Swedish Removal Orders Threaten British Residents Post-Brexit

Swedish courts have issued removal orders against several British citizens who have lived in Sweden for decades. Notable cases include Horace Mason, a 74-year-old man with vascular dementia and Parkinsonism who has been in Sweden for 25 years, and Joyce Thomas, a 78-year-old widow ordered to leave within four weeks. Both were denied stays because their post-Brexit applications were submitted late and did not demonstrate “reasonable grounds.”

The Guardian

The EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement required EU citizens, including British nationals residing in other EU states, to submit a formal application to retain residency rights after Brexit. The United Kingdom adopted a “constitutive” system obliging citizens to apply, whereas some EU members used a “declaratory” system that only required registration. British officials had previously assured that rights would be protected, but implementation has proved uneven.

The Guardian

• Approximately 14 000 post-Brexit residency applications have been filed in Sweden (2024).

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• 27.5 % were refused, a refusal rate three times higher than any other EU member state and far above the EU average of 3 %–4 % (Swedish migration data).

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• Eurostat data indicate that 2 500 British nationals have been ordered to leave Sweden since Brexit, roughly one-third of all UK-related removal orders across the bloc.

Project Fear? Tell the 78-year-old British widow fighting deportation from Sweden

• The British government has raised the issue with Swedish authorities on multiple occasions, but no substantive policy shift has been reported.

The Guardian

David Milstead, director of the campaign group British in Sweden, argues that the situation reflects a failure to communicate the post-Brexit requirements effectively and that Sweden’s approach is disproportionately harsh.

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• Horace Mason’s case was decided on the balance between Sweden’s immigration interests and his private life, with the court concluding that deportation was “proportionate.”

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• Joyce Thomas learned in 2022, after a visit to the UK, that she should have filed a formal application. Her late submission was rejected because she could not demonstrate “reasonable grounds.” She is now appealing to a higher court.

Project Fear? Tell the 78-year-old British widow fighting deportation from Sweden

• Responsibility: Some commentators blame the UK for inadequate communication of the application requirement, while others point to the European Commission’s limited enforcement of the withdrawal agreement.

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• Data Gaps: Precise numbers of British residents affected in other EU states are not publicly available, making it difficult to assess whether Sweden’s refusal rate is an outlier or part of a broader pattern.

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• “It would be difficult to find anyone who would argue that what is happening to Mrs Thomas and others in Sweden was an intended outcome of the [EU-UK] withdrawal agreement,” — David Milstead

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• “Problems will inevitably emerge when a new treaty is put into practice. However, the UK, the EU and Sweden must act to address them. Words and expressions of concern won’t cut it,” — Milstead

The Guardian

Sweden’s right-wing government faces a general election on September 13, a contest that could influence future migration policy. The UK is expected to continue diplomatic pressure on Sweden and may seek EU-wide clarification of “reasonable grounds” criteria to prevent further deportations.

The Guardian