As of June 2026, U.S. state legislatures have proposed 793 anti-trans bills in 43 states, and legislators have also introduced 127 national anti-trans bills. Roughly half of these bills considered in 2026 focus on education or healthcare, from denying pronoun autonomy to prohibiting gender-affirming care.
While LGBTQ+ rights are under attack in the States, this does not hold true worldwide. We host a webinar every Sunday at 2p EST called You Can Move Abroad to help you get started on this journey. Here are some of the better countries for trans rights that you can move to:
Uruguay
Uruguay tops our internal rankings at Expatsi in terms of public sentiment around transgender identities. Same-sex relationships were decriminalized in 1934, establishing a longstanding record of inclusion in this South American nation. Gender affirming care is widely available, including for minors.
Malta
Despite Malta’s strong Catholic presence, the Mediterranean island is often named tops for LGBTQIA+. Travel writers Asher & Lyric note that 16-year-olds can apply for legal gender ID change with parental consent. The nation offers worker protections and constitutional protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows no trans murders from 2008-2022.
Portugal
Portugal has become a popular location for all kinds of people looking to emigrate out of the United States, thanks to its progressive laws for abortion, LGBTQIA+ rights, and drug use. Asher & Lyric say that 18-year-olds can get a legal gender ID change with no requirements, but 16-year-olds need a psych evaluation and parental consent. The nation offers worker protections and constitutional protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
NOTE: As of Spring 2026, Portugal’s Parliament advanced three bills designed to remove key gender-identity rights and end the 2018 system for gender self-determination. Human rights organizations like Outright International are actively campaigning against this effort. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups are also challenging these rights regressions. We’ll keep a close eye on any changes to Portugal’s laws.
Canada
Canada has long supported LGBTQIA+ refugees fleeing persecution, though claiming asylum can be exceptionally difficult for Americans. Gender ID change is legal here without surgery. The nation offers worker protections and constitutional protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
Sweden
In 1972, Sweden was the first country to allow transgender people to legally change their sex, but the requirements at that time were brutal. Legislation is in progress to make changing your legal gender easier, but there is increasing restriction there in hormone therapy for minors.
Bolivia
Bolivia got Asher & Lyric’s top score outside of Europe. The Amazonian nation offers worker protections and constitutional protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
Belgium
In Belgium, Asher & Lyric say that transgender individuals have to complete paperwork attesting to their gender identity. Legal protections besides worker protections are more broad, but the country hasn’t had any trans murders from 2008-2022.
Croatia
Like Belgium, Croatia offers worker protections and broad protections and has had zero trans murders during the study period. Changing your gender identity is legal, and hate crimes are prosecuted. The Balkan nation is popular with American emigrants for its weather and lifestyle. There have been zero trans murders from 2008-2022.
Denmark
Generally progressive Denmark does require a six-month “reflection period” before changing your gender identity. Hate crimes are prosecuted, and worker protections and broad protections are available. There have been zero trans murders from 2008-2022.
Norway
Minors can transition in Norway from the age of 6 with parental consent. Otherwise, worker protections and broad protection are available, hate crimes are prosecuted, and there have been zero trans murders from 2008-2022.
Greece
You can change your gender identity without surgery in Greece. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .1 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
Switzerland
You can change your gender identity without surgery in Switzerland. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It shows .1 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
France
You can change your gender identity without surgery in France. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
Finland
Finland just changed its law requiring individuals be sterilized before legally changing their gender, a common past stipulation in Europe. The country’s new center-right government was in favor of the repeal. In addition, the nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
Spain
Spain recognizes both transgender and non-binary people without surgery. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .3 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
Peru
You can change your gender identity without surgery in Peru, but you must go before a judge. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows 1.3 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
Chile
Asher & Lyric say that since 2019, ID documents can be changed in Chile without surgery. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows 1.3 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
Netherlands
You can change your gender identity without surgery in the Netherlands. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
Iceland
In Iceland, Asher & Lyric note that minors can change their legal gender ID without parental consent. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It shows zero trans murders from 2008-2022.
Ireland
Asher & Lyric note that 16-year-olds can change their legal gender with a court order. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It shows zero trans murders from 2008-2022.
