation of restrictions on prostitution is punished by a fine in an amount up to β Euro for a person and β Euro for a company.
Before , it was a requirement for prostitutes to receive a health card from a venereologist and undergo a health check every month, and that they must be able to produce the health card on client's request. On 28 July , the Cabinet of Ministers set a goal to create a bill regarding the restrictions of prostitution until 1 January On 1 September, an inter-institutional work group was formed to work on the bill.
