Morocco Overtakes China as Top Recipient of French Schengen Visas Amid Pandemic Travel Slump

France issued a total of 712,317 visas in 2020 compared to 3,534,999 in 2019, a significant drop of 79.8%. According to figures published by the French Ministry of the Interior, long-stay visas fell by 37.1%, while short-stay visas saw an 82.9% drop in Schengen visa applications. "This decrease is directly attributable to the health crisis. In addition, international travel has been affected by the lack of air links and the closure of many borders. As a result, China, traditionally the leading country of origin for visa holders, has moved to fourth place, behind Morocco, Russia and Algeria," the ministry said in a statement. With 98,627 Schengen visas, Morocco is the leading country of origin of beneficiaries, followed by Russia (78,701), Algeria (73,276), and China (71,451).

In addition to the visa, the number of first residence permits issued in 2020 also saw a decline. In total, 219,302 residence permits were issued, a decrease of 20.9%. Regarding family immigration, a 16% decrease was recorded. "This is due to the fact that a portion of family titles is granted to people who are already residing on the territory at the time of their title application. Consequently, the impact of border closures related to the health crisis is less significant than for other titles," the Gérald Darmanin department further specifies.