If you don’t have a residence permit in Sweden, it can be difficult to earn money. But if you work, you always have the right to receive the pay that you have been promised.
Is it forbidden to beg for money?
Answer: It’s different in different places. In some cities, begging is forbidden. Shopping centres, buses, restaurants and similar places are always owned by somebody, and there it’s the owner who decides. In most such places, it’s forbidden to ask for money.
Am I allowed to play music and let people give me money?
Answer: The local municipal authority or the person who owns the place decides. But it’s fairly common for street music to be allowed, at least in certain places.
Am I allowed to sell things on the street?
Answer: The local municipal authority makes the rules. You may be allowed to sell newspapers, cakes, pins or the like. But if you have a stall and sell goods, a permit is usually required. You must apply and pay for this.
How much money can I earn?
Answer: If you have a business which earns more than SEK 16 000 per year, you must pay tax. You don’t need to have a residence permit to start a company, but children who are under the age of 18 cannot have their own company!
Can I take a job?
Answer: If you come from an EU/EEA-country, you can take a job in Sweden without having a work permit. If you come from some other country, you must apply for a work permit. There are two exceptions: (a) Students do not need to have a work permit in the summer holidays, and (b) Asylum seekers don’t need to have a work permit if it takes more than four months to receive an answer to their asylum application.
Is there anybody else who gives money to children who need help?
Answer: There are churches and other organisations which help poor and homeless people with food and somewhere to sleep. If you are a child under the age of 18, you always have the right to receive help from the social welfare services if you can’t manage. They won’t give you money, but they will help you so that you can live somewhere, perhaps with a family. Perhaps they will try to arrange for you to return to your home country.
The EU/EEA-countries are:
Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Great Britain, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Austria.