Roughly 12 million people fly each day, ranging from short business commutes to long-distance journeys. After aerial terrorism, largely stemming from 9/11, air travel requires intensive mandatory screening. Each country has unique screening guidelines; here is the most pertinent information for individuals who are transgender and encounter TSA.
CONTENT WARNING: This post discusses airport security and a personal account of TSA transphobic harassment, forced strip searches, and mistreatment. Reader discretion advised.
What is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA?)
While TSA is an American agency, all countries enforce similar mandatory screenings. Most countries require screening upon entry into an airport for all departing flights and for international arrivals.
How Effective Is TSA Screening?
Compared to other US agencies, TSA is relatively young, and its detection rate makes it fairly controversial. Experts state that TSA screening is largely “security theater” to comfort travelers and deter some criminals.
Standard TSA Procedures (What Everyone Goes Through)
The following procedures are universal to all TSA screenings unless you participate in PreCheck or CLEAR+ (more on those later).
Secure Flight Prescreening and Watchlists
Before you ever arrive at the airport, TSA engages in Secure Flight that ranks passengers’ “risk level” based on names and watchlists.
The Privacy Impact Assessment and System of Records Notice state that personal information collection is supposedly minimized, but the main purpose of the Secure Flight prescreening procedure is to block folks on either the No Fly List or individuals marked “Do Not Board” via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The majority of checked luggage is screened without conducting a physical bag search, directing the luggage onward to your planned airline. If TSA does conduct a physical bag search, a notice will be placed inside your bag. Luggage lost or damaged during screening can be filed with TSA directly, although luggage lost or damaged during transport is filed via your airline.
Don’t have checked luggage? Continue on to your nearest TSA checkpoint – unless you need to check in with your airline for a physical boarding pass.
Can I lock my checked baggage? Yes, although it won’t really matter regarding TSA. TSA officers use universal master keys certified with Safe Skies Luggage and Travel Sentry to unlock commercially available locks for physical bag inspections.
Carry-on luggage refers to bags that are taken with you on the plane, in contrast with checked baggage, which is stored on the plane separately from passengers. Personal baggage falls under the same screening procedures as carry-on; the only difference between carry-on and personal luggage is size.
REAL ID is fully in effect.The law was passed some time ago, but TSA will now fine all passengers who do not have REAL ID-level certification and will not let you pass until certification is presented or the fine is paid. Passports and certain other documents hold the same validity as REAL ID, so if you have a passport, you do NOT need REAL ID.
Afterwards, you will proceed to a scanning queue. All carry-on luggage must be placed on the conveyor belt to be screened by a TSA officer.
TSA requires all electronic devices be taken out of luggage and into a separate bin for screening. This includes laptops, monitors, tablets, e-readers, and handheld game consoles. Non-American airports may not require electronic devices to be removed from baggage.
Shoes must be removed, although you can keep your socks on. Shoes will also be placed in a bin for screening, as well as any belts, jackets, watches, etc. Leave nothing in your pockets. Most other countries do not require shoes to be removed unless you have steel-toe boots that will trigger the sensors.
Most food, especially packaged items and fruit, is allowed in carry-on luggage. Liquids, gels, aerosols, baby food, and breast milk have additional requirements.
All liquids and gels must comply with the 3-1-1 rule unless they qualify for exemption.
The 3-1-1 rule refers to how each passenger is allowed ONE quart-sized bag for carry-on liquids and gels.
All items must fit inside a ONE QUART bag.
All items must be 3.4 ounces (hence the three) or 100 milliliters.
Any non-exempt items that do not comply with this rule must be checked luggage. Two exemption categories bypass the 3-1-1 and 100 milliliter restriction.
Prescription medication is allowed in any amount, including if it is in a liquid, gel, or aerosol form. However, you MUST have prescriptions for all medication, have all medication in its original packaging, and have a reasonable amount of your trip.
Breast milk, baby formula/food, and toddler drinks are classified as medically necessary by the TSA and allowed in any amount. These items will be screened separately to detect potential drugs, explosives, and harms.
In practice, I have never seen TSA actually require a quart-sized bag. It’s used as a comparison tool to help passengers visualize how many 100 ml items they are allowed to bring. However, other counties do actually care and require liquids and gels be placed in a ziplock bag during screening.
Proceed through the scanner. Your carry-on luggage will be screened separately while your body is scanned by an agent. Any flagged luggage will be pulled aside for screening by TSA.
Don’t know what should go in checked, carry-on, or left at home? Here is the full TSA list, which can be searched and sorted into categories.
TSA Body Scanners and Transgender Travelers
The United States uses Leidos body scanners (or any machine labeled as “Advanced Imaging Technology”) as well as metal detectors. Assume you will be scanned by a AIT machine unless you have PreCheck or CLEAR+, since those are standard.
How AIT Body Scanners Work
AIT machines scan the entire body, bouncing a signal on every inch of the body in the tube to detect “anomalies.” As far as we know, the scanning technology is safe, albeit invasive. AIT scanners are NOT transgender-friendly and detect transgender bodies as anomalies.
There are concerns about data privacy and AIT scanning since the machines keep a small record of what your body looks like.
The official statement is that this data is eventually deleted, although it is a valid concern in a world hostile to transgender lives. The only reason we put up with it is that we have been trained to accept a lack of privacy for security theater.
Why TSA Scanners Are Gendered
This occurs because AIT scans are gendered into a male and female binary. When you approach the machine, a TSA agent quickly and silently assigns you a male or female scan. The machine is hypervigilant and flags anything “out of the ordinary,” flagging mundane things like paper left in your pocket. All anomalies will be covered with a yellow or red box on the imaging screen to indicate the flagged region.
AIT will flag packing prosthetics, lack of penis, presence of unforeseen penis, and binders. It doesn’t matter if you pack, bind, or tuck; there is a fairly high chance you will be flagged.
Being flagged does not mean you did anything wrong. Remember: AIT machines specifically do not know how to handle transgender bodies, and it is a flaw in the current system.
In my experience, metal detectors cause no issues. Assuming you have put all metal items in the conveyor bin for separate scanning, you’ll pass through every time without issue. Outside of the United States, metal detector scanners are the norm rather than invasive screens like AIT.
You’ve Been Flagged. What Happens Next?
If your body is flagged by an AIT machine, you will be required to undergo a pat-down by a TSA agent.
The Department of Homeland Security provides TSA the authority to conduct pat-downs as the next step in screening.
Pat-downs are meant to be less invasive and typically take less than 60 seconds, where an agent uses the back of their hands to apply minor pressure over clothing to detect hidden items. TSA agents have the authority to require the following:
Agents are allowed to require clothing to be adjusted.
Agents are allowed to require head coverings or pieces be removed. If the covering is religious, see the following section for additional rights.
Agents are allowed to conduct a pat-down across the entire body, including the groin, buttocks, and head.
Agents are allowed to force you to adjust your stance, typically with your feet apart and arms raised. If you have a disability or struggle to raise your arms, see the next section.
Agents are allowed to conduct more than one pass for their pat-down.
Your Rights During a Pat-Down
Not all TSA officers follow the rules and may not be committed to creating a safe environment. The Department of Homeland Security states that all passengers have the following rights:
You are entitled to request a specific gender to pat you down, regardless of gender identity or expression.
You are entitled to have a witness present, including if you are taken for a private screening.
You are entitled to be moved to a private area if a public pat-down makes you uncomfortable.
You are entitled to have the TSA agent change their gloves before screening.
You are entitled to inform TSA agents of medical devices you may be wearing, areas that are painful to touch, or if you have difficulty raising your arms.
You are entitled to have flagged luggage screened privately rather than in the public queue.
You are entitled to remove any religious head covering yourself, pat it down, and have it tested for residue rather than having a TSA agent directly remove the covering.
You are entitled to ask for a supervisor if you are uncomfortable or if a TSA agent’s conduct seems inappropriate.
Have a question about TSA procedures? TSA can be contacted via the Cares Hotline at 1–787-2227 or the TSA Contact Center at 1-66-289-9673.
As a transgender man, I genuinely cannot say whether it is better to pack or forgo it during screening. I’ve been told both are the “correct” procedure because it seems TSA doesn’t have uniform guidance they’re trained on.
I took my first flight in 2022 to Mexico, departing from Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Immediately before me, I had seen a disabled person in a wheelchair be harassed by the TSA, requiring them to stand to screen. Based on the circumstance and my inexperience, I chose to be proactive and told the TSA agents prior to entering the Leidos machine that I was transgender and likely to flag, since I was unsure if my packer prosthetic would cause issues. The agents called over their supervisor and had a conundrum they didn’t know how to resolve, eventually having me pass through the metal detector and undergo a pat-down. Afterwards, the TSA agents reprimanded me for wasting their time and stated that next time I should walk through the Leidos machine without giving notice.
Later that same year, I took another flight to New York City, also out of O’Hare. Based on my past experience, I entered the Leidos machine with the same packer I had previously and did not notify the TSA agent beforehand. The scan presented a red flag over my crotch.
This TSA agent gave me a quick pat-down and decided he did not like the size of my packer (which was a 5-inch Freetom), stating I required private screening. I asked why and explained the flag was due to my packing prosthetic since I am transgender, but TSA agents always assume that every flag must be treated as a worst-case scenario. The agent escalated, stating my lack of willingness meant he would likely call the police to arrest me unless he was “gracious” enough to change his mind. My friend had already passed through the screening, so I was alone. I followed the agent to a private room, where he pulled aside another male agent to be his witness.
Upon entering the room, the agents stated I had to strip naked and emphasized that any lack of consent meant they would be calling the police. Since I couldn’t think of any other options, I complied and stripped down to nothing but the thin towel they handed me. I handed them my packer. Both of the agents snickered, one of them elbowing the other while mumbling under his breath.
They both were baffled by the prosthetic and claimed they had no idea what it was, despite my trying to explain beforehand. The older agent took a cotton swab to the packer and left to analyze it while the other agent stated I had to wait, standing with nothing but the towel, in essentially a two-square-foot closet. After an agonizing fifteen minutes, the agent returned with a negative result. Both of the agents were visibly disappointed, but then took to quickly commanding me to get dressed and leave immediately.
In the end, I didn’t miss my flight – but I did develop a fear of TSA from the encounter. At the time, I was doing exactly what a previous TSA agent had directed me to – but TSA’s transgender guidance isn’t uniform, and there are always bad actors who use scare tactics to harm others.
I have had fewer personal issues binding while screening, although it has been a while since I’ve had top surgery. The chance your chest will be flagged correlates to the size of your chest, so larger chests are likely to be flagged regardless of compression. Smaller chests are likely to pass through with excellent binding compression without being flagged.
Does TSA engage in racial profiling? There have been thousands of jokes made about TSA’s “random” screenings, where agents require travelers to undergo more intensive screenings even if they did not flag any alarms.
Officially, TSA prohibits racial profiling and states that agents are not allowed to discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability. Unofficially, TSA agents are given too much freedom to “randomly” search anyone they want.
If your luggage is flagged by the conveyor scanner, it is pulled to a separate belt and must be manually verified by TSA. They’ll open the luggage and look for the item in question to determine whether it’s allowed through.
As mentioned previously, medical prescriptions are always allowed in carry-on luggage in any quantity as long as it is a reasonable amount for your travel. Always make sure your medication has its prescription label and is in its original packaging. The name on your medication must match your identification. The same applies to needles, syringes, and sharps.
If you inject medication, some folks use specific bags or kits to transport their prescriptions. They aren’t required, but are good accessories and increase stealth while traveling.
If you are worried about your medication being allowed, you can also bring a signed letter from your prescribing provider to present to TSA. As an American engaging with TSA, I’ve never had issues requiring this, but have done so when taking large quantities traveling abroad.
Always keep prescription medication in carry-on luggage. Checked luggage sometimes gets damaged and lost, and you may not be able to get a refill upon arrival. Furthermore, checked luggage is kept in storage that gets extremely cold; medications like injectable or transdermal hormones must be kept at a relatively consistent temperature to stay viable.
Once you have completed body and carry-on luggage screening, you’re done. Put your shoes back on and proceed with your luggage to your assigned flight gate.
After your initial screening, you will not have to undergo it again upon arriving at your destination IF it is domestic. Similarly, domestic layovers will not require additional screening.
However, international layovers may require you to be screened again during layovers, depending on the country. The vast majority of the world uses regular metal detectors, so it’ll be quick and relatively painless. You will also have to be screened upon arrival at any international destination as part of the customs and immigration process.
TSA Alternatives: Are They Worth It?
There are several official programs allow travelers to bypass the traditional AIT screening procedure, but they aren’t interchangeable. PreCheck and CLEAR+ are two of the most common Trusted Traveler Programs.
TSA PreCheck costs approximately $80 for a five-year plan and gives you access to a separate screening lane where electronics are kept in carry-on luggage, you keep your shoes, jackets, and belts on, and you go through a simple metal detector. PreCheck also requires background checks and interview appointments to become eligible.
CLEAR+ costs $200 every year and uses biometric data (such as an iris or fingerprint scan) to quickly verify your identity rather than forcing you to use the document queue – which is what takes the longest when screening. You’ll be taken directly to a screening machine. However, CLEAR+ users may still use an AIT machine.
TSA PreCheck is available at over 200 United States airports, while CLEAR+ operates at about 50. Not all airports that have PreCheck have CLEAR+, and not all airports that have CLEAR+ may offer PreCheck – which is why our fantastic consumer market advises travelers to purchase plans for both programs.
If you have money to spend and travel frequently, PreCheck is useful for transgender travelers since it will allow you to avoid “advanced” AIT screening. But again, it’s not cheap nor easy to register for.
Passenger Support Specialist (PSS) Program
Anyone is allowed to request services from the Passenger Support Specialist Program. PSS is staffed with TSA agents who undergo additional training to better assist travelers with specific needs.
PSS is free to use, but it requires booking in advance. PSS must be contacted at least 72 hours before your flight via TSA Cares.
Grounding, Emotional Safety, and Post-Screening Care
Before any trip and engaging with airport security, take time to take care of yourself. Be aware of your physical and emotional needs, checking in throughout the process to remind yourself of your limits.
Prep grounding techniques as part of your travel checklist. This could be downloading a self-care app like Finch, writing down mantras and emergency contacts, or learning specific breathing techniques.
All transgender people are important and worthy of dignity. Airport screening can be traumatic for all travelers, but it’s disproportionately unfair to transgender individuals.
We live in dangerous times – when does it become time to move from the United States to another country? What is the correct phase during a genocide to finally decide it’s too unsafe to remain in the US? This post outlines the best countries for transgender rights and the easiest countries to immigrate to, as well as what is required for each country.
As of the time of this article, there are no countries that have opened their refugee immigration paths for transgender Americans – although this may change. In the event refugee paths open, an update to this post will be made; until then, this post outlines non-refugee paths. Immigration is a complex process that varies drastically from country to country – refugee status grants you faster routes to move, find work, and become a permanent resident.
It is ultimately up to you when and why you leave the United States. I advise you to self-reflect and seriously consider what types of laws, actions, and policies would be your determining point for immigration so you are not caught entirely off-guard if that time comes. Not everyone can immigrate – children, disabilities, criminal history, and wealth can all impact your ability to move. However, it is not selfish to consider your own best interests. It’s not selfish to immigrate or become a refugee to survive, even if people are trying to continue the fight at home. Use your personal determining point to decide when it is no longer safe for you to continue your work and activism at home.
Legal immigration to the United States is complicated and expensive – but that isn’t the norm elsewhere in the world. The United States uses a lottery system to randomly select 675,000 applicants each year to immigrate without a US sponsorship or green card refugee status. Additionally, only 55,000 individuals can be approved from each country – this places individuals coming from large countries at a disadvantage compared to others. If you are not selected among the 55,000 people who were approved that year, you have to wait until next year for the next lottery – and you are no closer to getting legal immigration status due to your wait time.
Barriers to Immigration
The most common barriers that transgender Americans will experience while attempting to immigrate relate to their identity documents – the current administration has already made moves to halt gender-affirming changes on federal legal documents, requiring transgender individuals to use their sex assigned at birth on new passports for the next four years. While we wait for this executive order to be blocked by the courts, it prevents transgender Americans from freely moving throughout the world safely. Documents that do not match your gender identity or expression can put you at additional risk when traveling, since the chance of discrimination increases when immigration agencies are not well-versed in transgender issues. On the plus side, transgender Americans still have the right to a passport and travel documents – although we are barred from updating our gender markers on them, we can still legally leave despite the increased risks that will appear due to gender marker discrepancies.
The documents you will need to legally immigrate will depend on the country you are immigrating to. At the very least, you will be required to present a passport or similar travel document – but you may also need proof of language proficiency, education, medical examination, criminal history, work experience, job offer, and funds to immigrate.
Future decisions by the current administration and Congress will determine whether other countries open refugee paths for transgender Americans. As mentioned above, refugee status allows you to move more easily than traditional immigration routes – and this concept applies everywhere in the world. Compared to the documents required for traditional immigration, refugees typically just need a travel or identity document – they don’t need to prove language proficiency, education, funding, or any of the other mentioned factors to be permitted. However, refugee status is granted to groups in desperate need – until the political situation in the United States is seen as hostile enough by the international community, transgender Americans will have to use traditional immigration.
Trans Right Havens
There are 195 different countries recognized by the United Nations – this post does not list out the rights of each country since that would be lengthy and distract from the point. Instead, I have used various research put out by other entities on LGBTQIA+ travel safety and combined it with the easiest countries for American citizens to immigrate to – the table below gives you some of that data, and I’ll be going into detail later.
The countries are not in any particular order – each has its pros and cons, and it is your personal decision on which is the best path for you. Numerous countries have high scores for transgender rights and safety not included in this post because they are more difficult to immigrate to – such as France, Belgium, and Cuba. Some countries are easy for Americans to immigrate to but do not have great track records for transgender rights – like the United Kingdom, Japan, and Mexico. Instead, this post combines both to guide you to trans-affirming countries with simple immigration policies.
COUNTRY
ASHER & LYRIC
EQUALDEX (AVG)
EQUALDEX (LEGAL)
Canada
247 / A
78
95
Iceland
200 / A –
94
98
Malta
250 / A
76
100
Spain
222 / A –
83
100
Portugal
248 / A
76
93
Greece
224 / A
66
93
Australia
173 / B +
76
90
Ireland
200 / A –
72
85
Germany
200 / A –
81
100
Switzerland
224 / A
69
74
Thailand
117 / C
72
75
Asher & Lyric is a travel research site that utilizes publicly available information to rate countries on LGBTQIA+ inclusiveness based on transgender-related murder rates, legal identity laws, hate-based violence criminalization, legal discrimination protection, and queer worker protections. I specifically use their data from their global trans rights index, but their general LGBTQIA+ travel safety guide is also useful. On the other hand, their data was last updated in June 2023 – it’s become exponentially outdated regarding US laws (ranking the US at #40 for trans rights and #25 for LGBTQIA+ travel safety), but it is still a great starting point despite how quickly the political landscape can shift.
The other two columns of data I use are from Equaldex, an international collaborative project that provides information about LGBTQIA+-related laws and public opinion around the world. Equaldex’s data is extremely up-to-date – their website even includes recently changed laws before making mainstream headlines and information about upcoming laws set to take effect around the globe. The average column, which they refer to as their equality index, combines the average from their legal index and public opinion index. I believed it was worth knowing whether a country has a good combined total compared to general public opinion – although I recommend reading their data further if you’re interested. The legal Equaldex column focuses only on the legal rights of LGBTQIA+ people in a given country – Equaldex rates countries on thirteen different legal aspects based on the most current laws.
Best Countries for Transgender Americans
Canada
As the United States’ northern neighbor, Canada is the most common choice for any American to move to. It’s the most culturally similar to ours, and it’s one of the few countries Americans can drive through rather than deal with TSA and airport immigration other than Mexico.
The largest cons associated with immigrating to Canada relate to the weather and high taxes. Since Canada is so far north, most of its citizens live close to the southern border it shares with the United States. All American citizens are expected to continue paying taxes to the United States, even if they do not live or work in the US unless they renounce their citizenship – but doing so means you’ll lose access to permanently return without citizenship elsewhere and you won’t be able to vote.
Canada is renowned for its universal healthcare, but it’s also infamous for long wait times for certain healthcare services – but not to the extent as the UK’s. Depending on the province, you’ll be looking at a combined tax rate of 23% to 31% – but since Canada has a good index score for its cost of living, these expenses are mitigated by excellent wages. Similarly, the argument can be made that Canada’s quality of life score overshadows its healthcare wait times since residents can get the care they need despite occasionally having to wait.
IMMIGRATION PATHS There are three federal programs for Canada’s Express Entry system, which is the easiest and fastest way to legally immigrate to Canada. These programs are competitive and score-based, so they use your submitted criteria to determine your eligibility among other candidates.
If you have at least one year of skilled work experience, meet the minimum fluency requirements in either French or English and score at least a 67 out of 100 on their selection grid, you can be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program. Skilled work is determined by occupation field – you’ll want to look up your occupation on Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system to see where you fall since most programs will require you to be at least TEER 3 or more. For the FSW Program, you will have to be TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. The FSW Program has a job seeker visa option, which allows you to find work after arriving in Canada without an existing job offer – although you’ll still have to wait for your ITA. However, the FSW Program has a higher income requirement needed to prove you have the funds to support yourself.
If you have at least two years of skilled trade work experience, meet the minimum fluency requirements in French or English, and have a certificate approving your trade to be practiced in Canada, you can qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Program. The FST Program applies to specific occupations like industrial, electrical, construction, and other related trades. To be eligible, you have to either have a certificate that proves you are qualified to practice your trade in Canada or have a job offer of at least 12 months of full-time employment in Canada. Like the FSW Program, FST Program applicants must have at least CAD 14,690 in their bank accounts to qualify.
The last Express Entry federal program is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) for individuals who have at least one year of skilled work in Canada at NOC 0, 1, 2, or 3 on a valid work permit and meet the minimum language requirements in French or English. Compared to FSW and FST, the CEC requires you to already be working and present in Canada – but once you are, it’s significantly easier than the other paths.
Generally, the largest barrier to Canadian immigration is securing work. US citizens can get employer-specific work permits as well as CUSMA work permits. CUSMA permits allow workers to find work faster via the International Mobility Program compared to traditional permits. Use the buttons below to view common job openings for foreign workers.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS Individuals between the ages of 18 to 35 can work under International Experience Canada (IEC), which has three additional permit categories: working holiday open work permit, international co-op internship, and young professional employer-specific permit. However, the US is not a full member of the IEC agreement, so you will have to be approved by a Recognized Organization.
Canada is one of several countries that offer a Golden Visa program, which provides residency to foreigners looking to make investments, start a business, or buy a business in Canada. There are multiple options available, so you’ll need to determine which best suits your situation.
Spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children can be sponsored once you have permanent residence status in Canada.
Prospective students can apply for a study permit, but you’ll need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) or territorial attestation letter (TAL) and a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution.
Iceland
Iceland has a slightly higher cost of living than the United States, but it severely outranks America in every other major category. It is one of the safest countries in the world and is a beacon for transgender rights. Although English is not the native language of Iceland, over 90% of the population speaks it fluently.
It has a lot in common with the other Nordic countries, but Iceland has a reputation for being a trailblazer for LGBTQIA+ rights. On the other hand, Iceland is admittedly more expensive – and since it’s even further north than Canada, you’ll be dealing with even colder weather. While Iceland is further from the US than Canada, it’s still significantly closer than elsewhere in the world.
IMMIGRATION PATHS Since US citizens do not qualify under Iceland’s EEA/EFTA permits, you will have to obtain a residence permit to stay for longer than three months. However, like Canada, you won’t need a visa to enter. Traditional immigration paths all require a signed employment offer showing your contract to government officials for both the residence and work permit required to move to Iceland. The Multicultural Information Centre is a great resource that outlines the basics of Icelandic immigration.
One of the issues regarding Canada is that all employers must do additional paperwork to hire foreign workers, so you’re not able to just apply for any job you see. Iceland doesn’t have this – while there are fewer routes outlined compared to Canada, the process is more straightforward. Use the buttons below to view common job openings for foreign workers.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS While technically not a retirement visa, the Financially Independent Person Permit allows individuals who have sufficient passive income to get a visa in Iceland. This permit is eligible for anyone at least 18 years old and makes 239,895 ISK per month.
The Family Reunification Visa applies to married spouses and cohabiting partners to get an Icelandic visa once a traditional visa is secured. Children under the age of 18 as well as adult parents over 67 can also get this visa.
Prospective students can apply for an Icelandic student residence permit, which requires both proof of the financial support you will be using to live in Iceland as well as confirmation of your study program admission.
Malta
If the weather in Canada and Iceland is a deterrent for you, Malta is the next suggested choice – it’s less heard of, but Malta has the best scores for transgender rights in all metrics. The country has a perfect 100 for its legal rights and protections and has a public opinion rating of LGBTQIA+ people on par with Canada and Australia.
Approximately 88% of Malta’s population speaks English fluently, which is why it’s one of its official languages alongside Maltese. Since it is Mediterranean, it has a warm and sunny climate – so it draws in a lot of retiring Americans who want to experience Europe’s high quality of life at a lower cost than other European countries.
IMMIGRATION PATHS United States citizens are considered Third Country Nationals (TCNs) since we are not part of the EU or EFTA. All TCNs must go through the single permit procedure to work and reside in Malta unless they qualify for an exception. Malta requires applicants to submit a copy of a valid employment contract among other documents – if approved, foreign workers are allowed to reside for at least one year. Malta is notably difficult to immigrate to – it’s a small country, so they have limited resources. Like Canada, Malta requires employers to prove they have sufficiently tried to fill their open job vacancies with domestic workers – but unlike Canada, you are free to apply to any job openings. Use the buttons below to view common job openings to foreign workers.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS Individuals aged 55 and older can utilize the Malta Retirement Program, which gives residency to anyone receiving a pension income seeking to live in Malta.
Malta has a Golden Visa program for potential foreign investors looking to gain residency as well as citizenship. The main route for this is the Malta Permanent Residence Program – although the program also works for non-investors with enough funds since you just have to prove you have sufficient funds in your EU accounts.
Since 2021, Malta has also had a Digital Nomad Visa available to remote foreign workers to reside in the country for up to one year as long as their employer is based outside of Malta. Digital nomads must have proof of a salary of at least €3,500 per month or €42,000 per year.
The Malta Family Reunification Visa allows legally married partners to obtain an additional visa once a traditional option is secured. Children under the age of 18 may also get this visa as well as financially dependent adult children.
Students can pursue higher education in Malta via a Schengen visa if they can prove they have enough income to support themselves for each month of their studies in addition to their admission letter. Malta has a specific requirement that you must have at least 75% of the minimum wage to meet the international student income requirement.
Spain
While the cities of Spain have a higher cost of living, it’s a much cheaper alternative than other Western European countries – when coupled with its famous laid-back culture, inclusive policies, and public programs, Spain is a solid choice. Its quality of life index score is only a couple of points behind the US, but it outranks America elsewhere – such as its trans-inclusive laws, cost of living, and safety.
Spain does have one drawback compared to many of the other countries that made my list: you will have to speak Spanish. Spain has one of the lowest English proficiency scores in Europe, with about 20% of its population knowing English. While you’ll be able to survive in its major cities without knowing Spanish, you won’t get very far – and the type of Spanish you likely know as an American (Latin American Spanish) isn’t the same as Castilian Spanish.
IMMIGRATION PATHS Spain allows for job seeker visas for anyone wanting to search for work for up to twelve months at a time, as long as you can prove you can provide for yourself in the meantime. This means that you can obtain a Spanish visa without having an existing job offer, unlike the above countries. However, to get a job seeker visa, you will have to apply at a Spanish consulate or embassy in your home country by booking an appointment and bringing all the required documents. One of the reasons for the job seeker visa is that Spain has a heavy tradition of networking for finding and offering employment, so it gives future employees time to make connections.
Once a job offer is secured, you can get a regular work visa that is valid for up to five years max with renewals before pursuing permanent residence. Seasonal visas also exist for individuals with short-term employment contracts of up to nine months in specific industries like retail, hospitality, and construction. Lastly, Spain offers a special visa for freelancers and self-employed individuals who wish to reside in the country. Use the buttons below to view common job openings for foreign workers.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS The retirement D7 program allows retirees eligible to reside in Spain if they can demonstrate they have enough passive income to support themselves – unlike Malta’s retirement program, there is no minimum age requirement.
Individuals who invest in a Spanish business can secure indefinite residence via their Golden Visa program – although the Spanish Congress is working to eliminate the program. There are similar routes for foreign entrepreneurs looking to start a business in Spain without the immensely heavy investment requirement.
Digital nomads can work online while residing in Spain for up to two years if they can prove they have a monthly income of at least €3,040 and savings of €36,500.
Individuals can also obtain a visa if they are married or partnered with an individual with a visa or residence in Spain. Immediate children can be given this visa if they are under 18 years old as well as adult parents if they are older than 65.
The student visa allows for international study for up to three months, six months, or longer – but you’ll need an offer letter before you can apply. Folks with a long-term student visa can work up to 20 hours per week after applying for a foreign identity card.
Portugal
Considered one of the more affordable countries in Western Europe, Portugal is affordable even in its major cities. Like Spain, Portugal has a great work-life balance and healthcare system that attracts plenty of Americans. Unlike Spain, Portugal has better transgender rights and is significantly more proficient in English – they’re ranked #6 in the world, making them the most English-fluent on this list for a country whose native language isn’t English.
These factors are why Portugal maintains a large expat community, so you’d likely find yourself among many other American newcomers upon arrival. The majority of goods, housing, and other general expenses are significantly cheaper in Portugal than in the United States – although they do have higher prices on imported goods.
IMMIGRATION PATHS Non-EU residents like American citizens must secure both a residence permit and a work visa to live and work in Portugal. Akin to Spain, Portugal has a job seeker visa available for individuals to search for job opportunities within Portugal for up to 120 days before getting a traditional work visa with an offer of employment.
For a work visa, you must have a job offer from a Portuguese employer – but like in Spain, your employer will apply for your work permit on your behalf to the Portuguese Labor Authorities. Similar to Iceland, you are free to apply for any job openings since the paperwork required is put upon the employer if they are interested in hiring you. After securing your permit and job offer, you then must apply for a work visa at the Portugal Embassy. All visas and permits, including all exceptions listed below, must be applied to at a local embassy. Your residence permit will be applied for when you enter Portugal at the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Services. Use the buttons below to view common job openings for foreign workers.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS Portugal has a very similar retirement or D7 program to Spain – if you can prove you have the passive income to support yourself, the only requirement associated with the visa is that you must be at least 18 years old to qualify.
Young people between the ages of 18 to 30 are eligible for the youth mobility program since Portugal has an agreement with the United States to allow citizens to work and study for up to twelve months.
Like other countries, Portugal has a Golden Visa program for foreign investors wanting to live full-time in Portugal. Similar to the Golden Visa, prospective entrepreneurs can use the D2 Startup Visa to expand or start new business projects within Portugal.
The Portugal digital nomad visa is known as the D8 Visa, which authorizes residence permits for remote workers and freelancers who want to work within Portugal. The D8 Visa requires individuals to make at least four times the minimum wage, which totals at least €3,480 per month.
If you have family in Portugal, you can use the D6 Visa to obtain residency. Commonly, the D6 is used to bring immediate family and partners with you after obtaining another visa.
For student visas, you must be accepted to study at one of Portugal’s fourteen universities or polytechnic education institutions. The Type D student visa allows for long-term students over 90 days.
Portugal has a special visa for individuals trained in the tech industry outside of the European Union. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
Greece
Most people wouldn’t think of Greece when considering trans-friendly countries to immigrate to, but it’s a much stronger contender than other countries. Even though it marks the entrance to Eastern Europe, Greece is progressive – especially so when compared to its neighbor Italy. About half of its population speaks English fluently, but English is so innate to Greek life that it sits #8 in the world for English proficiency.
One possible drawback to Greece is that due to its progressive nature, you’ll experience more strikes and demonstrations that can interfere with daily life – while they’re generally peaceful and not to the size of France, they still have the same spirit.
IMMIGRATION PATHS Anyone seeking to reside in Greece longer than 90 days must get a long-term D visa, which is used for both work and students. You will need either an official offer of employment from a Greek business or an admission letter to be approved for a type D visa. Applications are only received by in-person appointment at the Consular Office of the Embassy of Greece in Washington DC. After seven years of residency in Greece, you can apply for naturalized citizenship if you demonstrate basic fluency in Greek. Use the buttons below to view common job openings for foreign workers.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS Like other European Union countries, Greece offers a Financially Independent Person visa similar to a retirement visa. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and make €3,500 per month from passive income sources like rent, pension, and investments.
Foreign investors can use Greece’s Golden Visa program if they can pass the minimum checks alongside purchasing real estate or investing in Greek businesses.
The Greek Digital Nomad Visa was launched in 2021 to provide travel work visas to remote workers who have employers outside of Greece. These visas authorize you to work for up to 12 months and permit you to bring immediate family members. To be eligible, you must meet the minimum financial requirement of €3,500 per month.
If you are a spouse or child under the age of 18 of an individual living in Greece under another visa, you are eligible for a family reunification visa. Like all Greek visas, it must be submitted in person.
Non-EU students must get a type D long-term visa, which can be renewed annually and allows them to apply for a residence permit as well as work part-time for any Greek employer.
Australia
As one of two countries on this list to beat the United States on all major key points, Australia is a great choice – there are plenty of good salaries to go around, and the country maintains both a lower cost of living and a higher quality of life than the US. You’ll only find high costs of living in Sydney and Melbourne, but Australia’s economy and environment make up for it. Like Canada and Ireland, English is Australia’s primary language.
Compared to other entries, there are fewer locations further from the United States than Australia. It experiences geographical isolation, so it’ll be difficult to return home to see friends and family – as well as for them to visit you. It’s also worth mentioning that one of the major reasons Australia has its fantastic environment is because it’s so climate conscious – the country experiences more extreme weather events than elsewhere in the world, although this might not be a major factor if you’re living in a weather-extreme region in the US.
IMMIGRATION PATHS Australia has a LOT of visas – so I recommend using the Australian government’s online matching service to find which is best suited for you. Most individuals seeking work will want to look into the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional Visa (Subclass 494). The 494 is similar to Canada’s work visa since it requires you to have an employment offer from an Australian company – but you are only eligible if you are under the age of 45. The similar Skilled Regional Provisional Visa (Subclass 489) has no age limitation and does not require an employment offer, but you have to get a nomination from a state or territory government – but the 489 is currently only available as an extension of short-term visas like the 475, 487, 495, and 496. Use the buttons below to view common job openings for foreign workers.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS Since 2018, the Australian government has remodeled its retirement visa program as a pathway to permanent residency – there is not a ton of information on how to apply under their program as a prospective retiree, but allowed individuals aged 55 and older to immigrate through the Investor Retirement Visa (Subclass 405) or Retirement Visa (Subclass 410).
Australia has a youth mobility work holiday agreement with the United States, which allows American youth between the ages of 18 and 30 to work in Australia for up to three years through the Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462).
While Australia does not have a proper digital nomad visa, their general tourism and visitor visa allows individuals to stay up to twelve months as long as they have the funds to support their stay and leave once their visa expires. This visa allows you to work remotely for a non-Australian employer, but you won’t be able to formerly work or sell goods or services within Australia without an additional work permit.
Visa holders are entitled to bring partners and family members when moving to Australia. For family members other than parents or children, you must get either an alternative visa or go through the sponsorship system if your Australian connection is an official citizen or permanent resident.
Students with an official admission letter to an Australian university can apply for a Student Visa (Subclass 500), allowing them to legally reside for up to five years and work part-time while studying.
Ireland
For transgender-related rights and immigration, Ireland makes this list while the United Kingdom does not. The UK falls just short of making it, largely due to growing anti-trans sentiment copied from the United States. Ireland is known for its friendly culture, natural beauty, and high standard of living which makes it on par with other countries in the European Union.
Similar to Greece (and many of the countries on this list), Ireland’s progressive spirit means demonstrations are commonplace and an integral part of the country’s history. Compared to elsewhere, Ireland has a poorer housing market – while Ireland is one of the safest places in the world, you’ll likely have trouble finding an apartment to rent.
IMMIGRATION PATHS Due to Americans being non-EEA/Swiss nationals, you will need to obtain an employment permit or atypical permission to work in Ireland. You’ll also need to register with immigration, assuming you plan to stay in the country for over three months. The long-term Type D Employment Visa issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment covers most occupations, although there are a couple of other visas for specific fields like the Atypical Working Scheme Visa and Scientific Researcher Visa. Like most countries, you must have a job offer from an Irish employer to be granted work visas – but the process is pretty straightforward and can be done entirely online well in advance before flying to Ireland. Use the buttons below to view common job openings for foreign workers.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS Anyone, regardless of age, can retire to Ireland under a Type D Visa with Stamp 0 as long as they have a passive or non-working income of €50,000 per year and can prove they have enough savings to cover any sudden major expenses.
Ireland has a unique agreement with the United States for its youth mobility program – unlike other programs that are purely based on age, the working holiday program for Americans seeking to travel to Ireland for work and travel has no age limit. Instead, it requires you to be a recent graduate of any third-level education within the past 12 months. These include any educational degree or certificate program after high school, such as community college, university, graduate school, etc.
Married and civil partnered couples can use family reunification to apply for a second visa in addition to traditional working visas, as long as your partner is at least 18 years old. Ireland also recognizes proxy marriages and extends family reunification to immediate family members, according to the traditional understanding of the nuclear family, and elderly dependent parents.
Students wanting to remain in Ireland longer than three months to pursue their education must get a long-term visa, which requires a letter of acceptance at an Irish school.
Germany
Even though Germany does have an alt-right party, Germany is an extremely progressive place to live compared to the United States – Alternative for Germany (AfD) exists on the outskirts of German society since Germans have no tolerance for neo-Nazis. Equaldex rates Germany’s LGBTQIA+ laws and protections as nearly perfect, similar to the laws in Spain and Malta. It’s also the other country on this list that beats the US on every major metric on the key data listed below.
Germany’s social welfare system is a magnet that draws many Americans abroad, including its strong job market, work-life balance, and healthcare system. Like Greece, about half of Germans know English fluently – knowing German will make your experience better, but it’s not required.
IMMIGRATION PATHS Germany has two routes for its job seeker visa, which explicitly allows you to come to Germany without an existing job offer for one year. The first route requires you to show vocational or academic qualification that is recognized by Germany, while the second route uses a variety of factors like education and language proficiency to determine your eligibility – for both methods, you’ll have to prove you have enough funds to support yourself while you search for a job.
Individuals with a job offer from a German employer can be granted either a Visa for Professionally Experienced Workers or a Work Visa for Qualified Professionals – the first is for more general employment while the latter is used for specialized occupations that require certification to practice. Use the buttons below to view common job openings for foreign workers.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS While Germany does not have a Golden Visa program, it does offer several visas for foreign investors and entrepreneurs considering moving to Germany – as well as its self-employment visa. Their investment visas require less funding than Golden Visa programs and the amount varies by region. Since Germany does not have a retirement visa, many people use these visas to secure long-term residency if they are unable to get a work visa before retirement for a later settlement visa.
Germany’s self-employment visa, as mentioned above, is used frequently in place of a digital nomad visa seen elsewhere in the world. The freelancer aspect of the visa allows for remote work as long as you can prove you have the funding and income to support yourself.
The German Family Reunion Visa allows non-German residents to bring family members once they have settled in the country, even if they do not have permanent residence status. Americans are classified as TCNs, so you will need a settlement permit, long-term European Union residence permit, German residence permit, or EU Blue Card to sponsor family members’ visas. Germany has a lax approach to its family visa, allowing adult children, siblings, cousins, and other extended family members to use the system if you attest that they need your support to avoid hardship.
Unsurprisingly, Germany also has several student visas available. The Student Applicant Visa allows students to lawfully reside in Germany if they are waiting for admission confirmation, related to the fact that German universities have several steps required like interviewing and testing before confirmation is given. The applicant visa is only granted if you have a genuine chance of being admitted and you are required to have already applied to the university beforehand. Once confirmed, you can receive the Student Visa for full-time study. Lastly, Germany offers a German Language Course Visa to reside in Germany while taking language courses without requiring you to enroll in full-time study.
Switzerland
It stands similarly to Nordic countries like Norway, Finland, and Sweden, Switzerland is a strong enough contender to be included on this list – although the entire Nordic region further north has good laws protecting transgender folks. Switzerland is most well-known for its incredibly high quality of life, job security, and political stability.
On the other hand, Switzerland is one of the more expensive countries to live in and has the highest cost of living on this list. Major cities will have high rent, grocery prices, utilities, and everyday expenses. While the country has multiple official languages, being an English-speaking American won’t hold you back – but there is a limited job market available to foreigners.
IMMIGRATION PATHS Even though Switzerland is not part of the European Union, it uses many of the same trade and immigration agreements as its neighbors – so non-EU/EFTA citizens like Americans will need a long-term visa to work in the country. You are only eligible for a Switzerland Work Visa if you have an existing job offer that could not better be performed by an EU/EFTA citizen – once you have a job secured, you can apply for a work visa while your employer applies for your residence permit. Use the buttons below to view common job openings for foreign workers.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS The Switzerland retirement visa allows financially stable adults to reside if they are at least 55 years old if they can prove they have the passive income required to not become dependent on Swiss social security benefits.
At the end of 2024, Switzerland agreed with the United States for a youth mobility program to grant visas for young people seeking working holidays abroad. The program allows Americans to work and live in Switzerland for up to 18 months, as long as they are between the ages of 18 to 35, and have completed any post-secondary education.
The Swiss Golden Visa grants residency and citizenship to foreign investors through the Swiss Residence Program and Swiss Business Investor Program, but you must be between the ages of 18 to 55 to be considered eligible.
Switzerland does not have a digital nomad visa program, although non-Swiss nationals are permitted to work remotely if they have a contract with a non-Swiss employer and can prove they have the income to support themselves. You will not be able to sell goods and services non-remotely within Switzerland without a valid work permit. However, most people seeking remote nomad work use the Golden Visa program instead.
Family reunification is granted based on your residency permit and the nature of your marriage and family unit. The C permit gives individuals the right to bring their married or registered spouse and dependent unmarried children or grandchildren, while the B permits leave family reunification to the discretion of authorities looking over your case.
For Student Visas, you are required to submit proof of acceptance from a Swiss education institution. Non-EU/EFTA nationals must contact the Swiss embassy or consulate in their home country to apply for their student visa and the requirements associated with it.
Thailand
There are several Americans that move to Asia when immigrating, like Singapore and Japan. Unlike other Asian countries, Thailand has more trans-inclusive laws – although Thailand is not perfect, it’s on a similar path to queer success as Japan but ranks better on LGBTQIA+ laws than other common Asian countries Americans immigrate to.
While Thailand has a fantastically low cost of living, it has a large income inequality gap – which is why so many Americans flock there like Mexico. However, you’ll experience significantly more pollution (about twice as much), and you will have to know Thai since only 20% of the country knows fluent English.
IMMIGRATION PATHS For Thai work permits and visas, you must have a Thai company or related entity file an application for your permit on your behalf, which allows you to get a work visa valid for one year. Once you have a job offer, you should consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington DC. Use the buttons below to view common job openings for foreign workers.
OTHER EXCEPTIONS Thailand allows foreigners to obtain a retirement visa if they are at least 50 years old and have a steady income that comes from outside of Thailand. Applicants must either have a regular income of 65,000 THB per year or a savings account of at least 800,000 THB.
The Thailand Privilege Visa is the country’s version of the golden visa, which grants long-term residency to foreign investors. This visa option has a very high price since you must have at least $1,000,000 USD in assets and have made at least $500,000 USD in Thai investments.
Since 2024, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) has become a more doable option that replaces other countries’ digital nomad visas. Remote workers and freelancers are allowed to work up to five years if they can produce a certificate or professional portfolio showcasing their work or employment contract. Workers must also prove they have at least 500,000 THB in total to support themselves in an emergency.
Non-Thai nationals may bring spouses, parents, and children to live in Thailand under the Type O Visa if they currently hold a valid work or residency permit in Thailand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an expat? I keep seeing that word around when I research options. Expat is short for expatriate, referring to anyone who lives in a country other than their own. Generally, expats expect to live in another country for a limited time while immigrants seek to settle permanently – but expat resources are immigrant resources and vice versa.
What about the countries not included on your list? My list is extremely condensed, so there are lots of countries that just fell short – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider them. Use sources like Equaldex and ILGA to determine how queer-friendly a prospective country is, and consider how much power anti-trans and fascist groups have there (if any). Japan, the United Kingdom, Norway, Argentina, and many other countries are decent options based on both their transgender rights and the process of immigration.
Getting a job is hard! How do I immigrate without a work offer? Technically, I am supposed to advise you to either search for jobs online before moving overseas, look into countries with established job-seeker visas, or use other visa programs available like youth mobility and digital nomad work.
Americans have a unique advantage compared to elsewhere in the world – we don’t often need visas to travel abroad for short trips lasting up to 90 days. The only exception to the countries I listed above is that the European Union will begin requiring American citizens to apply for travel authorization via their new ETIAS screening process, which gets linked to your passport once filed. It’s not quite a visa, but similar and meant to enhance EU border security. That being said, there’s nothing technically stopping an individual from considering foreign jobs while staying abroad on a tourist visa as long as it’s within the three-month time frame. Job seeker visas generally last up to twelve months to give you ample time for your search – just be prepared to potentially fly back to the US if you don’t have a job offer and work visa by 90 days or risk becoming an illegal immigrant.
How does sponsorship work? I heard that’s another way to immigrate! If you have family living in another country, you can use their citizenship status to get a visa granted if they agree to be your financial sponsor while you’re looking for work. Non-immediate relatives like cousins and in-laws will take a longer time to process your visa, but it still grants you a visa.
Under certain conditions, private individuals who are not related to you at all can also sponsor immigrants – but you’ll want to look up the exact laws for the country you have in mind. Sponsorship works the same way, so they’ll have to sign documentation that they are financially responsible for you until you are self-supporting.
Why aren’t transgender Americans able to have refugee status? This might change soon, but humanitarian-focused countries have not deemed the political climate in the United States dangerous enough yet to give refugee status solely based on trans identity. In the event something drastic happens in the US, that will likely change – refugee and asylum seekers get a variety of benefits in addition to their visa, like financial support, healthcare, case management, housing, etc. If transgender Americans are granted refugee status anywhere in the world, that would be a better route than any of the countries listed for traditional immigration.
