With anti-queer rhetoric ramping up across the U.S., LGBTQ+ folks of all stripes are looking to leave for new homes where they can live loud and proud (or cozy and quiet, if that’s what they prefer). Here are the best cities for lesbian expats looking to move abroad. Amsterdam, the
An upward trend in Americans moving abroad for retirement continues through 2026 and likely beyond. For many retirees, the destination often relies on lower cost of living, accessible healthcare, and finding community. LGBTQ+ seniors face additional challenges in their search, seeking countries where their marital status, gender identity, and personal
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has come under scrutiny for comments about revoking rights from gay Americans, including same-sex marriage. Thankfully, even if the worst were to happen, other countries still offer those rights for LGBTQIA+ folks. Since the Netherlands first legalized gay marriage back in 2001, the fight
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
When you start planning a move abroad, digging into universal healthcare rankings by country is easily one of the smartest things you can do for your peace of mind. Nobody wants to relocate to a dream destination only to realize the local medical care is substandard or completely unaffordable. The
Friendly to visit and friendly to actually live in are two different things. Italy feels wonderful for two weeks. Talk to Americans who spent years navigating Italian residency paperwork, and the story changes. The countries below work long-term: locals who engage with newcomers rather than tolerate them, bureaucracy that doesn’t
Top Destinations and Safest Cities for LGBTQ Male Expats For gay men relocating abroad, legal protection and social environment come before climate or cost. The safest cities for lgbtq male expats share a few consistent features: constitutional anti-discrimination laws, legal same-sex marriage, and police forces that actually enforce hate crime
Here’s a sentence that would have sounded weird not too terribly long ago: the United States is no longer considered a liberal democracy. The V-Dem Institute, which tracks democracy across 202 countries and territories, downgraded the U.S. in its 2026 report — dropping it from “liberal democracy” to “electoral democracy,”
Why do relocation conversations keep circling back to Portugal? Finances play a major part. Costs run lower than most of Western Europe, the weather is genuinely good, and Portugal welcomes foreign residents more openly than a lot of other countries. But the numbers you find online don’t always reflect the
Are you looking forward to retirement? Do you imagine peaceful days spent socializing with family and friends, pursuing hobbies, and catching up on things you put off during a long career with limited time off? While we all long for those days, you may look at your bank account and
Despite Americans who claim it’s the greatest country on earth, the United States is not exceptional when it comes to healthcare. It is, however, the most expensive. According to a 2023 report from the Commonwealth Fund, U.S. healthcare ranks highest worldwide in terms of costs, spending nearly 18 percent of
In bustling cities or quiet small towns, as a family or going solo, Portugal is full of reasons to fall in love and want to stay forever. Great healthcare, fantastic food, beautiful mountains and beaches, lovely weather, warm and welcoming locals, a reasonable cost of living — Portugal is just
You’re getting ready for your trip to Portugal — maybe a short trip, maybe a big move — and amid all the preparing and planning, there’s that one detail you wish you wouldn’t have to deal with: Do I really have to learn Portuguese? Have to? Technically, no. People live
Lisbon, Portugal, is hugely popular with American tourists and immigrants, and it’s deserving of all the love it gets. Portugal’s capital city is stunning — pastel buildings, cobblestone streets, river views. It’s a modern city with historic vibes, great culture, and livability. If you got off the plane and decided
Tell any parent it’s expensive to raise a family in today’s economy, and they won’t laugh at you, because they’re too tired. But believe me, they already know. One survey shows that to raise a family of four in 2025, you’ll need a six-figure income in more than half the
Rumors of the death of Portugal’s Golden Visa have been greatly exaggerated. Spoiler: Despite rumors, fears, and even overwrought headlines to the contrary, the Portuguese Golden Visa has not been eliminated. Some changes have been made, some changes might be made, but none of the changes come nearly to the
Thank you to our friends at MyExpatTaxes for compiling this data! These are all the countries we visit on our group scouting trips, and they shared this info so you could make the best choice about where to visit. Join us for a free Q&A session to learn more! —Jen
To answer the big question first: No, you’re not automatically granted citizenship of a foreign country without knowing it. But you could qualify for citizenship without knowing it, through citizenship by descent or jus sanguinis — when a country offers the option to apply for citizenship based on the fact
