After this year's World Cup, the Lions will travel to the southern hemisphere between tours of Europe by New Zealand in 2018 and Australia in 2020.
There will be no Four Nations - with England, Australia, New Zealand and a fourth side - until at least 2022.
The Lions last played in 2007 in a series against New Zealand.
The team was disbanded after the 3-0 whitewash of the touring Kiwis which preceded the 2008 World Cup.
England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland have since played under their own banners. England will continue to do so for World Cups and incoming tours.
The Kangaroos tour in 2020 will feature at least three Test matches against England and one Test against France.
RLIF chairman Nigel Wood said: "I am sure supporters will welcome the re-introduction of Lions, Kangaroos and Kiwi tours in particular but the calendar provides new opportunities for all our members and embraces the expansion of Nines, providing an exciting future for players, supporters and members alike."
As part of the new four-year cycle, announced following an RLIF meeting in Sydney, the sport's governing body announced:
The history of the Lions goes back to 1908 when they were defeated 2-1 by the touring Kiwis. The first Great Britain tour of the southern hemisphere took place in 1910
RLIF four-year cycle calendar:
2018 New Zealand tour of Europe
2018 Emerging Nations championship
2019 Great British and Irish Lions tour of southern hemisphere
2020 Australia tour of Europe
2021 Rugby League Men's and Women's World Cups
The first Great Britain and Irish Lions tour in more than a decade will take place in 2019, the Rugby League International Federation has confirmed.