Background & Purpose

The current permit requirement for hotels and guesthouses has been seen as an unnecessary administrative burden. The change aims to simplify processes and lower costs for business owners in the hospitality sector.

Proposals & Debate

The government proposed to remove the requirement for a special permit to open a hotel or guesthouse. Instead, businesses would only need to send a written notification to the Police Authority.

The Decision

The Swedish Parliament approved the government's proposal, meaning that hotels and guesthouses will no longer need a permit to operate.

Does this affect you?

  • Hotel and Guesthouse Owners: Will face less bureaucracy and lower costs when starting or running their businesses, as the permit requirement is removed.
  • Entrepreneurs in Hospitality: Will find it easier and quicker to establish new accommodation businesses due to simplified administrative procedures.
  • Swedish Police Authority: Will transition from processing permit applications to managing a notification system for hotels and guesthouses.

In Practice

  • You will no longer need to apply for a permit to open a new hotel or guesthouse in Sweden.
  • Instead of a permit, you must send a written notification to the Swedish Police Authority.
  • This notification applies to establishments that can host at least nine guests or have at least five guest rooms.
  • The notification will be simple, requiring only basic information about the owner and the business.
  • The administrative workload and associated costs for hotel and guesthouse owners are expected to decrease.