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.

she is 78 you ignorant fk.

After Brexit, Britons and EU citizens who had exercised those free movement rights were told their rights to remain in their host country would be guaranteed in the legally binding withdrawal agreement.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/20/british-man-torn-from-swedish-wife-and-home

Victimblaming.

Sweden is among 13 countries, along with the UK, that opted for a “constitutive” system requiring citizens to formally apply to remain in the country. Others, like Spain, opted for a less onerous “declaratory” system requiring registration in the country, something many Britons would already have done at their town hall.

This is a very good point. I am working on my Colombian citizenship (via marriage) as we speak.

Some people don't want to take citizenship of the country they are immigrating into. I know a few in such position.