Retiring abroad as an LGBTQ+ person: Spain, Portugal and Mexico compared

How the three compare on LGBTQ+ rights

Spain made same-sex marriage legal in 2005 and Portugal in 2010 (Pew Research Center). Beyond marriage, ILGA-Europe's 2026 Rainbow Map scores European countries on a wide range of LGBTQ+ laws and policies. Spain came first with 89% and Portugal came 12th with 67%, so Portugal's wider protections are less complete than Spain's.

Mexico isn't on that map, which only covers Europe, so we haven't compared its wider protections here. Same-sex marriage has been legal in all 32 Mexican states since October 2022, when Tamaulipas became the last to allow it (PBS).

Getting the right to live there

Each country has a residence route for people living on a pension or savings. The rules change, and they can differ from one consulate to another, so treat what follows as a starting point and check with the consulate that covers where you live.

Spain: the non-lucrative residence visa

This is for people who'll live in Spain without working. It doesn't allow any work, including remote work for a company back home. You have to show money of at least four times IPREM, an income figure Spain sets each year, plus more for each family member. A spouse or an unmarried partner can apply with you. These details come from the Spanish Consulate in Los Angeles in February 2026, and the consulate says the rules in force on the day you apply are the ones that count.

You also need private health insurance from an insurer authorized in Spain, covering everything, with no deductible, no copayments and no waiting period. Travel insurance doesn't count. You apply at a Spanish consulate before you move, then apply for a foreigner identity card within a month of arriving.

Portugal: the D7 visa

Portugal's government lists a residence visa for retirees and people living on their own income, often called the D7, and you apply at the Portuguese consulate that covers where you live (gov.pt). The exact documents are set by each consulate. As an example only, one consulate's 2025 checklist asks you to show you can support yourself in Portugal for at least a year, with 12 months of bank statements and health insurance covering your whole stay, including repatriation. It wants proof of somewhere to live, too. Get the checklist from your own consulate rather than relying on this one.

Mexico: temporary residency for retirees

Mexico offers temporary residency to retirees who can show economic solvency, through either a steady monthly income such as a pension or savings and investments held over the past year. You apply at a Mexican consulate before you go. The income and savings levels differ from one consulate to another and change over time, so ask yours for the current figures.

Health care

Medicare usually doesn't cover health care outside the US, with only rare exceptions. So plan for local or private insurance from the start. Spain's visa rules make that compulsory, and it's sensible everywhere else. If you have a condition that needs regular treatment, ask insurers about it before you commit to a country.

Taxes and paperwork

US citizens generally have to report their worldwide income wherever they live, and the filing rules are mostly the same abroad as at home (IRS). Whether you need to file, and how much you owe, depends on your income and circumstances, and foreign tax credits and other rules may reduce the bill. The country you move to may tax you as well, depending on how long you stay, so speak to a tax adviser who knows both countries.

If you're a couple, sort out your wills and powers of attorney before you go, and check they'll work in your new country. A spouse who isn't a US citizen may also need special estate planning. Our guide to estate planning for gay couples covers the basics.

Where people go

Sitges in Spain, Lisbon in Portugal and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico all have well-known LGBTQ+ scenes. Our guide to the best gay retirement cities looks at each of them.

You don't have to go alone, either. Eric Crespin, who founded Among Our People, is planning a gay retirement village in Spain, and you can read how that started. On Among Our People you can browse projects that are forming abroad, or post your idea on the online notice board and find people who'd like to make the move with you.