Best and Worst Countries for LGBTQ Expats

Jun 16, 2026

If you're LGBTQ and planning to move abroad, your destination choice carries legal and safety implications that straight, cisgender expats don't have to consider. The gap between the best and worst countries is enormous.

The indexes that matter

Three major indexes track LGBTQ rights and safety globally:

ILGA World publishes the most comprehensive legal mapping across 193 UN member states.
Rainbow Europe by ILGA-Europe scores 49 European countries on a 0-100 scale across six categories.
Equaldex crowdsources LGBTQ rights data globally and provides country-by-country comparison tools.

The best countries

Iceland tops Rainbow Europe's index at 93/100. Same-sex marriage since 2010, comprehensive anti-discrimination protections, legal gender recognition without medical requirements. The downsides: expensive, remote, tiny job market, limited immigration pathways outside EU/EEA.

Malta scores 89/100. The Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Act (2015) is considered a global model. Same-sex marriage is legal. Conversion therapy is banned. Malta's Nomad Residence Permit provides an immigration pathway. English is an official language.

Netherlands legalized same-sex marriage in 2001, first in the world. The Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) gives US citizens an accessible self-employment visa.

Portugal has same-sex marriage since 2010, legal gender recognition since 2011, and the D7 visa for passive income holders.

Sweden and Canada offer comprehensive protections and accessible immigration programs for skilled workers. New Zealand deserves mention too: same-sex marriage since 2013 and strong anti-discrimination law.

Partner visa recognition

This is the practical issue that affects LGBTQ couples most directly. If your destination country doesn't recognize your relationship, your partner may not be able to join you.

Countries that recognize same-sex partners for immigration include all of the above plus the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Australia, and South Africa. The specifics vary: some require marriage, others accept registered partnerships or de facto relationships.

Countries that do not recognize same-sex partnerships for visa purposes include most of the Middle East, much of Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Asia. Japan doesn't legally recognize same-sex marriage, and partner visas are limited to opposite-sex spouses, though some municipalities issue partnership certificates with limited legal effect.

Healthcare access for trans expats

Best access: Spain (Ley Trans, 2023, self-determination model), Argentina (pioneering gender identity law since 2012), Belgium, Denmark.
Gatekept but available: UK (NHS wait times for gender identity clinics exceed 3-5 years), Germany (reformed in 2024), France.
Limited or unavailable: Most of the Middle East, much of Africa, parts of Southeast Asia.

Many international health insurance plans exclude gender-affirming care. Research coverage before relocating.

The most dangerous countries

ILGA World documents that 62 UN member states criminalize consensual same-sex sexual acts. In roughly a dozen, the penalty can include death: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Nigeria (northern states), Somalia (parts), Mauritania, Afghanistan, Brunei, and Uganda.

Even in countries where homosexuality isn't criminalized, enforcement of morality laws and social hostility can make life dangerous. Russia's "gay propaganda" laws, Hungary's anti-LGBTQ legislation, and Poland's "LGBT-free zones" are examples in Europe.

tl;dr

Iceland (93/100), Malta (89/100), the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and Canada consistently rank as the best countries for LGBTQ expats. Partner visa recognition is the most critical practical issue for same-sex couples. Trans healthcare access varies from excellent (Spain, Argentina) to functionally unavailable. 62 countries still criminalize same-sex acts. Research legal status, partner visa rules, and healthcare access before choosing a destination.