Can You Buy Land in Greenland?

Yes, since January 1999. The Greenland Parliament (Inatsisartut) passed the Land Registration Act, allowing anyone — resident or non-resident, Danish or foreign — to purchase land.

Key Details

• Before 1999: Restricted to Danish/Greenlandic residents.
• What You Buy: Freehold title to the land plot (grund).
• What You DON'T Buy: Mineral rights — all subsoil resources (oil, gas, minerals, rare earths) remain property of the Government of Greenland (Naalakkersuisut).
• Planning Permission: Strict. Building requires municipal approval; zoning protects nature, permafrost, infrastructure capacity.
• Infrastructure: No roads between towns; water, power, sewage limited. Off-grid often necessary.
• Climate: Arctic/subarctic — permafrost, polar night, short construction season.

Process

1. Find plot (local real estate agent, boligsiden.gl, municipal listings).
2. Hire Greenlandic lawyer (notary).
3. Sign contract, register at Greenland Land Registry (Nunaasiaqarfik).
4. Pay transfer tax (~1.5% + fees).

Practical Reality

Very few foreigners buy. Most land in towns (Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat) leased long-term (99 yr) from municipality. Freehold sales rare, expensive (Nuuk: DKK 15,000–30,000/m² / $2,200–4,400/sq ft).