Vienna’s adult industry is one of the most regulated in Europe. Every woman who works legally in a licensed brothel or escort agency must hold an official document known as the Green Book — sometimes called the health or control card.
It’s more than just paperwork; it’s a guarantee that the person is registered, medically checked, and working fully within Austrian law.
Here’s what the Green Book really is and why it matters so much in the Vienna sex scene.
What the Green Book Actually Means
The Green Book is a personal health and registration document issued by the city’s Public Health Department (MA15).
It proves that the holder has completed the required medical examination and is officially cleared to work in Austria’s legal sex industry. Without it, no one can work in a licensed brothel or escort agency.
Each Green Book contains the worker’s name, ID details, and medical control stamps from regular check-ups. These stamps confirm that the person is healthy and legally authorized to work.
The system was created to protect everyone involved — the workers, the clients, and the reputation of Vienna’s licensed clubs.
Where and How the Green Book Is Issued
All new applicants start at the Center for Sexual Health (ZSG), located at Thomas-Klestil-Platz 8 in Vienna. After the first medical examination, which includes a blood test and a standard health check, the Green Book can be collected from the MA15 Public Health Department about a week later.
Issuing the card costs around €21, and each follow-up medical confirmation costs about €2.10. Appointments can be booked by phone or email, and the office is open on weekday mornings.
New sex workers must bring their passport, a residence permit if they are not EU citizens, and a passport photo. The process is quick — usually 15–30 minutes for the initial exam — but the card itself is available only on certain pickup days.
The Green Book is not a one-time license. It must be updated regularly. Every registered worker is required to attend a medical check every six weeks, where doctors add a new stamp to the card. Without a current stamp, it becomes invalid, and working without it is a violation of Austrian law.
This continuous monitoring keeps Vienna’s best brothels among the cleanest and safest in Europe. Managers and agencies check each card before scheduling a worker, and inspectors from the city occasionally review them to ensure compliance.
Why the Green Book Protects Everyone
For clients, the existence of the Green Book offers reassurance that they are visiting a fully legal brothel or escort agency where the staff meet health and safety standards. For the women, it provides official status, medical support, and legal protection against exploitation.
It also separates legal venues from the illegal apartment scene, where no such documentation exists and police raids are frequent. In other words, the Green Book is what makes Vienna’s adult business professional instead of underground.
After obtaining the Green Book, every legal worker must also register with the Vienna Police Department’s Office for Prostitution Matters, located at Deutschmeisterplatz 3. There they receive a registration certificate confirming that they are authorized to work in Austria.
Both documents — the police registration and the Green Book — must be carried at all times while working. If either is missing or expired, the person is considered unlicensed. Brothel owners and agencies that ignore this rule face fines or even closure.
Final Word
The Green Book might look like a small piece of paper, but it represents the backbone of Vienna’s legal sex industry. It proves that the person holding it is medically checked, registered, and working within the law.
For clubs, it’s a badge of compliance; for workers, a shield of protection; and for clients, a sign of trust.
In short, the Green Book is what separates Vienna’s regulated brothels from the shadows — and why the city remains one of the safest and most respected adult destinations in Europe.
Don’t miss our essential guide on how-to choose a reliable sex worker: No-Gos in Sex Clubs: Signs to Avoid a Sex Worker