British Widow Challenges Sweden Deportation Order After 21 Years

A 78-year-old retired nurse, Joyce Thomas, is challenging a Swedish deportation order after living in the country for 21 years. Swedish authorities rejected her post-Brexit residency application in 2024, ruling that she failed to provide reasonable grounds for submitting the application late. Thomas, who lives in Hammarö to be near her grandchildren and her late husband's grave, is now pursuing her case in a higher court with pro bono legal support.

The Swedish Migration Agency, Migrationsverket, maintains that simply being unaware of application requirements does not constitute a sufficient explanation for late submissions, though it acknowledges that late applications may be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

The case has drawn criticism from the UK government and officials. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and MP Peter Kyle have highlighted a hardline approach by Sweden toward British nationals. Data shows Sweden has issued 2,500 removal orders, the highest number of Brexit-related deportations of Britons in the EU. Additionally, Sweden's residency refusal rate of 27.5% is three times higher than any other EU member state.