The Swedish government has reaffirmed its stance on the removal and deportation of British nationals who failed to submit timely applications for residency following Brexit.
On Wednesday, Migration Minister Johan Forssell strongly defended the actions of the Swedish migration agency regarding the enforcement of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. His comments were in response to inquiries from a Member of Parliament about the situation of Joyce Thomas, a 78-year-old British widow facing deportation after spending 21 years in Sweden.
Forssell stated that the European Commission, which oversees the compliance of EU member states with the withdrawal agreement, supports Sweden’s current approach. He asserted, “The migration board has actively monitored the application of the withdrawal agreement, and the conclusion is that Sweden has met its obligations. This view is aligned with that of the commission.”
The issue has sparked significant debate over the deportation orders issued to British citizens who were unaware that Sweden was among the 13 EU nations requiring formal applications to remain in the country after Brexit. In a related case, John Sellers, a 34-year-old British man, was deported despite having lived in Sweden since the age of ten.
Häkan Svenneling, a local MP from the Left party, expressed his concerns to the Guardian, saying, “It appears the Swedish government believes everything is acceptable while British citizens are being deported. Inaction is also a form of action in this context. What Sweden actually needs is a new government and migration minister who will cease deportations of individuals with strong ties to the country.”
In his written response to Svenneling, Forssell provided a glimmer of hope for British citizens facing deportation. He remarked, “The relationship between Sweden and the UK is highly significant, and the government is committed to ensuring the proper implementation of the withdrawal agreement. As part of this commitment, the government is exploring whether additional measures can be introduced to simplify the process in the future.”
Thomas has been instructed to leave Sweden by Tuesday, September 8, or she risks deportation and a potential ban from the Schengen area. She is among several British citizens who have received removal orders after their late applications to remain were denied by the migration agency.
The UK Foreign Office has repeatedly brought up the issue of Sweden’s handling of late residency applications in the specialized committee on citizens’ rights, which was established to guarantee the effective implementation of the withdrawal agreement.
David Milstead, who leads the grassroots organization Brits in Sweden, expressed that the Swedish government’s response was anticipated. “It would be surprising for the government to reject the decisions made by the migration agency or the courts. The critical issue is whether Sweden’s policy aligns with EU law and the withdrawal agreement,” he noted.
Milstead highlighted that under the withdrawal agreement, the UK was required to create a statutory body, the Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA), to ensure that the Home Office correctly implemented the Brexit deal. The European Commission fulfills a similar role for EU member states. “The IMA has adopted a far more assertive stance. It is difficult to envision it not contesting the UK if it had enacted a policy similar to Sweden’s, which would jeopardize the rights of approximately a quarter of a million successful late applicants in the UK,” he added.
He further emphasized that Sweden’s approach needs to be either evaluated by the European Court of Justice or rectified through measures that address the issue. The government’s response leaves open the possibility for changes, which must include correcting unjust deportation decisions.
The European Commission has been contacted for comments on the matter.
According to Eurostat data, from 2021 to 2025, a total of 2,490 UK nationals were ordered to leave Sweden. Analysis by the Foreign Office revealed that this number constituted 32.9% of the 7,565 UK nationals ordered to leave the 27 EU member states during the same period. While it is unclear how many were in Sweden prior to the end of the UK-EU transition period, it is likely that a significant majority were.
Joyce Thomas has lived in Sweden for over two decades and mentioned that her late husband had inquired about the effects of Brexit, receiving assurances from authorities that there was no action needed for them to remain legally. The couple relocated to Sweden to be closer to their son and grandchildren, and Thomas expressed that she feels overwhelmed with anxiety following the issuance of her removal order.
