British Widow Faces Deportation from Sweden After 22 Years of Residency

Tue Sep 08 2026 18:09:25 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 78‑year‑old British widow who has lived in Sweden for 22 years fears deportation after a delayed post‑Brexit residency application.

Joyce Thomas, a retired nurse, has been told she must leave Sweden by 8 September after her residence application was missed during the post‑Brexit transitional period. She has appealed repeatedly and her lawyers argue against a forced departure. Swedish migration officials emphasize that they will review the situation, while the UK Foreign Office offers support. The case highlights a broader issue affecting nearly 2,500 UK nationals who faced similar deportation orders since Brexit.

British Widow Faces Deportation from Sweden After 22 Years of Residency

Joyce Thomas, 78, is facing deportation from Sweden after a missed post‑Brexit residence application.

Thomas—a retired nurse—moved to Sweden 22 years ago with her husband. They were unaware that they needed to file for residence status during the transition from EU citizenship to a separate status after the United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020.

The Swedish Migration Agency told Thomas that her voluntary departure deadline was 8 September. Despite her appeals and her lawyers' efforts, the government has not yet reversed the decision.

“I can’t sleep, I can’t eat. You get up in the morning, you don’t know what’s going to happen,” Thomas told the BBC, citing the emotional toll of potentially leaving her son, grandchildren, friends and her husband’s grave.

Swedish migration minister Johan Forssell said the current rules are being reviewed and that the government will apply the framework generously for those affected, citing the importance of maintaining positive relations with the UK.

Data from Eurostat show that between 2021 and 2025, 2 490 UK nationals were ordered to leave Sweden—nearly a third of the 7 500 UK nationals deported from all EU member states in the same period. The agency reported that 458 British citizens had been deported or forcibly removed since Brexit.

A similar case involved a father with dementia who faced removal after two decades in Sweden, highlighting the broader impact on long‑term residents.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office welcomed the Swedish authorities’ promise to examine the issue, offering support to help resolve individual cases.