France to naturalise foreign frontline Covid-19 workers as reward for their efforts

Medical staff members work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are treated at the Melun-Senart hospital, near Paris, France, November 20, 2020. REUTERS - BENOIT TESSIER

In September, the ministry had invited people who "actively contributed” to the fight against the novel coronavirus to apply for fast-track naturalisation.

According to the office of Marlene Schiappa, junior minister for citizenship, of the nearly 3,000 people who responded, 74 had already obtained citizenship and 693 more were in the final stage of the process.

#Citoyenneté | Suite à ma consigne aux Préfets de naturaliser les étrangers qui ont travaillé en 1ère ligne pendant le confinement, 2890 demandes ont été reçues par le ministère @Interieur_Gouv

Les derniers chiffres ici 👇🏾https://t.co/hDj9l5ZXeQ

— 🇫🇷 MarleneSchiappa (@MarleneSchiappa) December 22, 2020

"Health professionals, cleaning ladies, childcare workers, checkout staff: They all proved their commitment to the nation, and it is now the turn of the republic to take a step towards them,” the statement added.

Additionally, immigration authorities have been ordered to reduce the residency period needed for citizenship to two years from the usual five in the case of “great services rendered.”

(AFP)