If you’re a queer person in America, we can all probably agree that things are… bad.
Do you daydream about escaping this hellscape nightmare and living abroad as a digital nomad somewhere that your basic human rights are not denied or erased? Are you a remote worker, entrepreneur, digital content creator, or self-employed freelancer with fully remote capabilities? Do you have an income of at least $9,500 USD per year? Then this list of LGBTQ+ friendly countries with easy digital nomad visa programs is for you!
We’ve reviewed numerous lists and rankings – and crunched and crosschecked the data – to figure out which foreign nations have digital nomad (or freelancer / long stay) visas with relatively easy entry and income requirements, stays longer than 90 days, and that are also safe for LGBTQ+ Americans looking to live and work abroad (at least temporarily).
Disclaimer: Though these countries are generally safe and welcoming for queer folks, you should always exercise basic caution in a foreign country and stay up-to-date on relevant news and political events when residing anywhere (including the U.S.! 🙃).
14. Bermuda
- Type of visa: Digital nomad visa
- Length of stay: Up to 12 months
- Income requirement: None
- LGBTQ+ safety: Relatively safe, but PDA could attract unwanted attention
13. Taiwan
- Type of visa: Digital nomad visa
- Length of stay: Up to six months
- Income requirement: A minimum of $40,000 annually if you are 30 years old or older and a minimum of $20,000 for adults under 30
- LGBTQ+ safety: Generally safe with progressive LGBTQ+ policies
12. Estonia
- Type of visa: Digital nomad visa
- Length of stay: Up to one year
- Income requirement: minimum gross income of €4,500 monthly
- LGBTQ+ safety: Generally safe
11. Argentina
- Type of visa: Digital nomad visa
- Length of stay: 180 days (six months) with the option to renew for another 180-day period
- Income requirement: No official income requirement, but many experts recommend demonstrating a monthly income of around $2,500 USD
- LGBTQ+ safety: Buenos Aires – known as “the gay capital of South America” – is very safe and welcoming, having led the charge of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and protections. However, as with many countries, rural areas still have some issues with homophobia.
10. Costa Rica
- Type of visa: Digital nomad visa
- Length of stay: One year with ability to renew for an additional year
- Income requirement: A stable monthly income of at least $3,000 USD to qualify, with additional requirements for dependents
- LGBTQ+ safety: Generally safe – and one of the safest countries for queer people in Central America
9. Greece
- Type of visa: Digital Nomad Visa
- Length of stay: Up to one year with option to renew for an additional year
- Income requirement: €3,500 after taxes
- LGBTQ+ safety: Safe and welcoming in major cities (like Athens and Thessaloniki). Smaller towns can be more conservative.
8. Anguilla
- Type of visa: Digital nomad visa
- Length of stay: 91 days to 12 months
- Income requirement: No income requirement, but you must provide proof of employment
- LGBTQ+ safety: Generally safe and welcoming – and regarded as one of the safest places for queer people in the Caribbean
7. Thailand
- Type of visa: Digital nomad visa (or DTV)
- Length of stay: Up to 180 days (~6 months) per entry over the course of five years
- Income requirement: approximately $13,600 USD
- LGBTQ+ safety: Generally safe – and considered one of the safest destinations in Asia for queer people. (Fun fact: Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex marriage on Jan. 23!)
6. Spain
- Type of visa: Digital nomad visa
- Length of stay: One year with ability to renew for up to five years
- Income requirement: Monthly income of at least €2,646
- LGBTQ+ safety: Generally safe and one of the most welcoming to queer travelers
5. The Netherlands
- Type of visa: Long Stay Visa for freelancers
- Length of stay: Usually granted for two years and can be renewed if you meet certain criteria
- Income requirements: $4,069 gross for those under 30 and $5,550 gross for anyone above 30
- LGBTQ+ safety: One of the safest countries in the world for LGBTQ+ people
4. Germany
- Type of visa: Freiberufler program for freelancers
- Length of stay: Up to three years with the possibility of applying for permanent residence
- Income requirements: €9,000 per year
- LGBTQ+ safety: One of the safest countries for queer people
3. Malta
- Type of visa: Digital nomad visa
- Length of stay: One year with the option to renew up to three times (a.k.a. four years total!)
- Income requirement: Gross annual income of €42,000 (roughly $45k USD)
- LGBTQ+ safety: Generally safe – and considered one of the most queer-friendly countries in Europe
2. Portugal
- Type of visa: D8 digital nomad visa
- Length of stay: One year with ability to renew
- Income requirement: Monthly income of at least €3,280 (roughly $3.5k USD)
- LGBTQ+ safety: One of the safest countries in the world for queer people
1. Canada
- Type of visa: U.S. passport
- Length of stay: Up to six months with a passport with the ability to apply for an extension
- Income requirement: No official income requirement, but you must show proof that you have a stable income and can support yourself financially.
- LGBTQ+ safety: One of the safest countries in the world for LGBTQ+ people
