Thomas, a retired nurse, who has lived in Sweden for 22 years, was given four weeks to leave the country in August, separating her from her son, grandchildren, large network of friends, her church and her husband’s grave.

Her husband, Gwynne, died in 2023 of cancer. It was on a trip back from the UK in 2022, when they visited their second son in Brighton, that they first learned they should have made a formal application to stay in Sweden after Brexit. Joyce Thomas, 78, is facing deportation over Brexit from Sweden

Her subsequent application to stay in the country in 2023 missed the official deadline but she said her husband who looked after all the household administration, had previously been told there was nothing the couple needed to do after Brexit.

It sounds like there wasn't a proper follow up and with her husband's death, she simply wasn't aware. I have elderly family members that I could see finding themselves in the same situation, cognitively I mean, they are all in country. I barely keep on top of things myself tbh.

Rules are rules and all but it sounds a bit harsh.