UK nationals living in Sweden on 31 December 2020 will need to apply to the Swedish Migration Agency for residence status under provisions entering into force today, 1 December 2020.
The UK left the EU on 1 February 2020 but during the transition period, ending on 31 December 2020, EU law still applies to the UK. As of 1 January specific provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement will apply.
Under these provisions, UK nationals living in Sweden at the end of the transition period, that is 31 December, need to apply for new ‘residence status’, in accordance with the Withdrawal Agreement, to be able to continue living and working in Sweden. Anyone who is granted residence status will have the right to live and work in Sweden on broadly the same basis as an EU citizen.
Applications for residence status must be submitted to the Swedish Migration Agency by the end of September 2021 at the latest. The Swedish Migration Agency will also issue documents to the frontier workers who are covered by the rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, that is, UK nationals working in Sweden but living in another country.
Only UK nationals living in Sweden under EU free movement rules need to apply. UK nationals who have a Swedish residence permit have the right to live in Sweden and therefore do not need to apply for residence status. An equivalent system is in place for Swedes and other EU citizens living in the UK.
Follow the link in this press release for questions and answers about the rights of UK nationals in Sweden and the supplementary provisions entering into force on 1 December 2020.
