France to Issue Travel Permits for Separated Binational Couples Amid COVID-19 Border Closures

"There is a procedure that was put in place in early August. It is not satisfactory because it is too slow and has not made it possible to respond to these problems," admitted the new Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, on France Inter. This first derogatory procedure was considered "too complicated". As a result, its implementation within the consular network could not be effective.

This is why, as Mr. Beaune explained, it has been decided to issue the first "laissez-passer" in the very near future, in order to allow Franco-Moroccan, Franco-Algerian, etc. couples, separated by the coronavirus pandemic for more than six months, to reunite again. He hopes that by the end of the week, the beginning of next week, the first laissez-passer will be available. This derogatory procedure concerns unmarried, non-PACS’d Franco-foreign couples who have not had their cohabitation recognized, it is specified.

In June, these couples had launched an international campaign called "Love is not tourism", in order to make themselves heard. This new announcement is far from reassuring them. "In this context, and with a situation that is still as desperate for separated couples and families, despite Mr. Beaune’s remarks, the collective remains in expectation of acts," said Fabien Lefevre, one of the representatives of the said collective, to AFP.