Joyce Thomas, a 78-year-old British widow who has resided in Sweden for 22 years, is facing deportation after failing to submit a formal residency application following Brexit. Thomas moved to Sweden with her husband and son over two decades ago. After the UK's departure from the European Union on January 31, 2020, British citizens lost their automatic right to reside in EU countries.
Residents in Sweden were given a 12-month window, until January 31, 2021, to apply for settled status. Thomas stated that she and her husband, who died three years ago, were unaware of this requirement. The issue surfaced in 2023 when she faced difficulties re-entering Sweden due to a lack of necessary documentation.
Despite lodging appeals, the Swedish Migration Agency, Migrationsverket, has informed Thomas that she must leave the country by September 8. This decision forces her to leave her son, grandchildren, and friends behind. Thomas expressed her distress, telling the BBC, "I'm tired, I really am tired and I'm not young anymore." She also questioned the lack of empathy, highlighting her long-standing ties to the country: "I've lived here for more than 20 years - I've got friends, I've got family."
More than 20 individuals, including medical professionals, friends, and clergy, have provided testimony in support of her remaining in Sweden. Thomas's legal representatives argued in court that deporting her solely for missing a deadline due to insufficient information was disproportionate. They also contended that Swedish authorities failed to adequately inform her of the application requirement and its deadline.
However, a court in Luleå upheld the decision to deny her application, ruling that she was not "particularly vulnerable" and still had financial ties to the UK, including a pension and another son. Swedish authorities have indicated to the BBC that they are reviewing measures to potentially ease the process for affected individuals.
Thomas stated that she is self-sufficient, contributes financially to Sweden, and has no criminal record. Failure to leave voluntarily by the September 8 deadline could result in her being denied re-entry to Sweden and placed on a watchlist, potentially barring her from entering any Schengen Area country. Reports indicate that Sweden has deported or forcibly removed 458 British citizens since Brexit, including a 34-year-old who had lived in the country since childhood and a family fighting the deportation of an elderly man with dementia.