Can I use public transport without a ticket in Sweden?
No — travel without a valid ticket and you get a supplementary charge. It is not a crime and leaves nothing on your criminal record; it is a civil charge under the Supplementary Charge Act (1977:67). In SL the charge is 1,500 kr since 13 February 2026 (previously 1,200 kr), and it comes on top of the fare you should have paid — the charge does not replace the ticket, it is added to it. What most people underestimate is what happens next: an unpaid charge goes on to debt collection and the Enforcement Authority, costs mount at every step, and you can end up with a payment default note even though you never committed a crime. The charge may not apply if it is excusable — due to age, sudden illness, or unfamiliarity with local conditions.
📋 The rules
- Without a valid ticket: a supplementary charge on top of the fare
- SL: 1,500 kr since 13 February 2026
- It is a civil charge, not a crime
- Unpaid charge goes to debt collection and the Enforcement Authority
- Can bring a payment default note
🔓 Exceptions
- The charge may not apply if it is excusable due to age
- Sudden illness or incapacity can be a reason
- Unfamiliarity with local conditions (e.g. a tourist) has been tested in case law
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The supplementary charge in SL is 1,500 kr, and on top of it comes the fare you should have paid. There is no criminal penalty — fare-dodging is not a criminal act and does not show up on a criminal record. The cost instead builds up on the civil side: if you do not pay on time the case goes to debt collection and then the Enforcement Authority, with new fees at every step, so the final bill can run well above 1,500 kr. The heaviest part is the payment default note, which can arrive although nobody ever convicted you of anything.
📎 Official sources
- Supplementary Charge Act (1977:67) · Riksdagen →
- SL · Ticket inspection →
- Consumer Agency · Public transport →
❓ Frequently asked
What does travelling without a ticket cost in SL?
The supplementary charge is 1,500 kr since 13 February 2026, raised from 1,200 kr. On top of that comes the fare you should have paid, because the charge is added to the ticket rather than replacing it.
Is fare-dodging a crime?
No, fare-dodging is not a criminal act and leaves nothing on your criminal record. It is a civil charge under the Supplementary Charge Act (1977:67) — a claim from the transport operator, not a punishment.
What happens if I do not pay the charge?
It goes to debt collection and then to the Enforcement Authority, and new costs are added to the debt at every step. In the end you can get a payment default note, even though you committed no crime.
Can I avoid the charge?
Yes, in some cases. The charge may not apply if travelling without a ticket was excusable — because of age, sudden illness, or unfamiliarity with local conditions, which case law has accepted for tourists.
Does the charge apply to children too?
The charge may not apply to a minor or a very young child, since age is one of the grounds that can make the lapse excusable. But it is assessed case by case, and no age limit exempts anyone automatically.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I travel without a ticket sl”
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