The Rise of International Escorts in Paris

Paris has always drawn people from around the world-not just for its art, food, and romance, but for the quiet, discreet services that thrive in its shadows. Over the past five years, the number of international escorts operating in Paris has grown by more than 60%, according to industry estimates from French security and tourism monitoring groups. These aren’t just local women offering companionship anymore. They’re professionals from Brazil, Ukraine, Thailand, South Africa, and beyond, bringing different languages, customs, and expectations into a market that’s changing fast.

Why Paris? It’s Not Just the Eiffel Tower

Paris isn’t just a tourist hotspot-it’s a business hub. The city hosts over 20 million visitors a year, and nearly 40% of them are high-income travelers from the U.S., China, Russia, and the Middle East. Many of these visitors aren’t looking for a night out at a café. They’re looking for privacy, discretion, and someone who can match their cultural expectations. That’s where international escorts come in.

Unlike in cities like London or Berlin, where escort services are more openly discussed, Paris maintains a legal gray area. Prostitution itself isn’t illegal, but soliciting in public, running brothels, or advertising services is. This forces the industry underground, making it harder to track but easier for international workers to blend in. Many operate through private apartments, hotel rooms booked under fake names, or by appointment only via encrypted apps.

Who Are These Women? Real Stories, Not Stereotypes

Meet Anna, originally from Kyiv. She moved to Paris two years ago after working in hospitality in Warsaw. She speaks four languages, holds a degree in international relations, and books clients through a vetted agency that screens for safety and payment. She doesn’t see herself as a sex worker-she calls herself a companion. Her clients? A retired Swiss executive, a tech founder from Singapore, and a French diplomat’s wife who wanted someone to talk to during long nights.

Then there’s Sofia, from Salvador, Brazil. She arrived on a tourist visa, stayed past its expiration, and now works independently. She doesn’t advertise online. Her clients come through word-of-mouth-other travelers she met at the Louvre, or expats in the 16th arrondissement. She charges €300 for a dinner and conversation, €600 for an overnight. She says the money lets her send support home to her younger siblings.

These aren’t isolated cases. A 2025 survey by a Paris-based NGO working with migrant workers found that 68% of international escorts in the city were legally in France on student, tourist, or family visas. Most had no criminal record. Many had degrees. Almost all said they chose this work because it paid more than any legal job they could get without a work permit.

The Business Side: Agencies, Apps, and Advertising

The old model-flyers on lampposts, phone numbers in back pages of magazines-is gone. Today, international escorts use private Telegram channels, encrypted messaging apps like Signal, and discreet websites hosted outside France. Some agencies, based in Romania or Latvia, manage bookings across multiple European cities, including Paris. They handle scheduling, vetting clients, and even providing translators.

One agency, called Éclat, operates out of Bucharest but lists over 120 women in Paris alone. Their website doesn’t mention sex. It talks about “companionship,” “cultural exchange,” and “personalized experiences.” They charge clients €1,200-€3,500 per night and take 40% commission. The women they represent are vetted for language skills, appearance, and background checks-though those checks are self-reported and rarely verified by third parties.

Some escorts now use AI tools to manage their calendars, generate responses to client inquiries, and even create custom profiles in multiple languages. One escort from Manila told me she uses ChatGPT to write her messages in French, German, and Arabic. She says it helps her sound more polished-and safer.

Why This Is Growing-and Why It Won’t Slow Down

Three things are driving this rise: globalization, digital tools, and economic pressure.

First, travel is more accessible than ever. A flight from Manila to Paris costs less than €500 round-trip. A visa for tourism is easier to get than a work visa. Many women come with the intention of staying a few months, then leaving. But once they’re here, they find the money is too good to walk away from.

Second, apps and encrypted communication make it easier to avoid police. No more streetwalking. No more ads on Craigslist. Everything happens in private chats. Clients can’t easily report someone unless they want to expose themselves.

Third, the cost of living in Paris is sky-high. A studio apartment in the 7th arrondissement costs €1,800 a month. A waitress earns €1,600 after taxes. An escort working three nights a week can clear €5,000 in the same time. The math is simple.

France’s government has cracked down on advertising and public solicitation, but enforcement is inconsistent. Police focus on human trafficking, not on consenting adults. And with no centralized database of who’s working, who’s legal, or who’s being exploited, it’s nearly impossible to regulate.

What Clients Are Really Looking For

It’s not just sex. A 2024 study by the University of Lyon surveyed 320 clients of international escorts in Paris. Over 70% said their primary reason for hiring was companionship. They wanted someone who could speak their language, understand their culture, and offer conversation without judgment. Many were divorced, lonely, or working long hours in high-stress jobs.

One American executive, who flew in from New York every other month, said: “I don’t need a fantasy. I need someone who remembers my coffee order, asks about my daughter’s graduation, and doesn’t act like I’m paying for a transaction. That’s rare.”

Another client, from Saudi Arabia, said he hired a Thai escort because she didn’t ask questions about his religion or family. “In my country, I can’t speak openly. Here, I can just be.”

The Risks-and How Some Are Managing Them

It’s not all safe. There are cases of exploitation, scams, and violence. A woman from Nigeria was reported missing in 2023 after a client failed to pay and threatened to expose her. Another, from Colombia, was robbed twice in one month because she didn’t know how to screen clients properly.

But many are learning fast. Some now use apps like SafeCompanion, which lets them share live location with a trusted contact before a meeting. Others require clients to send a video call before booking. A few have formed informal networks-WhatsApp groups where women warn each other about dangerous clients or unreliable agencies.

One escort from Ukraine runs a free monthly workshop in a church basement in Montmartre. She teaches women how to recognize red flags, how to say no, how to handle payment disputes, and how to contact French NGOs if they’re in trouble. Attendance has doubled since last year.

What Comes Next?

The French government has no clear plan. Politicians debate whether to legalize and regulate, or to double down on enforcement. Meanwhile, the market keeps growing. More women are arriving. More clients are seeking them. More technology is being used to stay hidden.

Some predict that within five years, Paris will have a formalized escort licensing system-like the one in the Netherlands or Germany. Others think the underground will just get smarter.

One thing is certain: this isn’t a trend. It’s a transformation. Paris has always been a city of secrets. Now, it’s also a city where women from half the world are finding a way to survive-and even thrive-on their own terms.