With the outlook of the United States being as it is today, many of us just want to leave and leave quickly and not look back, while others are contemplating to just leave for the next 3 1/2 to 5 years, and hopefully the nation will snap back from this orange crazy cloud we live in and we can return to America and not ‘Merikkka.
Becoming a Digital Nomad
Where to Consider
Spain — Big queer scenes (Madrid, Barcelona), strong legal protections, and an actual Digital Nomad Visa (DNV). Current guidance puts the monthly income requirement around $2,950–$3,000. (Get Golden Visa, NIM Immigration Lawyers Spain)
Portugal — Very LGBTQ-friendly with vibrant hubs (Lisbon, Porto), excellent internet, and the D8/Digital Nomad visa; updated guides cite about $3,550–$3,800/month income requirements. (Global Residence Index, Global Citizen Solutions)
Related Instinct Posts:
Travel Thursday: If Portugal is not on your Travel Bucket List, It Needs to Be
Remembering our Visit to Portugal’s Oldest City – We’re Gonna Braga About It
Malta — Year after year Europe’s #1 for LGBTQ+ rights; English widely spoken, sunny, and easy island living. (Rainbow Map)
Related Instinct Posts:
Travel Thursday: Discovering Malta, The Home of EuroPride 2023
Malta – An Island Nation Where Game of Thrones Meets Da Vinci Code
Iceland — Tiny but mighty: top-tier LGBTQ+ protections and safety; great for summer stints or nature-heavy working retreats. (Ranks among Europe’s top five for rights.) (Equality Network)
Belgium & Denmark — Consistently high equality scores and polished urban life (Brussels, Copenhagen) with great coworking, transit, and English proficiency. (Both in Europe’s top five.)
Canada — World-leading LGBTQ+ protections and lively scenes (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver). Superb quality of life and internet—great for North American time zones.
Related Instinct Posts:
Travel Thursday: Unforgettable Toronto Pride. It Thrilled, United, Celebrate Us
Travel Thursday: Vacationing in Victoria, BC & the Iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel
Uruguay — Progressive laws (marriage since 2013), chill coastal living in Montevideo, and solid internet speeds for South America. (Equaldex, DataReportal – Global Digital Insights)
Mexico — Marriage equality nationwide since 2022, huge queer communities (CDMX, Guadalajara, PV), great food/value, and strong nomad infrastructure. (Check state-by-state nuances on adoption/ID.)
Related Instinct Posts:
Travel Thursday: Destination Mexico With The Goals Of Indulgence & Tranquility
Sun, Surf + Pride: Mexico’s Coastal Paradise Awaits
Travel Thursday: Getting Our Gay On in the City of Merida in Yucatan, Mexico
Thailand — Just legalized same-sex marriage in 2025; Bangkok/Chiang Mai/Phuket have big nomad ecosystems, cafés, and coworking.
Related Instinct Posts:
Why Everyone’s Talking About Thailand—And Why Gay Travelers Are Leading the Way
Karst Mountains, Pristine Beaches, Fresh Cuisine – Thailand Inspires
Taiwan — First in Asia with marriage equality (2019), queer-friendly Taipei scene, efficient transit, and fantastic cafés.
What to Think About & Plan
1) Visas & legality of remote work
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Confirm whether your host country allows remote work for a foreign employer on a tourist stay, or if you need a DNV/long-stay visa (e.g., Spain, Portugal). (Get Golden Visa, Global Citizen Solutions)
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Check income thresholds, required documents (contracts, bank statements), police checks, and health insurance requirements before you apply. (Get Golden Visa Search)
2) Taxes (especially for U.S. citizens)
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You still file U.S. taxes annually. Learn the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE, up to ~$126,500 in 2025) and/or Foreign Tax Credit to avoid double taxation. Start with IRS Pub. 54.
3) Health insurance
- Many visas (and all Schengen visas) require travel/medical insurance—commonly around $32,500 minimum coverage, valid across the area and for the full stay. (AXA Schengen, Insubuy)
4) LGBTQ+ safety & community
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Look up national and city-level protections (anti-discrimination, gender marker changes, police attitudes) alongside lived-experience reports. Benchmarks: ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map (Europe) and Equaldex Equality Index (global). (Rainbow Map, Equaldex)
5) Internet & work setup
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Check real-world speeds and reliability before you book longer stays. (Example: Uruguay’s median fixed download ~160 Mbps in early 2025.) Have an unlocked phone and local eSIM plan ready. (DataReportal – Uruguay Global Digital Insights)
6) Time zones & clients
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Map your working hours to stakeholder time zones. Europe works well for overlap with both North America and Asia; Asia can mean late nights for U.S. clients.
7) Cost of living & neighborhoods
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Price out your actual living style (housing, coworking, gyms, cafés, transit, nightlife). Test a city for 2–4 weeks before committing to a longer lease.
8) Paperwork & logistics
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Register your address if required by your visa. Keep apostilled documents, digital copies, and a travel folder. Consider a mail scanning service at “home.”
9) Banking & payments
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Use a no-FX-fee card and a secondary backup. Enable travel notices and 2FA that doesn’t rely on your U.S. phone number.
10) Personal safety & boundaries
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Save emergency numbers and LGBTQ-center contacts. Share itineraries with a trusted person. In conservative areas, set app/location privacy settings accordingly.
11) Community & mental health
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Join queer/nomad groups (Meetup, Facebook, Discord, local LGBTQ+ centers). Schedule routines—exercise, therapy tele-sessions, language exchange—to stay grounded.
12) Exit plans
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Know visa duration, renewal rules, and onward-ticket requirements. Keep a small emergency fund + backup flight plan.
Fast picks by use case
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Euro-base with paperwork: Spain or Portugal (DNVs, big scenes, great connectivity).
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Island sun + top protections: Malta.
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Asia with legal equality: Thailand (new law) or Taiwan (established).
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Americas, high protections, easy flights: Canada.
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Southern Cone vibe, progressive & fast internet: Uruguay.
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Value + giant community: Mexico (mind regional differences and usual big-city precautions).
Have you thought about being a digital nomad? What unanswered questions do you have? What’s stopping you?