Following the UK’s departure from the European Union and bolstered by improving economic conditions at home, a notable shift is underway: more Romanians are choosing to return to their country of origin. Driven by a rising quality of life – with average salaries increasing sevenfold in the last two decades – and, for some, concerns about safety and discrimination abroad, this reverse migration trend is reshaping demographics both in the UK and Romania. This report examines the factors fueling this “exodus” from Britain, featuring the stories of Romanians who have already made the move back home.
More Romanians Are Heading Home as Quality of Life Improves
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A growing number of Romanians are choosing to return to their home country, driven by a significant rise in the standard of living. Net average salaries have increased sevenfold in the last 20 years, reaching 5,328 lei in January 2025, compared to just 723 lei in 2005. Coupled with a low unemployment rate and more affordable housing prices, Romania is becoming an increasingly attractive option for those who previously sought opportunities in the UK.
Beyond economic factors, a perception of increased safety is also playing a role in the decision to return. According to the global database Numbeo, cited by Daily Mail, Romania is now considered safer than countries like the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, despite ongoing concerns about corruption.
Official data shows that following Brexit, 435,720 Romanians were granted indefinite leave to remain under the UK’s EU Settlement Scheme, having lived in the country for five continuous years. An additional 670,560 Romanians received settled status for less than five years of residency, allowing them to apply for permanent residency in the future. This influx of settled status applications reflects a period of significant Romanian migration to the UK.
While the exact number of Romanians currently living in the United Kingdom isn’t definitively tracked, a 2023 report from the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Research estimates the population to be between 342,000 and over one million, depending on the source. The shifting demographics highlight the ongoing impact of Brexit on migration patterns.
Now, Romanians looking to work in the UK generally need to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa, meaning they must first have a job offer. This new requirement has significantly reduced the number of Romanians attempting to move to Britain, though visas are still available for students or those with family ties – a spouse, parent, or child – who have permanent residency or British citizenship.
Alexandra’s Life in Britain and the Decision to Return to Romania
Alexandra Stamate and her husband, a former Uber driver, are among those who’ve made the move back home. Arriving in Bristol in 2015 in search of a better life, they found themselves struggling with financial pressures and the stress of urban living, ultimately deciding to return to Romania with their three children, all of whom were born in England. They both initially worked in a butcher shop before her husband transitioned to driving for Uber, while Alexandra stopped working to care for their children.
“The cost of living kept rising, and raising children became increasingly challenging financially and emotionally. Like many other families, we became more aware of issues like safety and the overall pressure of city life,” Alexandra told the Daily Mail.
In 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple purchased approximately 0.8 hectares of land with an old farm needing extensive renovation in the rural area of Apold, Mureș County. They spent around 6,500 British pounds on the property.
Today, they raise goats, pigs, chickens, and bees, and grow their own vegetables and fruits, producing honey, milk, and cheese. Alexandra manages the Facebook page “Ferma Emigranți În Grădină” (The Emigrant’s Farm in the Garden), where she shares their experiences with over 355,000 followers, showcasing a growing trend of returning expats embracing a rural lifestyle.
“Here, we feel like we have everything we need. And for me, that’s the greatest wealth,” she added.
Bogdan’s Experience in the UK
Bogdan Termure is one of the Romanians who benefited from grants offered by the Romanian government to support entrepreneurs returning to the country. After working in various jobs in the UK, including food delivery, he returned to Iași in 2019 and founded HIO, a food delivery platform. His business now generates an annual revenue of approximately 600,000 euros.
He told the Daily Mail that he emigrated to the UK with his wife in 2011, but his happiness was shattered by the 2016 Brexit vote, which he claims led to increased discrimination against Romanians.
“It was very difficult. In the UK, Romanians were only associated with bad things. When I met people for the first time, I would tell them I was Russian, because that made a better impression. I would only admit I was Romanian later,” Bogdan said.
He continued: “My two children were born in the UK, and I felt it wouldn’t be good for them to grow up in that discriminatory environment, even though they spoke English better than many British people.”
Romanians Increasingly Disappointed by Lack of Respect from Britons
Another hospitality worker from Bucharest, who requested anonymity, said he returned to Romania two years ago after becoming tired of “the lack of respect from the British.”
He told the Daily Mail: “I always worked hard and paid my taxes, but people thought I was a criminal or living off benefits. I was also fed up with all the crime and drugs that are everywhere in England. I realized it wasn’t a place for me to stay when I could easily work in Romania and still have a good life.”
Other Romanians have chosen to return due to negative experiences with the British healthcare system. Ștefania, a former restaurant employee from Birmingham, stated: “I almost died because of the NHS and decided I would get better medical care in Romania.”
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