There are nearly 100K singles in Iceland, so yes, you can find a partner there. Read this guide to find out how to do it quickly and easily.
Iceland isn’t the most mainstream country for international dating. That’s easily explained by the country’s population, though. Now, there are around 382K Icelanders, but many locals still marry foreigners. Moreover, a lot of them are intentionally looking for partners abroad.
So, yes, Icelandic mail-order brides exist. In this guide, we’re going to discuss their motivation, expectations, and of course, ways of meeting Icelandic women online & offline.
What you should know before ordering an Icelandic bride?
Here are a few basic facts about Icelandic brides you should be aware of before you start your dating journey.
- Icelandic women are usually characterized as very friendly, resilient, down-to-earth, nature-loving, optimistic, and naturally beautiful girls.
- Men can’t literally mail-order singles from Iceland or any other country. In reality, they can only meet Icelandic brides on niche sites, mainstream dating sites, or in real life.
- Most women in Iceland who are intentionally looking for foreign husbands still prefer to do it online, on mail-order bride sites, or on international dating sites.
- Men and women who meet online start a long-distance relationship first and then meet in real life.
- Once a couple realizes they have found the right match and decides to get married, a bride applies for a visa to her boyfriend’s country.
- Once a visa is approved, a bride migrates and gets married. It’s a regular marriage without any special terms. In particular, a woman isn’t expected to be a housewife, be financially dependent, etc. Still, partners are free to use the scheme that works for them personally.
That’s how things really work. As you can see, the system is rather simple, and no archaic practices. For example, the practice of arranged marriage between two people expecting to benefit from their life together is common no more.
Who is an Icelandic mail-order bride and what does she do?
If you google “Iceland brides”, you’ll hardly find any solid definition. That’s why we decided to come up with one so you can understand who these women are and avoid stereotypical thinking.
An Icelandic mail-order bride is a single woman who wants a serious relationship and is ready to get married and start a family. She’s more interested in meeting foreign men for various reasons (usually, these are some objective circumstances and personal experiences & preferences), which is why she joins niche websites designed exclusively for international singles.
Here’s what Icelandic brides really do:
- Create online dating profiles on niche websites and verify their accounts to unlock free messaging
- Communicate with multiple men until they find someone special and start building a relationship with him
- Meet their boyfriends in real life at least a few times (in most cases, a man comes to Iceland)
- Agree to immigrate if a boyfriend proposes and it seems that things will work out for them
And here’s what they never do:
- Get any kind of compensation for marrying a foreigner
- Agree to marry a foreign man despite barely knowing him
- Agree to get married on any special terms
All in all, an Icelandic mail-order bride is just a single woman interested in serious relationships. The only difference between her and a girl you are likely to meet on Tinder is that a mail-order bride definitely won’t be into casual relationships and she’ll expect to start a family with a foreign boyfriend in the near future.
Why Icelandic women become mail-order brides
Another interesting question is why Icelandic women who were obviously born and raised in one of the most developed and beautiful countries in the world would agree to immigrate to another country and marry a foreigner.
We asked them about it, and most Icelandic mail-order wives mentioned the following:
- Impact of another culture, desire to try something different and be a part of a new world.
- Bad previous relationship experiences and negative associations with local dating.
- Strong desire to get married and start a family.
Also, many women also note that they just couldn’t find a partner who’d meet their expectations in their home country. Yes, sometimes, it’s that simple.
What it’s like to be married to an Icelandic woman
Let’s say you decided to search for love in Iceland. What is your family life likely to be like?
Of course, we can’t make accurate predictions. All people, as well as all relationships, are unique. Still, we asked husbands about the distinctive features of Icelandic wives, and most mentioned the following:
- An Icelandic wife will expect communication to be completely open and honest. That’s one of the top priorities for most women from this culture.
- A girl from Iceland is likely to be hard-working and even tough.
- Icelandic women are also adventurous. If you’ve always dreamed of a girl you’ll never get bored with, Iceland may be the right place to meet her.
- She’ll always remain Icelandic despite assimilating into a new culture quite easily.
- Respect is the key. You may expect her to respect your hobbies, personal goals, and time for yourself. But she’ll definitely expect the same from you.
Do all these things match your expectations about a perfect spouse? If yes, Iceland might be your dream country to find a wife.
A wedding expert and the founder of The Bride Scoop. I'm passionate about helping potential brides and grooms navigate the world of international weddings and cross-cultural relationships. With years of experience in the industry, I've become a trusted authority on all things wedding-related, from planning and budgeting to cultural traditions and etiquette.
Through The Bride Scoop, I provide practical advice, expert insights, and personalized guidance to couples from all over the world. My blog features a wide range of topics, including wedding planning tips, real wedding stories, cultural traditions, and advice for long-distance relationships.
