License to Beg

Begging has become a hot button issue in Sweden, or so it seems.

Two years ago, one town in Sweden moved to ban begging.  That ban was then overturned by a county administrative board, noting that they had received only a small number of complaints about begging and that these were cases of people “experiencing discomfort, rather than disturbance”.  That ruling was overturned by Sweden’s Supreme Administrative Court, following which, some more towns enforced a ban on begging.

Meanwhile, last year, one town decided to go another way, proposing a license to beg. After a series of legal delays, that has come into force this month.  Anyone who wants to ask people for money on the street will have to pay for a permit that will cost the equivalent of 23 euros, valid for 3 months. And for those wondering, there is the option to pay online, if you like.