In neighboring Norway there is Job Seeker visa [0] and the main requirement is you need to qualify as a skilled worker.

According to UDI one of the ways you qualify as a skilled worker : special qualifications that you have obtained through long work experience, if relevant in combination with courses etc. A permit is only granted in such cases in exceptional circumstances. Your qualifications must be equivalent to those of someone who has completed vocational training [1].

You also need to show that you can support yourself for 6 months (NOK 119 392)

[0] https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/job-see...

[1] https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/skilled-worker/

This is sort of the problem that is at the heart of my question. Job markets seem to be pretty good for software people right now, but this is in conflict with residency requirements. If I could find a job in Sweden, I'd have to be able to legally work and live there. Just as well, even if a company wants to hire me, they have to be able to go through a legal process to do so.

It's exactly like @rasjani & @piva00 put it.

I was in a pretty much similar situation to you when I started to think about moving to Europe (or Canada, btw): some work experience; no formal degree; late twenties. I also felt there is some chicken and egg problem, though the solution is simple: just send your CV to interesting companies, asking if they are offering relocation from outside EU. Many large companies like Spotify, Klarna offer relocation, as well as meny smaller companies.

As you have went through recruitment process (which in Sweden is quite humane) and accepted the offer, your employer would have applied on behalf of you for work visa (typically 2-years, which later could be extended unless you get a permanent right of residence after four years).

I have faint feeling that (atleast in Scandinavia) - if you find a suitable employer, they will help visa legalities if you are a match for them.

I'm working in Sweden, coming from Brazil and I didn't finish my degree, I can say that finding a company here which wants to sponsor a visa for skilled workers without a degree is not hard.

Mind describing how you managed that for my sake and that of my Brazilian friend looking at returning to Canada?

Nothing special, got recruited by a Swedish company that does visa sponsorship, never got asked about the lack of a degree and the company applied for my visa as a high-skilled worker, they asked for the documents they needed (nothing major, my CV, a form detailing my previous occupations and contact details from previous employers were basically it) and I got the visa approved a month later.

If a company is willing to sponsor your visa then it's really not hard over here.

That's certainly interesting, thanks for expanding on your experience. How many years of experience did you go in with? That's the other standard route that doesn't involve a degree. For example, if I was interested in working in the U.S, I'd either need a degree or 12 evident years of experience.