Is begging (asking for charity in the street) legal in Malta?
No — begging remains an offence in Malta: it is a contravention against public order in the Criminal Code (Cap. 9). The ban on "importuning another person to beg for charity" dates back to 1966, and the provisions on vagrancy (living an idle and vagrant life) have been in the law since 1899; they were never removed. As a contravention, the penalty is at the level of a fine (generally up to €58.23) and/or detention of up to two months. The myth: that "begging has been decriminalised" or that "it is not illegal". Not true — it is still in the Code, even if it is rarely enforced: between 2016 and 2019 around 29 people were arraigned for begging or vagrancy, most of them not Maltese. Far more serious is organised or forced begging, especially using children, which can fall under human trafficking with grave penalties.
📋 The rules
- Begging is a contravention against public order in the Criminal Code (Cap. 9).
- The ban on importuning someone to beg for charity dates back to 1966 and was never repealed.
- The provisions on vagrancy have been in the law since 1899.
- As a contravention, the penalty is a fine (generally up to €58.23) and/or detention of up to two months.
- Organised or forced begging, especially using children, is far more serious and can fall under human trafficking.
🔓 Exceptions
- Organised, authorised charity fundraising is a different thing from begging in the street.
- The law targets whoever importunes or harasses; a mere presence or a licensed street musician are other situations.
- Vulnerable people are often referred to social services instead of being arraigned, because the aim is not to punish poverty.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
As a contravention, begging brings a fine (generally up to €58.23) and/or detention of up to two months, and an unpaid fine is converted into prison at a rate of one day for every €35. In practice enforcement is rare — between 2016 and 2019 around 29 people were arraigned, most of them not Maltese — but the law stays in force, so a person can still be taken to court. The real danger lies elsewhere: organised or forced begging, especially when children or vulnerable people are used, can fall under offences of human trafficking and exploitation, which carry long prison sentences. A contravention on the conduct record can also complicate applications for work, permits or a visa, and for non-citizens, matters with the police can affect residence status.
📎 Official sources
- Laws of Malta · Criminal Code (Cap. 9) — contraventions against public order →
- MaltaToday · report on enforcement of begging and vagrancy laws →
- Malta Police Force · official site →
❓ Frequently asked
Is begging still illegal in Malta?
Yes — begging is still a contravention against public order in the Criminal Code, and the ban dates back to 1966. It was never repealed, so even though it is rarely enforced, it technically remains an offence for which a person can be arraigned.
How often is the law enforced?
Very rarely — between 2016 and 2019 around 29 people were arraigned for begging or vagrancy, and most of them were not Maltese. The law stays on the books even though in practice many cases are dealt with through social services rather than the courts.
What is the penalty for begging?
As a contravention, the penalty is at the level of a fine (generally up to €58.23) and/or detention of up to two months. An unpaid fine is converted into prison at a rate of one day for every €35, so even a small amount can have a harsher consequence.
Is collecting money for charity the same as begging?
No — organised, authorised charity fundraising is different from begging in the street for yourself. The law targets in particular whoever importunes or harasses people, not everyone who is collecting in a legitimate way.
What if someone forces children to beg?
This is far more serious than a simple contravention — organised or forced begging, especially using children, can fall under offences of human trafficking and exploitation. These carry long prison sentences, and the authorities treat such cases far more aggressively.
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