Hundreds of immigrants in France working on the coronavirus frontline have had their service to the country recognised with fast-track citizenship, reports BBC News.
The interior ministry invited residents helping with efforts against Covid-19 to apply for accelerated naturalisation.
More than 700 have already been granted citizenship or are in the final stages of receiving it.
They include healthcare professionals, cleaners and shop workers.
Frontline workers around the world have been exposed to Covid-19 at a high rate with many dying from the disease including doctors and nurses.
France is in the top ten countries worst hit by coronavirus infections, with more than 2.5 million confirmed cases and close to 62,000 deaths.
The expediated citizenship initiative was first announced in September. Seventy-four people have already been granted a French passport and another 693 are in the final stages. A total of 2,890 people have applied so far.
"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 office of Marlène Schiappa, junior minister for citizenship, said on Tuesday.