I am thinking more about overall safety when choosing a country, and honestly most South American countries would not be high on my list for individual freedom and long-term stability. That said, Chile has impressed me with how it turned around from dictatorship and internal violence into a promising country. The downside is that Chile sits on the Ring of Fire, with earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and other natural disaster risks. Uruguay also makes me curious, because it seems to offer a good balance of freedom, political stability, safety, temperate climate, and a long coastline, without many of the natural disasters that affect other parts of the continent. For you, Uruguay is actually one of the easier countries to consider. As a Norwegian, you can enter visa-free for up to 90 days as a tourist. If you decide to stay, you can apply for residency rather than having to leave first. For retirement/residency, the general requirements are: Proof of a stable pension or other regular income (many guides cite around US$1,500/month as a practical benchmark). Clean criminal record. Health documentation and identity documents. Demonstrate an intention to reside in Uruguay. Given what I know about your priorities—safety, political stability, coastline, individual freedom, and avoiding major natural disasters—Uruguay is one of the strongest retirement candidates in South America. It isn’t as inexpensive as Thailand, but it aligns well with many of the qualities you’ve said matter most.
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