7,000 Moldovans use loophole to slip into Britain by back door
THOUSANDS of migrants from Europe’s poorest country have sneaked into Britain using an immigration loophole.
According to the latest official figures obtained by The Mail on Sunday, 7,000 Moldovans have entered the country in the past two years after obtaining passports from Romania, a member of the European Union.
Moldovans can apply for Romanian documents because of close historic links between the two Eastern European countries. The Home Office has been powerless to stop them entering Britain because Romanian passport holders have full rights to live and work in the EU.
Moldova, where the average monthly salary is £197, is not an EU member.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics also show 28,000 Indians from Goa have entered Britain over the past six years using another loophole – by obtaining Portuguese passports. Goa was a colony of Portugal until 1962 and, under Portuguese law, anyone can obtain a passport if they can prove that they, their parents or grandparents were born in Goa before 1962.
Last night, the Home Office said: ‘After we leave the EU, we will put in place an immigration system which works in the best interests of the whole of the UK.
‘We are considering the options and will set out our plans later this year.’