France has granted citizenship to more than 12,000 frontline workers whose jobs put them at risk during the Covid pandemic under a special fast-track scheme, reports The Guardian.
As well as speeding up the application process, which normally takes up to two years, the government also cut the residency requirement from five years to two.
“Frontline workers responded to the call of the nation, so it is right that the nation takes a step towards them,” said the citizenship minister, Marlène Schiappa. “The country pulled through thanks to them.
“I welcome our new compatriots to French nationality and thank them in the name of the republic. The country also thanks them.”
In September 2020, the interior ministry invited those who had “actively contributed” to fighting the Covid health crisis to apply for fast-track naturalisation. On Thursday, Schiappa said 16,381 had applied and 12,012 applications were approved.