Brits in Sweden told to 'apply early' for post-Brexit status to avoid long waits
The Swedish Migration Agency has warned Brits not to leave it right until the deadline to apply for their post-Brexit residence status in Sweden, or they may face long queues.
British nationals who lived in Sweden under EU rules before the end of the transition period on December 31st, 2020, may continue to live in Sweden as before – as long as they apply for a new “residence status” (uppehållsstatus) before September 30th.
But almost five months after applications opened, only 7,500 out of the 20,000 Brits expected to need the new status have applied, according to the Migration Agency.
“In order to avoid long processing times towards the end of the application period, it would be good if as many people as possible already now consider their possibilities of applying early. For anyone who needs residence status for a special occasion, such as when applying for studies, it’s also important not to wait too long to apply,” the Migration Agency’s Brexit coordinator Ann-Charlotte Westerfjärd said in a statement.
Around 4,200 Brits have so far been granted residence status in Sweden and 90 have been rejected. The average processing time is currently 58 days.
Westerfjärd said that waiting times are affected by how complete the applications are, and decisions will be made quicker if they don’t have to request additional documents.
“So far, we’ve received many applications that aren’t complete,” she said. “This is why it’s important for everyone applying to carefully review the requirements in the application, and include the documents required before the application is sent in.”
The Migration Agency has published a list of documents that need to be submitted alongside applications. However, some readers have told The Local that they were asked to send in additional documents – for example extra payslips or assurances of financial support – that were not listed on the website at the time of applying.
Thousands of Brits still need to apply for their post-Brexit residence status, and the British embassy is urging all Brits in Sweden to double check their legal status before they lose the right to remain in Sweden. https://t.co/PuSFCnurv8
— The Local Sweden (@TheLocalSweden) April 13, 2021
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British nationals who lived in Sweden under EU rules before the end of the transition period on December 31st, 2020, may continue to live in Sweden as before – as long as they apply for a new “residence status” (uppehållsstatus) before September 30th.
But almost five months after applications opened, only 7,500 out of the 20,000 Brits expected to need the new status have applied, according to the Migration Agency.
“In order to avoid long processing times towards the end of the application period, it would be good if as many people as possible already now consider their possibilities of applying early. For anyone who needs residence status for a special occasion, such as when applying for studies, it’s also important not to wait too long to apply,” the Migration Agency’s Brexit coordinator Ann-Charlotte Westerfjärd said in a statement.
Around 4,200 Brits have so far been granted residence status in Sweden and 90 have been rejected. The average processing time is currently 58 days.
Westerfjärd said that waiting times are affected by how complete the applications are, and decisions will be made quicker if they don’t have to request additional documents.
“So far, we’ve received many applications that aren’t complete,” she said. “This is why it’s important for everyone applying to carefully review the requirements in the application, and include the documents required before the application is sent in.”
The Migration Agency has published a list of documents that need to be submitted alongside applications. However, some readers have told The Local that they were asked to send in additional documents – for example extra payslips or assurances of financial support – that were not listed on the website at the time of applying.
Thousands of Brits still need to apply for their post-Brexit residence status, and the British embassy is urging all Brits in Sweden to double check their legal status before they lose the right to remain in Sweden. https://t.co/PuSFCnurv8
— The Local Sweden (@TheLocalSweden) April 13, 2021
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