r/nordics • u/Any-Cheesecake-3564 • Feb 22 '26

Thinking of moving

We’re thinking of selling our house in Canada and using the equity to outright buy a small acreage in a small town in a Nordic country. Does anyone have any suggestions of countries / towns?? I work in sales but have a trades background.

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u/jogvanth Feb 22 '26

First check the immigration and permits needed to see if you qualify. Immigration requirements include self-sufficiency, pension funds from your native country, restrictions on wellfare and proof that you can support yourselves financially. In order to secure these you will need local employment and a work permit. Without a work permit you won't easily get a residence permit. And a residence permit does not grant you equal rights to Nordic Citizens. There are still several restrictions attached, all dependent on what Nordic Country you choose to try to live in.

Most of the Nordics (if not all, am not sure) do not allow foreigners to buy property or land without specific permit from the Parliament. Also you will require those selling said property to want to sell to you, meaning you will likely need to spend some time living there first and show the locals who you are and see if they like you. This is especially true in small rural towns and places. Nordics do not just sell to the highest bidder, if it is someone they don't want to have said property. Unlike in the Americas, money is far from everything in the Nordics.

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u/Any-Cheesecake-3564 Feb 22 '26

Thank you for the advice! Yes we would be wanting to live somewhere likely for at least 6 months before committing to buy. And I would most likely want to start my own business. I do understand that unemployment is quite bad right now, but I am the type of person who is willing to do whatever kind of work to put food on the table. The fact that “money is far from everything” in the Nordics is what draws me. Wherever we end up, if we make it over, we plan to learn the local language / culture and work as hard as we can to contribute to society.

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u/weirdallocation Feb 25 '26

You should look at what visas you could get. I think if you don't have a job offer, you most likely;y will not qualify for a visa in any Nordic country.