This article has been translated using machine translation. Therfore, the content may contain inaccuracies or may not perfectly reflect the original meaning. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original version of the text. We appreciate your understanding.
On 21-23 March, the team of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consultation Centre “Grįžtu LT” visited the United Kingdom, where they presented the advantages of returning to Lithuania to local Lithuanians, introduced them to the Lithuanian diaspora policy, strategic goals and various initiatives and cooperation opportunities.
21 March. At the Skills and Career Planning Workshop “The Common Denominator - Lithuania: Career Planning Workshop” held at the Lithuanian Embassy in London, participants learned about the opportunities for employment, business creation and professional development in Lithuania, presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Return to Lithuania Unit and the Employment Service's initiative “Maybe to Lithuania?” and representatives of the “Create for Lithuania” programme. The participants were actively interested in the possibility of returning to Lithuania and applying the knowledge and experience gained in the United Kingdom.
"Lithuanians returning from the UK bring back valuable experience, professional skills and business ideas that enrich the Lithuanian labour market and economy. Our aim is to ensure that everyone who wants to return receives all the necessary information and assistance," said Tadas Kubilius, Head of the Return to Lithuania Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressing that the majority of those returning to Lithuania are from the United Kingdom.
During the visit to the UK, the team also visited Leeds, where they met with the local Lithuanian community and visited the Lithuanian school “Saulutė” in Leeds. The meetings with the community and the school's students and teachers focused on the opportunities for the younger generation to return to Lithuania, integration in Lithuanian mainstream schools, higher education and career prospects.
As a follow-up to our visit to the UK on 23 March. On the 23rd of March, the representatives of the “Grįžtu LT” team participated in the traditional Leeds Kaziuk Fair, where they interacted with local Lithuanians and answered their questions about returning to Lithuania, and together with the staff of the Employment Service, provided consultations on various issues related to the (re)integration into Lithuania.
According to preliminary data from the State Data Agency, in 2024, 18,934 Lithuanian citizens returned to Lithuania and 9,486 left the country. The United Kingdom is the first country in terms of the number of returnees. In 2024, 7 589 Lithuanian citizens returned to Lithuania from the United Kingdom. Since the launch of the “Grįžtu LT” Consultation Centre, the United Kingdom has received the highest number of enquiries from the United Kingdom: almost one third of all enquiries.