Romanian and Bulgarian immigration : how the rules

Both Bulgaria and Romania have been bound by regulations since they joined the European Union in 2007 which restrict their rights to come to Britain.

The temporary curbs were imposed to protect the British labour market and were written into a treaty prior to the countries gaining membership.

However those restrictions will end on 31 December 2013, allowing workers to move freely across the EU.

Iain Duncan Smith unveiled plans to ensure migrants from the EU have to live in Britain for up to a year before they can claim benefits

It is thought that Britain will prove an attractive prospect for Romanians and Bulgarians.

Workers who come to the UK from Bulgaria and Romania could see themselves up to nine times better off than if they were to work in their own country.

Those coming with their families would take home £543 a week in the UK if they were earning the minimum wage, compared to just £62 back home.

Single workers from the two countries would be up to five times better off, figures by campaign group Migration Watch UK show, taking home around £250 a week instead of £50.

More than 130,000 immigrants from Romania and Bulgaria are living in Britain already and Britain is one of the most popular destinations for Bulgarian migrants, along with Greece, Spain and Germany.

Spain and Italy attract 80 per cent of Romanian emigrants according to the country's embassy.

Given the difficult economic climate in both Greece and Spain, larger numbers of Romanians and Bulgarians may decide to come to the UK.

It is thought the economic incentives for Bulgarian and Romanian workers to come to Britain are about twice those for Polish workers. Hundreds of thousands of Poles have flocked to Britain since the country was given full access to the UK job market in 2004 -- £543 a week!!!! ... no wonder they can't wait to come to Great Britain ffs!!! - Fx