The short answer
Among the LGBTQ-friendly countries in Europe that we cover, Portugal and Spain combine marriage equality, broad protections and the most practical visas for both retirees and remote workers. Malta and the Netherlands lead on English. Germany and the Netherlands have no retiree or nomad visa, and Italy and Croatia stop at partnerships.
Europe is where many LGBTQ+ Americans look first: strong legal protections, public healthcare, and cities with long-established communities. But "European" covers very different situations. Two of the European countries Out & Found covers stop short of marriage, several have no visa built for retirees or remote workers, and the routes that do exist ask for very different incomes. This guide compares them side by side.
LGBTQ+-friendly countries in Europe, compared
The European countries we cover. Income figures are the published minimums for the main applicant; see each guide for conditions.
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| Country | Same-sex marriage | Legal gender change | Retiree route | Remote-work route | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Legal since 2010 | Self-determination; rollback bills pending | D7, €920/mo | D8, €3,680/mo | 6th globally (EF) |
| Spain | Legal since 2005 | Self-determination (nationals) | Non-lucrative, €28,800/yr | Telework, €2,442/mo | Moderate |
| Netherlands | Legal since 2001 | Administrative, expert statement | No retiree visa | No nomad visa; DAFT route | Very high |
| Malta | Legal since 2017 | Self-determination | Retirement Programme (tax-based) | Nomad permit, €42,000/yr | Official language |
| Germany | Legal since 2017 | Self-declaration | No retiree visa | No nomad visa; freelance permit | About 60% speak it |
| France | Legal since 2013 | Court, no medical proof | Long-stay visitor visa | No nomad visa | Moderate |
| Greece | Legal since 2024 | Court, no medical requirement | Independent means, €3,500/mo | Nomad visa, €3,500/mo net | Widely used in Athens |
| Italy | Civil unions | Court process | Elective residence, about €31,000/yr | Nomad visa, €24,789/yr | Moderate |
| Croatia | Life partnership | Medical documentation | Temporary stay, about €870/mo | Nomad stay, €3,622.50/mo | High |
Best European countries for gay expats: what each does best
This is not a ranking. Each country leads on something different.
- Portugal: the most accessible retirement route in Western Europe on our list (the D7, at €920 a month), self-determination for gender recognition (though 2026 bills in parliament would end it), English ranked sixth in the world, and public healthcare for every legal resident once registered. ILGA-Europe ranked it 12th in 2026 and flagged a draft rollback bill.
- Spain: marriage since 2005, Law 4/2023 covering orientation, gender identity, expression and sex characteristics, a telework visa at €2,442 a month, and Madrid's Chueca as a dense community hub.
- Malta: an English-speaking country whose constitution and statutes cover all four protected grounds, with non-binary recognition on birth certificates. A small island with a small scene.
- Netherlands: the first country to legalize same-sex marriage, in 2001, and the highest English proficiency on our list. There is no retiree or nomad visa, but US citizens can use the Dutch–American Friendship Treaty route with €4,500 in business capital.
- Germany: self-declaration of gender since November 2024 and Berlin's deep community infrastructure. Every resident must hold health insurance, and there is no retiree or nomad visa.
- France: public insurance covers transition care at 100%, and PUMa healthcare opens after three months of residence. No nomad visa.
- Greece: marriage since 2024, upheld by the courts in 2026, and a 7% flat tax option on foreign pensions, but a high income bar for both editions.
- Italy and Croatia: civil unions and life partnerships rather than marriage. Italy publishes clear visa figures and offers public healthcare to residents; Croatia's English is among Europe's highest.
Moving to Europe as an LGBTQ+ American: the visa reality
Europe is easier to love than to enter. Germany and the Netherlands have no visa for retirees or remote workers, and France has no remote-work visa. The most practical routes on our list are Portugal's D7 and D8, Spain's non-lucrative and telework visas, Malta's nomad permit and retirement programme, and Greece's and Italy's nomad visas. Our retirement and nomad visa comparisons list every figure.
Healthcare and HIV care in Europe
Every European country we cover has public or mandatory insurance for residents, and no HIV-specific entry or residence rule. The differences are in timing and cost. Portugal gives migrants residing there free HIV care regardless of status; France enrolls residents after three months; Spain asks non-lucrative visa holders to buy in after a year; Germany requires insurance from day one. Our HIV guide has the detail.
The climate behind the law
Strong law has not stopped rising recorded hate crime in several of these countries: France recorded about 4,800 anti-LGBTQ+ offences in 2024, Germany's sexual-orientation offences rose about 18%, and Spain's recorded incidents rose 8% in 2025. Visibility is highest in capitals and large cities everywhere. Our rights comparison explains how to read those numbers.
Common questions
Which European countries are best for LGBTQ+ expats?
We don't rank them. Among the European countries we cover, Portugal, Spain, Malta, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Greece have marriage equality and broad protections; Portugal and Spain also have the most practical visa routes for both retirees and remote workers.
Which European country is easiest for Americans moving abroad?
On our list, Portugal's D7 (€920 a month in passive income) is the lowest retirement bar, and Spain's telework visa (€2,442 a month) and Italy's nomad visa (€24,789 a year) are the lowest remote-work bars.
Which European countries have no visa for retirees?
Among those we cover, Germany and the Netherlands have no retiree visa. France has a long-stay visitor route, and Croatia uses a temporary stay for other purposes.
Is English widely spoken in LGBTQ+-friendly European countries?
In several. Malta uses English as an official language, the Netherlands ranks very high, Portugal ranks sixth globally, and Croatia is among Europe's highest. Spain, France and Italy are moderate.
Do all European countries recognize same-sex marriage?
Not all. Among those we cover, Croatia offers life partnerships and Italy civil unions; the other seven have marriage equality.
Sources and method
Facts come from the Out & Found guides: Retiree Edition (verified as of 1 August 2026) and Digital Nomad Edition (verified as of 17 October 2026), which cite each country's own authorities and named research organizations. Euro figures are published minimums; ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map position as cited in the Portugal guide. Portugal's 2026 bills: Público (20 March 2026) and The Portugal News (26 August 2026). Requirements and laws change, so confirm the current rule with the official source before you act. This is research, not legal, immigration, medical or tax advice. How we research · Corrections