A 2017 poll found that 67% of South Africans agreed that gay, lesbian, and bisexual people should have equal rights; 17% disagreed. The Netherlands has legalized same-sex activity, same-sex marriage, and adoption in the country. Ranked: best countries for expats (according to expats) The law allows same-sex couples to adopt, and lesbian couples have equal access to in vitro fertilization treatment. In 2014, the Government of Finland legalized same-sex marriage. 12 Best Countries To Live In For Expats (2023 Update) Between them they've traveled to all seven continents (including Sue's dream trip to Antarctica) and more than 50 countries. This is a nation of resiliency and adaptability, its population hardy and determined. Further to registered partnerships, the country legalized same-sex marriage in 2012. But the eventual winner was Costa Rica. The law is unclear on transgender rights, however. According to Wikipedia, this countrys post-apartheid constitution was the first in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and it was the fifth country in the world and the firstand, to date, onlyin Africa, to legalize same-sex marriage. Lesbians have access to in vitro fertilization treatments. Many aspects of the country including its friendly people and English competency make it easy to do business, get urban amenities, and live a high standard of living for much lower costs than someone might be used to in the Western world. Located between Brazil and Argentina, this modern, progressive yet laid-back country is very LGBTQ+ retiree friendly. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013. Same-sex marriage was legalized in France in 2013. The cost of living is low in much of the country (Lisbon is more expensive) and you can live comfortably on less than $1,500 a month. In 2021, the reputed data research platform, Statista, ranked Canada as the safest country for LGBTQ to travel to. Contents hide. The country is historical, full of charm, progressive, and affordable. The U.S. currency is widely accepted, and the cost of living is low. Answer (1 of 6): The U.S. can be a good country for trans people, but it depends heavily on where you live. Lisbon is without a doubt the best city for an LGBTQ+ person to live in. We must put our adopted country on top of the list. Yet, not everyone here is LGBTQIA+ friendly. Besides bars, clubs, and cafs, Taiwan hosts a gay beach, two popular gay hot springs, and even a cruisy gay bookshop. This was followed by the legalization of adoption rights for same-sex couples. 18 STEPS TO IMPLEMENTING YOUR PLAN B. Since 2017, people with non-binary gender identities can note this on their passports. Founder of Nomad Capitalist and the worlds most sought-after expert on global citizenship. Civic attitudes to LGBTQIA+ people are progressive, with a 2013 Pew survey noting that 80% of Canadians accept homosexuality. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Under the Equal Treatment Act, LGBT people are protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Residential properties stand on the city skyline in Reykjavik, Iceland, on April 7, 2016. If we were a married straight couple, we could have entered Singapore after quarantining. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Buenos Aires is Argentinas gay capital. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. We want to inspire you to explore new destinations, discover new experiences and savor the journey. These include adoption, automatic parenthood recognition on birth certificates, inheritance tax, rights to survivor pensions, recognition for immigration purposes, equal treatment for tax purposes including inheritance tax and protection from domestic violence. The country is largely Roman Catholic. Apart from married couples and civil partners, single individuals (including single LGBT people) also have the right to adopt children. They also offer a Rentista program, which requires that you deposit $60,000 in a Costa Rican bank or show $30,000 yearly income for two years. Since 2007, people have been able to change their gender in Spain, and the country is one of the worlds most supportive of trans rights. In our research, we found many expats had successfully moved out of the U.S. and were thriving in their new homes. Like neighboring Spain, there is a thriving gay life in this Western European nation (as well as being known for particularly beautiful and fun-loving people). Anti-discrimination laws are also fairly weak. Same-sex marriage in Spain has been legal since 2005. fastest places in the world to become a citizen, residency in Malta with the Global Resident Programme, top most livable cities in Southeast Asia, The Best Nomadic Lifestyle Jobs (and How to Land Them), Digital Nomad Lifestyle: All Pros and Cons to Keep in Mind, St Kitts Travel Guide for Families and Couples, 44 Digital Nomad Visas to Get: The Ultimate Digital Nomad Visa List, Traveling to Antigua: Our Favorite Luxury Hotels. The most progressive country when it comes to liberation and freedom, France, is one of the best countries for gay expats. Our flagship service for entrepreneurs and investors, Use our decades of experience to invest in foreign real estate, Work exclusively with Mr. Andrew Henderson, Click here to see all our products and services. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1795, when the country was a French territory. In 1981, the country was the first to introduce anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation. first countries in the world to legalize gay marriage. Though they may work for an LGBTQIA+ friendly organization, national laws can force expats to stay in or return to the closet. The safest countries in the world for LGBTQ are Portugal, Finland, Spain, Norway, Iceland, Belgium, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, and Malta. The Kirchberg district in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Other possibilities in South America include Mexico, Chile, and Peru. 10. It is ranked first in Europe and allows not only same-sex marriage (as of 2017) but open military service and protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. You'll pay about 3 for a bottle of beer. Johan Jeppsson / Bloomberg via Getty Images, de-list transgender identification as a mental illness, Gallup's best countries for gays and lesbians, second best country in the world for expats, best countries in the world for gays and lesbians. Expats find everything they need in close proximity in Portugal. Charming, Old World capital-city Ljubljana is the heart of the country, both literally and figuratively. Thailand. Hanoi, Vietnam. LGBT History & Rights in Portugal. People may change their gender legally without surgery. Owing to its progressive outlook and policies that protect the LGBTQI+ community against discrimination, this north-European nation is definitely a gay-friendly country. Consequently, Buenos Aires is one of the most gay-friendly places in South America. Sweden is tied with the Netherlands because of their long history of sexual toleration and current openness for LGBTQ rights. Art, culture, food, history France has everything. Although an LGBTQIA+ friendly country, the Netherlands fares worse than its neighbors regarding hate crime and speech and conversion therapy remains legal. Nearby Thailand also exemplifies this with the inclusion of transgender people and/or ladyboys in the society as a normal thing, thus conjuring less animosity towards the idea of gender-nonconforming people and different forms of sexuality. Did you know that Lonely Planet an Australian travel guide and book publisher included Iceland in its rank of the Top Ten Gay Wedding Destinations? No wonder the country is placed on lists of the most LGBTQ-friendly countries in the world. European Countries Among Top Places for Gay People to Live - Gallup.com Panama, for example, made same-sex adoption illegal in March 2021. Our strategies help serve clients of many backgrounds all around the world who are looking to find freedom in a low-tax, high-flexibility nomad lifestyle. Like Spain, Malta requires a net worth of between $40,000-$45,000 and an annual income of over $27,000. The country is also progressive when it comes to trans rights; Taiwan plans on introducing a third gender on government documents in 2020. # Countries : WCIL RANK: Cost of Living vs USA: Cost of Living vs . Lisbon and Porto, as they are areas with the greatest diversity, are the ones where you will feel most comfortable expressing yourself. And stay tuned for tomorrow's issue, when we'll reveal one of our top picks for where a gay couple or single might consider launching a new life overseas. Digital nomad. Another LGBTQ+-friendly country, Israel also doesnt have a retirement visa. In general, Belgium displays an extremely high level of homosexual acceptance. New Zealands history of tolerance goes back to pre-colonial Mori times, although British colonization resulted in anti-sodomy laws. 25 Best Countries for Expats - Yahoo Finance An expat may sponsor their partner, but must at least have permanent residence. Art, culture, food, history France has everything. Later in 1999, the capital city of Lisbon witnessed the countrys very first pride parade. Costa Rica is an excellent place for LGBTQ+ retirees. France. Unmarried couples of any gender may adopt children jointly. France: the good life, for families and retirees. Here are eight of the safest countries for Black LGBTQIA+ travelers. The country is frequently noted as having one of the best gay rights records in the world and rights include protections for transgender individuals. A number of LGBTQ advocates threatened to leave the US should Donald Trump be elected. It has been an LGBTQIA+ tourist destination since the early 2000s, with its Queer Tango festival among the major highlights. The Auckland, New Zealand skyline on May 28, 2015, Aerial view of Johannesburg, South Africa, Jose Fuste Raga / JTB Photo/UIG via Getty Images. We also liked the idea of ease of travel within Europe. While most of the African culture is associated with more traditional anti-gay sentiments in regards to family or lack of legal protections, South Africa has stood out as a leader in recent years. Burn says that it is among their most popular destinations at the agency. You can apply for a residence permit of at least two years if your spouse holds a permanent residential address. We have written before on cities to check out and not ignore if doing business here and gay and straight travelers alike may choose to take advantage of the opportunities in these growing Brazilian urban centers. The Amerika Club and bar km Zero are among the best places to go for a night out in Buenos Aires. In this article, we take a look at the 10 best countries for expats. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. This beautiful country (of beautiful Nordic men and women) has a rich history and during the summer months because of his Northern latitude experiences long days of sunshine. The 1996 constitution banned discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation; LGBTQIA+ people have been able to marry since 2007. The Dutch capital, often dubbed the gayway to Europe, has a vibrant LGBTQIA+ culture and caters to all appetites and fetishes. And in 2003, it became the second country to permit same-sex marriages. Couple that with a low cost of living, averaging at $1,500 per month for a small family even in highly urbanized cities like Hanoi, and you . Its capital, Montevideo, is the countrys most gay-friendly city and is listed as one of the top gay destinations in the Spartacus International Gay Guide. The country legalized same-sex sexual activity in 1969. People may change their gender on their driving license or passport with a statutory declaration; however, doing the same on a birth certificate requires proof of medical treatment towards transition. Canada has the most progressive and comprehensive rights for the LGBTQ community in North America. Portugal is known as one of the most LGBT-friendly countries in the world. Speaking of safety, you can tag Croatia as the best European country to live in because of its low crime rate. Hong Kong Pride is held each November and attracts an estimated 10,000 people. One of our favorite destinations in Europe, France is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in Europe if not the world. We chose Costa Rica for five reasons: Spain is another of our favorite countries. While the gay scene in this country may be more concentrated in the main cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa has done work to change the narrative on LGBT protections on the continent and travelers who are doing business in this region or seek to invest in frontier markets might choose to be in South Africa as a base. Gay South Africa competitions. Netherlands. France legalized same-sex marriage in 2013 and was the first country in the world to de-list transgender identification as a mental illness. Brooke Sopelsa is the editorial director of NBC Out, NBC News' LGBTQ digital destination. Taiwan. To find out more about what makes Portugal one of the safest LGBTQ countries to live in, read our article: Is Portugal a good place to live for LGBT expats? Very recently, the ILGA-Europe listed Belgium as the number two leading country for the protection of LGBT rights in the European Union, right after Malta. This statistic says a lot about the general sentiment of the Belgian public. Of those, Seattle, Portland, and Oakland have the best le. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Portugal. Thus, the fear-mongering is overblown and usually in a way that unnecessarily puts down those countries. Partners of expats may apply for either a spousal or life partner permit for South Africa. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Well send our best articles, videos, and exclusive content right to your inbox. The Best Countries for Retirement in 2020, According to Expats Best and worst countries for expats. In Croatia, an 18-point jump took place in those who feel their area is a good place for gay people to live in 2014. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been outlawed since 2003, the year Belgium legalized same-sex marriage. According to the ILGA report, the countrys anti-LGBT laws are considered some of the most forward-looking legal interventions in Europe. In 2006, South Africa became the first country in Africa to legalize same-sex marriage -- and there has yet to be a second. However, people who want to change their gender legally must undergo medical treatment, surgical treatment, or hormone replacement therapy. However, most nomads do not find themselves in these countries anyway for reasons unrelated to this issue, and most (particularly Western expat) nomads would not be subject to those conditions anyway. All have significant Expat populations, and many rank on lists of the best places to live for Expats. However, the scene extends to Rosario, Crdoba, Mar del Plata, and Mendoza in the center of the Argentine wine country. All rights reserved. Denmark is one of the most LGBTQ-Friendly Study - Study In Denmark Spain has since transformed itself into one of the most LGBTQ-friendly countries to live in the world. Best Places to Live in Europe for LGBTQ Expats - She Hit Refresh By criminalizing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace, educational institutions, and healthcare services, the Government of Finland does its utmost to protect its LGBTQ+ communities. As gay nomads, it is important to respect those nuances. In 2015, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote, and it also has stringent protections against LGBTQ discrimination. We also had concerns about Chinas relationship with Taiwan and its implications. New Zealand also recognizes married or de facto relationships for expat couples, whether heterosexual or homosexual. Taiwan was placed first out of 59 countries for the third year in a row and has consistently ranked in the top five over the years. The government banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in educational institutions in 2004; further legislation covering the rest of society in 2017. Oftentimes, countries in Southeast Asia have an interesting relationship with the issue of homosexuality: While certain aspects of the culture are quite traditional and familial, there is often more room for differences of sexuality as well as gender, which have always been seen as sort of matter of fact. Transgender people enjoy similar protections. Getty Images. While we were hoping to avoid winter entirely, Portugal has a Mediterranean climate and has very mild winters. Taiwan 4. Look no further than Madrid's Pride Festival to understand the city's legacy status within the LGBTQ community. Social acceptance grew as the territory has become more LGBTQIA+ friendly in recent years. And while the country had long been a socialist mess, it is improving these days, hopefully for good. 8 of the Best Countries in the World for LGBTQ+ People Berlin is on the rise, but remains surprisingly affordable for a major European capital. Are these laws always enforced? 12. Malta is one of just a handful of countries whose constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of both sexual orientation and gender identity, including in the workplace. Sometimes, all you need Have options so that no one government controls you or your wealth. The cheapest European cities for expats - Wise 2. With its good track record on gay rights, Ireland is a welcoming place for LGBT nomads looking to set up a base.