5 Best Countries for LGBTQ+ Expats & Digital Nomads

1. Mexico

Of the 65 countries I’ve visited so far, Mexico is my favorite place to be queer. I’ve never spent time in a place where queer culture felt so ingrained in my everyday life (maybe with the exception of my home country of the UK) and in my personal experience, it seemed to be one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world.

I felt like I could be my proudest, most bold queer self while in Mexico, and that's why I’m pretty certain I’ll end up back there one day.

From a legal perspective, federal law bans discrimination based on sexual orientation, and transgender rights are relatively progressive. It’s worth knowing that most protections are state-level rather than national, though. There’s no federal hate-crime statute, fewer than half of Mexico’s 32 states treat anti-LGBTQ+ motive as an aggravating factor, and even where those laws exist prosecutors very rarely apply them. Gender recognition works the same way: the Supreme Court has made it a right nationwide, but only around two-thirds of the states have a straightforward administrative process at the civil registry. In the rest you have to go to court to enforce that right, and only a handful of states recognize non-binary markers. Gender reassignment surgery isn't required to legally change gender, gender-affirming care is legal, and the federal government banned conversion therapy in 2024. One thing I’d want to know before committing: Mexico records the second-highest number of reported trans murders in Latin America after Brazil, so if you’re trans, research your specific state carefully.  

I’ve spent a couple of years living on and off in Mexico and have based myself in a few different cities, so I’m sharing my top three spots:

Mexico City for the Huge Gay Pride Parade

Mexico City (CDMX) is home to one of the biggest Pride parades on the planet — an estimated one million people attend, and it’s an incredible spectacle to see. I had no negative experiences whatsoever as a queer person in CDMX, and I felt completely comfortable being open about my identity here.  

Guadalajara for a Vibrant Gay-Friendly City

Guadalajara (GDL) is often referred to as GAYdalajara, which tells you everything you need to know about this huge, vibrant city. While GDL is more rough around the edges than CDMX, there’s a thriving queer community, and you’ll find lots of gay-friendly bars and LGBTQ+ events throughout the city. 

Puerto Vallarta for Queer Beach Life

If you’re a beach-loving LGBTQ+ person, Puerto Vallarta has a great queer community, and there’s always lots going on that expats can get involved with. This is especially true if you identify as a man — the gay scene is more male-leaning in my experience.

‍

2. Portugal 

Portugal is one of the most accepting countries in the world, for both LGBTQ+ people and people of color.

I spent three months living in Lisbon as a digital nomad and absolutely fell in love with it. It’s simply one of the most beautiful cities I’ve spent time in, and of all the European countries I've visited, Portugal is where I've felt most at home.  

I felt completely safe and comfortable living and dating as a queer woman in Lisbon, and there are some great gay bars if that’s an important factor in deciding where to base yourself. In addition, the food scene is unreal, the architecture and beachfront are breathtaking, and there are so many cultural events happening that you’ll have no trouble filling every weekend with cool stuff. 

I’ve also heard that Porto is a great place for LGBTQ+ nomads and expats but I only spent a weekend there, so I can’t say whether or not that’s true. I can confirm, however, that it’s a super charming place and definitely worth checking out.

Portugal’s Progressive Laws for LGBTQ+ Residents

From a legal and cultural perspective, Portugal is one of the most LGBTQ friendly countries in the world. They were eighth in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, and research shows that the vast majority of the population support it. Gender identity laws have been progressive too. Since 2018, Portugal has allowed legal gender change by self-determination from age 18. One important caveat if you’re trans and thinking long-term: in March 2026 parliament approved three bills at first reading that would repeal that law and require a medical diagnosis instead. They’re still in committee and nothing has changed yet, but it’s worth tracking closely before you commit to a move here. 

Portugal also has one of the most accessible digital nomad visas that I’ve come across, which is another great reason to consider this as a long-term base. Two things have changed recently, though. A 2025 immigration reform introduced a wait of generally two years before you can bring family from abroad, with some exceptions (minor children are immediate, and it drops to 15 months if you lived together for 18 months before the move). And as of May 2026, naturalization takes ten years for most nationalities, or seven if you’re from an EU country or a Portuguese-speaking one like Brazil.

3. Thailand

I’ve spent a total of two-ish years in Asia and have traveled throughout various regions of the continent. Generally speaking, it hasn't been my favorite place to spend extended periods of time from a sexual orientation perspective. The reasons for this are varied, and they’re not all the same kind of problem. In Malaysia, same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offense. The Penal Code carries a sentence of up to 20 years plus whipping, and state Syariah laws add further offenses for Muslim residents. Vietnam is a completely different situation legally: same-sex activity has never been criminalized there and it’s had a public Pride since 2012, but same-sex marriage isn’t recognized, so a relationship carries no legal standing at all.

However, one place stands out as an excellent destination for LGBTQ+ expats and digital nomads: Thailand. I’ve only spent a short time here so far, but it’s at the top of my list to return for a longer stint.

The Best Place in Southeast Asia to Be Queer

Thailand is one of the most gay-friendly countries on the planet, and Bangkok is especially well-known for being among the most welcoming cities for LGBTQ+ visitors. It was home to the first Pride festival in Southeast Asia back in 1999. That original event wound down after 2006 and Bangkok went without a Pride parade for a while, but it was revived in 2022 and has come back strongly, which is a sure sign that we’re welcome there. 

It’s a pretty appealing place for queer nomads and expats from a legal standpoint, too. Gay marriage and adoption laws for same sex couples came into force in January 2025 — it’s only the 38th country to do so in the entire world and the first in Southeast Asia. 

So, if you’re looking for a long term base for you and your family, Thailand is a great pick.

‍

4. The Netherlands

The Netherlands (also known as Holland) regularly tops the lists of best countries for LGBT expats and digital nomads. So, while my only personal experience of the Netherlands is a blurry weekend spent in Amsterdam for my 19th birthday, I couldn’t leave it off this list.

Holland Is a Top Pick for LGBT Friendly Countries

The Netherlands has one of the longest track records on LGBTQ+ rights anywhere in the world, and that history is a big part of why it keeps coming up in conversations about where queer people can live comfortably.

The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, back in 2001. Same-sex couples have equal adoption rights domestically, and healthcare discrimination is illegal. One thing to know if you’re planning a family: the Netherlands stopped accepting new inter-country adoptions in 2024 and is phasing the system out over six years. That applies to everyone, not just same-sex couples. 

It remains one of the more welcoming places in Europe to be queer, though it’s honest to say the picture isn’t purely rosy. Reported anti-LGBTI+ discrimination incidents have risen every year since 2022, and the government increased sentences for discrimination-motivated crimes in 2025 in response. And, if all that isn’t enough of a selling point, Amsterdam (the Netherlands’ capital) is also home to one of the biggest Pride events in the world.

‍

5. Italy

Italy is behind the times when it comes to anti-discrimination legislation, and things only seem to be moving backward with the rise of right-wing politics across Europe. With that in mind, it’s unsurprising that Italy isn’t considered to be one of the most LGBT friendly countries in the world.

However, it gets an honorable mention on this list because it provides the chance to be part of a growing gay scene of queers and allies who are fighting against homophobia and fascism.

Smarza Pride in Trieste   

The northern city of Trieste is where I’ve spent the most time in Italy, and it happens to be home to the best Pride event I’ve ever been to.

Smarza Pride (Rotten Pride) is an anarchic, grassroots event that has no corporate sponsorship or police presence. The rainbow washing we’re all used to seeing at other Pride events doesn’t happen at this one, and marching through the streets of Trieste struck the perfect balance of queer celebration and resistance.

As an extra selling point, boxed wine is served from shopping carts by volunteers along the route, and the event culminates with drag performers and a rave in a car park (fueled by more boxed wine). What could be better!?

Queer Life in Italy 

Despite the country's political standpoint, day-to-day life in Italy also felt completely safe as a queer person. I was with my then-girlfriend while in Trieste, and although we did attract a lot of attention and stares whenever we held hands in public, we agreed that we never felt hassled or unsafe. 

If you’re planning to make Italy your forever home, it’s worth seriously considering whether you’re comfortable with the level of legal rights and protection afforded to LGBTQ+ residents. Concretely, that means this: Italy recognizes civil unions but not marriage, and a same-sex marriage from abroad gets registered there as a civil union. That law expressly excludes adoption, so there’s no joint adoption and no automatic recognition of a non-biological parent. If you have children or are planning them, get specialist legal advice before you move. But if you’re seeking a more mid-term base on a digital nomad visa, Italy (or more specifically Trieste) is a great choice.  

‍

Travel Resources for LGBTQ+ Expats & Digital Nomads

Every experienced nomad and expat will have a collection of can’t-live-without apps and websites in their travel kit. Here are a few of my fave queer resources that I’ve discovered on my travels:

Everywhere is Queer

This awesome app is an ever-growing resource of queer-owned spaces around the world. Covering restaurants, cafes, bars, stores, and public places, Everywhere is Queer is one of the best tools out there for LGBTQ+ people (and allies) to find businesses to support. 

The project is relatively new, but coverage on the searchable map is constantly expanding, so you’re likely to find at least a couple of places to check out in your area. Plus, if you find a hidden gem on your travels, the owners can submit their business to be added to the app. 

Quouch

If you’ve ever used the Couchsurfing app as a queer person or as a woman or gender non-conforming person, you’ll probably have experienced your fair share of creepy hosts. Quouch is a great alternative couchsurfing website that’s been designed specifically for LGBTQ+ travelers. It’s invite-only (either from an existing member or via an application with the Quouch team), so you always know that a fellow queer person has vouched for your host.

This is another new project, and the app is still in development, but the website is fully functional and definitely worth checking out. It’s a great tool for finding places to stay when you first arrive in a new city/country and for meeting queer people in new places.

Queering the Map

Queering the Map is a gorgeous website shares stories from LGBTQ+ people from around the globe. The project maps queer stories from folks in every corner of the world — from powerful accounts of resistance to romantic tales of falling in love.  

You can search for stories in your current location or browse for entries in the places you plan to head next. This isn’t a travel resource in the traditional sense, but it’s a beautiful reminder that there are queer people everywhere and that you’re never far from finding your next queer community.

‍

Which LGBTQ+ Friendly Country Will You Choose?

So, there you have it — these destinations are my absolutely favorite places for LGBTQ+ expats and digital nomads. Whether you’re looking for a place to hang out for a few months or a new forever home, these five countries are definitely worth considering.

If you’re planning on doing your own research to find the perfect place to make your base, remember that safety is #1. Always check that your existence isn’t considered illegal and that legislation is in place to protect you from discrimination.  

From a happiness perspective, community is massively important when you’re living the nomad lifestyle, and this is especially true for marginalized people. Finding an LGBTQ community is the gateway to feeling seen and accepted in your home away from home. 

Happy travels — I hope our paths cross at a Pride parade or a gay disco sometime soon 🌈