This 700-year-old European city is attracting a large number of foreign workers.

While in Vilnius, Lithuania, Ricardo Schmitz and his brother took a midnight walk during winter, something they never do in Brazil.

Schmitz, who had not seen snow since childhood, was thrilled at the prospect of experiencing it again. We strolled from midnight to 3 a.m., and throughout the journey, I felt completely relaxed and at ease. To me, this moment was invaluable.

In 2018, Schmitz studied abroad in Vilnius as an exchange student. He later returned in 2020 to work as a senior consultant for Deloitte and a lecturer in finance and tax law at Mykolas Romeris University.

Upon my return, I felt a sense of tranquility, as if I had finally arrived home. My immediate plan is to remain here in the foreseeable future.

Skilled workers wanted

The number of foreigners living in Lithuania increased from approximately 145,000 in 2022 to over 200,000 in 2023, as reported by local media.

In 2018, the tongue-in-cheek “Vilnius — the G spot of Europe” campaign garnered global attention, while government-funded organizations such as Work in Lithuania and Invest Lithuania work to attract skilled foreign workers and investment to the country.

Lithuania's growing technology and finance industries are facing a shortage of local talent due to its small population of 2.8 million.

Foreign students studying in Vilnius are attracted to career opportunities in the city, with 42% of them planning to stay after graduation.

Schmitz stated, "I began as an intern, progressed to consultant, and now hold a senior position. The small market here presents more opportunities, which aids in growth."

Lithuania has reduced visa processing times from eight months to one and offers an arrival allowance of 3,444 euros (around $3,764) to foreigners working in needed occupations. According to Work in Lithuania, about 400 allowances have been granted.

A healthy lifestyle

The second-highest number of public holidays in the European Union is in Lithuania, with 15 holidays annually. On the other hand, only 1% of employees in Lithuania work "very long" hours, which is significantly lower than the average of 10% across the OECD.

Vilnius ranks 11th in the OECD for work-life balance, surpassing Switzerland and Hungary. This, according to Misha Johanna, a fellow foreign worker, is a significant advantage of living in the city.

Johanna, from Jakarta, stated that her company here promotes taking all vacation time, which is quite different from the working culture in Indonesia.

She came to Vilnius for schooling, as did Schmitz, influenced by her desire to be with her Lithuanian boyfriend, whom she had met in Bali, she said.

Indonesians are more relaxed about work than Lithuanians, Johanna stated. However, in Indonesia, she believes bosses are less likely to approve vacation leave, so workers often make up reasons, typically related to family, to conceal their vacations.

Johanna, a manager for the marketing data platform Whatagraph who works nights from her apartment in Vilnius, said that she doesn't have to do that here as she has days free for her side hustle as an actor. She has appeared in commercials for Burger King, Just Eat, and Work In Lithuania.

Johanna stated that the air in the current location is exceptional, unlike in Jakarta where it is difficult to breathe when stepping outside. Additionally, she mentioned that Vilnius is highly walkable, which is something she cannot do in her home country due to the lack of pedestrian-friendly roads.

In 2021, Laura Guarino relocated from Italy to Vilnius through a study abroad program. She expressed her delight at leaving behind the congestion and bustle of Naples in favor of a quick 10-minute commute to her workplace.

Guarino, a business development manager for Teltonika Telematics, fell in love with the city, said he.

"The traffic and buildings in Napoli are overwhelming, causing much annoyance," she stated.

"I don't want to leave Vilnius because it has such a good vibe and is so relaxing. I also enjoy swimming in the lakes and going for hikes in the countryside," she said.

Ups and downs

Although they've taken classes to learn Lithuanian, Guarino, Schmitz, and Johanna all feel it's been easy to fit in as most locals are proficient in English.

They have had to adapt to a more reserved and structured approach, which is different from the open, emotional, and highly conversational nature of Indonesian, Brazilian, and Italian cultures.

Despite being known as a budget-friendly destination, Vilnius is no longer the affordable city it once was, according to Guarino and Johanna. They claim that the cost of rent, bills, and groceries is just as expensive as it is back home.

The three foreign workers are also acclimating to the long, harsh Lithuanian winters. Johanna has adopted the local tradition of "ekete," which involves a sauna session followed by a dip in an icy lake, which she describes as a "transcendent experience." Schmitz, on the other hand, has taken up the winter sport of curling and is competing at the Lithuanian national championships.

Guarino has her ways of dealing with winter, which she acknowledges can be challenging.

She assured me that as long as she took her vitamin D and returned to Napoli for Christmas, she would be okay.