Portugal reaches out to Goans in Britain

LONDON: Officials of the Portuguese embassy in London interacted on Sunday with thousands of Goans who are in the United Kingdom with Portuguese passports and explained to them implications of Brexit for their continued stay in the country.

The officials responded to queries and distributed registration forms to the Goans, who acquired Portuguese nationality extended to people born before the liberation of the erstwhile Portuguese colony of Goa, Daman and Diu on December 19, 1961, and their two generations.

Joana Gaspar, consul-general of Portugal, was at the day-long ‘UK Goan Festival’ in London, which was attended by a large number of people from areas such as Swindon, Leicester and Southall.

Final rules for Portuguese and EU citizens in the UK are yet to be finalised in talks between London and Brussels. The UK’S formal exit from EU is scheduled for March 29, 2019.

As per the current norms, the Goans were told they would have all rights of EU citizens until December 31, 2020. From March 30, 2019 and until December 31, 2020, they will be required to apply for “settled” or “pre-settled” status to the UK Home Office.

There are indications of fewer Goans with Portuguese passports coming to the UK in recent months due to some anxiety over Brexit’s implications.

Civil servant Jaime Barreto and others met representatives of Air-india during the festival, and urged them to launch a direct flight between London and Goa. He said the officials responded positively, adding that the demand would be conveyed to the airlines management.