France naturalizes over 2,000 foreign essential workers after helping fight pandemic

World

Published: 2021-05-06 11:00

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 15:02


Source: Complete France
Source: Complete France

The French government Wednesday announced the naturalization of more than 2,000 foreign employees after the employees helped France fight the coronavirus. 

Minister of State for Citizenship Affairs Marilyn Schiappa said that 2009 people, including 665 minors, enjoyed the acceleration of the naturalization process due to "showing their connection to the nation."

Schiappa issued directives in September to expedite the consideration of naturalization applications for key personnel who "have actively contributed" to the fight against COVID-19.

They were allowed to apply for citizenship after only two years of residing in France, instead of five years.

The measure includes health workers, cleaners, home caregivers and babysitters.

More than 8,000 people have submitted applications to benefit from the exceptional measure, according to the Office of the Minister of State, which indicated that all requests were "carefully" examined.

And 61,371 people acquired French citizenship in 2020, a 20 percent decrease from the previous year.