The politics of intimate citizenship: sweetheart visas and pandemic-era migration policy in Europe

During the COVID-19 pandemic, border closures separated thousands of people who were in cross-national, unmarried relationships. Sweethearts across the world protested using the refrain and hashtag, #LoveIsNotTourism. In response, twelve European countries introduced sweetheart visas to reunite couples excluded from family-based migration policies. This study compares sweetheart visas to traditional family/marriage visas to assess their significance and inclusivity. Using qualitative data from online forums and policy documents, it finds that while sweetheart visas often mirrored existing visa structures, the ambiguous definition allowed for broader recognition of intimate relationships – including non-marital, non-heteronormative, and polyamorous partnerships. The analysis also shows that countries with higher gender equality and less adherence to heteronormative norms were more likely to adopt sweetheart visas. This examination of how states temporarily expanded intimate citizenship beyond conventional family forms contributes to debates on migration governance, care regimes, and the politics of belonging.