9/20/2025: The trump regime is working on having trans people labeled as a terrorist group. If done, they can use this to harass and persecute anyone they dislike. Anyone who is queer and/or trans or an ally. Please take this seriously.
EXTREMELY RELEVANT: AMERICANS CAN VISIT BOTH MEXICO AND CANADA (AS WELL AS SOME ISLANDS) FOR AT LEAST 3-6 MONTHS WITH NO PASSPORT. (restrictions apply, you need a certain kind of id: NEXUS, Border Crossing, or FAST card, or are enrolled in a Trusted Traveler Program, you can enter Canada without a passport. Both Canada and Mexico allow an enhance drivers license but restrictions apply.) Honestly, if you have none of those, check if now is a safe time to get a passport as a trans person and go that route. If you think you can pass as your assigned gender its probably sadly the safest route. Here is some info on residency including if you can prove you make $42,000 euros you can get digital nomad residency. If you are able to be legally there 5 years you can apply for citizenship.
A basic flight is over $400 from the Midwest. This is not something most trans people can afford quickly. If you’re in a hurry and poor: my advice is Mexico. Even if you want to go further down to Uruguay eventually (Uruguay is the safest place for trans people in the world but job market is poor, and flights are $1200 from the Midwest).
All these places are cheaper to live than the US, but you will also make less than you do in the US. Unless you have a US job digitally.
Jobs in Malta, more jobs in Malta
Jobs in Uruguay (you will need their dialect of Spanish)
Jobs in Mexico (you will likely need Spanish)
Given the need for mostly new languages and a work visa offer if you make less than $30,000 in the US your best bet is winging it. Look into school in the country (school visa), or go and expect it to take time. There is the option of working illegally, it does happen but I’m not recommending it. Be careful of job scams (linkedin is rife) and American companies looking for non Americans to pay less (frequent in Mexico). Don’t ever pay any money to secure a job (unless to the government for a visa), give detailed info unless you are sure its legit. Googling job name or phone number + scam can go a long way.
Install deepl or translate to navigate these sites in the local language. Join local Facebook groups as well as Reddit for the area (I know its not ideal, but many countries are still deep on fb and Reddit plus making a whatsapp). Read this thread and forum for advice on job seeking abroad.
Girl I ain’t readin all this
Short version: Malta, Portugal, Czechia, Mexico, Latin America as a whole
Malta has let a trans person stay for asylum (not an American). If Trump does declare trans people terrorists, Americans would likely qualify. Here’s some info on being trans in Malta. Malta is in the Schegen zone meaning you can be there for 90 days but have to leave for 90 days if you don’t get residency.
For all trans people any age any state:
Great list of getting your shit secured. You need a go bag, your health info and such printed, and a non zionist VPN (nordvpn is good). I urge you all to read this which has that info.
Otherwise especially if you must stay in a red state I’d add learn to shoot, basic medical care, and self defense.
Time for Canada?
So short version of it is Canada has gone to great lengths to keep Americans out. This isn’t even new, in 2023 they made some of the strictest laws to prevent Americans from getting asylum. You only get one shot at asylum and no Americans get it (including trans people, last cis person to get it was 2013). So if you’re able to do 3 months as tourist that’s the only use Canada has (beyond an emergency border if death camps start).
What about anywhere else that speaks English?
I’m sorry the American regime kept you monolingual and it is a massive hurdle to say work in another country. But let’s say this question goes for the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.
First off: none of these places are much better than America. Canada and the UK have socialized medicine making them maybe 20% better off the bat. New Zealand and especially Australia don’t and as someone who has a sister on the under 30 visa (only for Australia, you can work but limited ways and you’re treated poorly, note to even apply is like $4000 usd) I hear about it. All these places want to be like Trump regime, all these places have transphobia and murders, etc. Toronto is one of the safest trans locations in the world but it still has that issue. And if you’re not white be prepared for racism.
Add to it if you are disabled according to the US gov, have an autism diagnosis, or are chronically ill (though this one varies) most of those countries won’t let you in beyond tourism unless you’re rich, marrying a citizen, or have a job lined up. Canada for instance makes spouses pay $5000 to let their foreign disabled spouse be up for residency. That’s like 4x a non disabled spouse.
So no…not great Bob.
Ireland? or Scotland? Bisexual paradise? What of Europe they speak English right?
Okay so North Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England are the UK. In 2016 the UK decided to leave the EU. Which is stupid and Scotland is pursuing rejoining and leaving the UK. The UK also left the Schegen Zone which covers most of Europe and some of the former USSR. Why you should care is the Schegen zone only let’s Americans visit for 90 days per entire zone. So if you say are in Germany 90 days you can’t go to France unless you leave for 90 days.
In theory you could go anywhere in the UK but not real Ireland. Again refer to above on some limitations. And while English is a main language in many Schegen zone countries and the UK its not the only language. To get citizenship even in Ireland you need some Irish.
Ireland proper does have a list of in demand jobs they’ll give a worker’s visa to. Many require a degree (midwife is one of the few that doesn’t) and I’m pretty sure you’ll need proof you can do said job. Other EU countries have similar lists but the restrictions remain if you lack college or proof you’ve been employed as such. And if we’re talking EU away from the UK isles, you will definitely need the main language. Yes many Germans speak English. No you can’t work without learning German. That said Berlin is also one of the top cities for trans and queer people though Germany is also going through a rise in fascism with the afd and they’ve made anything that could be construed as support for Palestine illegal (as has many of these other EU and UK countries).
Some countries like Spain, Ireland and Italy allow people to become citizens if their grandparents or parents were citizens born in said country. You will have to google this. Sorry no great grandparents don’t count anywhere.
God damn is anyone going to let us in for asylum?
Currently no. Will this change if trans people are made terrorists by the US? I don’t know. Canada did let an American engaged to a Canadian whose been there for 4 years stay because they were nonbinary. The move is temporary and the first case showing mercy to queer people. Norway and Scotland have both proposed letting trans refugees in but so far neither have made it official. Norway and Iceland are highly rated areas for trans safety and health (and yes you would need the languages, Icelandic is particularly tough). The honest answer is if you’re trans and poor you need Latin America.
One possible spot that has not been tested: Malta an EU country. They are very trans friendly and have laws about who they can boot out. If trans people are declared terrorists in the US Malta’s system would likely let trans asylum seekers stay (it has happened with other countries but not the US so far there). There are limitations to applying for asylum but many of the harsher aspects focus on Arabic and African refugees coming from the sea. If successful you will be helped with housing and work. Currently Malta specifically you can’t work while waiting if your country is not at war.
If Norway or Scotland does allow trans refugees in the future the same would apply, minus not being able to work while waiting. A group in the Netherlands is also trying to help trans americans (but so far no one has been granted asylum).
Mexico?
While Mexico is much for accessible (and less stringent on enforcement) you’ll never get asylum. I have stayed in Puerto Vallarta and enjoyed it. You do need some Spanish, and people are lovely. If you’re white and gay you’ll be in heaven. I met several trans and nonbinary people during pride including people who lived here. Zona Romantica is the best bet for safety. If not Puerto Vallarta try Mexico City or Merida. Do note all 3 cities have some protest against white mostly Americans coming and acting like its little America (not learning Spanish, not going to local businesses, gentrifying and raising rent). Flip side there is some racism against darker skinned people. But in a 2016 study 49% of Mexicans said they knew a trans person (US had 20% and the most hostile reactions to trans people, yes even over the UK).
Many meds marked prescription you can sometimes get OTC, and unless its a biologic they are dirt cheap. Yes this includes testosterone and estrogen.
If you want to stay, border hopping is risky. Your path is make over $4000 a month, buy property, marry a citizen or someone with residency, have a child, or find employment. Only 10% jobs by law can be non Mexicans. You will definitely need Spanish and TEFL jobs are shit. The average pay is $3 usd an hour so living solely off of this may be hard. But honestly getting a job as a tourist to resident is near impossible unless you have a very unique in demand job. And like most things in Mexico any of this relies solely on personal connections you make (which are low if you don’t learn Spanish). I suggest mango which is free thru many libraries to learn Spanish.
If you do want to hop Costa Rica, Uruguay and Peru are options. Argentina and Chile are busy throwing out fascists. If Argentina succeeds they also are a possibility (right next to Uruguay). Note many of these countries have high unemployment rates and their own dialect of Spanish that normal Latin American Spanish won’t cut through (Argentina and Uruguay in particular).
If you do for whatever reason decide to go and then be undocumented (I am not recommending this just stating) you won’t get gov or private insurance, won’t be able to open a bank account or use Mercado libre the most popular app (you cant use Mercado as a tourist either you need a curp like a ssn). If you drive you are more liable to be caught (honestly wouldn’t recommend driving in Mexico anyway) or use public transportation or ferries. You wont be able to leave and come back, and you will have to pay a small fine when you do leave and it may effect your ability to come back.
Anywhere else?
I know queer people dream of Japan but Japan is extremely homophobic as well as transphobic. It’s slowly changing but they also aren’t wild about immigrants so I wouldn’t bother. Most of Asia has similar attitudes. MENA I’d avoid for now, Russia outlawed being gay, and Africa is a continent full of many diverse countries but many also hold outdated attitudes about trans and queer people. It’s dangerous to be trans in parts of Europe, I’d be cautious with these areas.
Georgia (squished between Russia, Turkey and Armenia) is more open and trans tourists say they were fine and able to get hormones. But there have also been trans murders. The biggest draw is Americans can go for a year without any visa or residency. English, Russian and Georgia are mainly spoken and its a beautiful country. Yet Russia wants it back, and is actively trying to take it. They installed a Trump mimic for president and Georgians have been fighting this for half a year. Add in if Russia succeeds and isn’t even violent you go back to Russia isn’t wild about gay or trans people.
EU your best bet (and I can not stress enough visas cost usually thousands of dollars) are Portugal, Malta and Czechia.
So I’m just fucked?
Not necessarily. New Mexico and Minnesota are trans sanctuary states that are affordable and you can take steps to make that happen, even if (especially if!) you are poor. Click Here for the info and resources. I do want to stress my own personal opinion is we aren’t going civil war, we’re going nazi Germany. Look at cocksucker Gavin Newsom. We will need strong community to survive. And the point I’m making is I don’t believe blue states will be safe even if their elected officials genuinely care.
What if I’m under 18?
There are some options but with Trump’s declaration anyone homeless and be imprisoned or institutionalized I wouldn’t recommend them. If you are thrown out by parents and no one will take you in, I suggest looking for queer centers in your area (even if its the entire state).
I can’t afford it.
Stay and fight. Or go incognito. Whatever is safest. You have no idea how many closeted trans people are around you. They need your help. And if its about moving costs I’ve listed some orgs below, but honestly yeah its unlikely you’ll get funding for moving (might get a free flight on the purple pink list).
If you stay regardless of why learn some self defense. Carry a pointed crystal ($12 on Ebay, sometimes called a wand crystal. Many on Ebay are metric so that’s 101 mm), something that can be sprayed quickly like sunblock or hair spray, and possibly sand or glitter. Everything but the crystal will blind an opponent and that’s your best bet at surviving. You stab you likely enrage and possibly arm the assailant.
Gun ownership isn’t terribly cheap and your access highly varies by state. Not great for people with mental health issues or suicidal tendencies. If you feel this is where you wish to go look into the Pink Pistolsand LGBT club
Organizations to Help Trans People Move
(please remember these are mostly volunteer and donation led, they are overwhelmed and doing their best)
