Thailand

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Thailand is a comparatively LGBTQ+-friendly country located in southeast Asia

Why Thailand?

• Legal gender recognition: As of February 2025, Thailand does not have gender recognition laws. There is currently a gender recognition bill making it's way throught the Thai legislature and the Thai PM supports it.
• Anti-discrimination laws: Thailand does not have anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination laws.
• Public healthcare: Healthcare is cheap and plentiful.
• LGBTQ+ rights and community: As of February 2025, marriage equality is the law of the land in Thailand. The law was passed by the Thai legislature in 2024 by an overwhelming majority.
• Immigration pathways: Thailand has many pathways to permanent residency, but not citizenship. For Americans:
• Visa on arrival. Americans can get a visa on arrival at Thailand for 60 days and can extend it for an additional 30 days for a $60USD fee. One then must leave the country, but can then pretty much immediately turn about and go back into Thailand and repeat the whole process. One can enter Thailand over a land border using this method twice a year, and theoretically can fly into Thailand an unlimited number of times using this method, although like all Thai immigration, there is considerable leeway with the immigration officer checking your passport.
• Education visa: getting an education visa is relatively easy, one needs only to attend a properly accredited school, studying an approved subject(most common is Thai language studies, and customer service Degrees like hospitality management). You must also actually attend classes. But there is not a grade point average to maintain, just class attendance. Your initial education visa is for three months, then you can get yearly extensions indefinitely.
• Retirement visa: one must be 50 years of agenor order. Trailing spouses are not allowed, so each spouse must get their own visa on their own terms.
• Remote work/nomad visa: a relatively new entry, this was released to take advantage of folks who work remotely

Why not Thailand?

• Legal issues
• Housing issues
• Visa issues
• you name it

Access to Trans Healthcare

Healthcare in Thailand is relatively plentiful and cheap. As of February 2025, Thailand provides HRT free to all trans citizens. Immigrants still have to pay, but the cost is relatively cheap, costing about $20USD a month for an average estrogen and AA blockers Rx. HRT is available OTC.

Thailand is home to some of the most advanced and relatively cheap GAC surgeries in the world.

Immigration Policy

US citizens need/don't need a visa to move to Thailand for. Which languages are the processes done in? What are the options/limitations/etc? Examples are below

• Student Visa: Available to …
• Family-Route: …
• Work Visa: …

Medical Inadmissibility

Does the Thailand in question have immigration laws that would find people with disabilities or health challenges inadmissible to emigrate there?

Permanent Residency

What's the pathway if there is one?

Citizenship Pathway

How do you get to be a citizen if at all?

LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities

What are potentially good places to live in?

• Bangkok! Specifically, the Silom district is a queer area.
• Pattaya City has a small but vibrant queer community

Community & Support Resources

• What local communities and support structures are there?

National Organizations

• please add

Cost of Living

• The cost of living in Thailand is how comparable to the US/where in the US?
• Rent is…
• Public transport …
• Healthcare is free/expensive…
• Grocery prices …
• Education is

Housing Access & Cost

• add details on discrimination in rentals if applicable
• also how easy is it to rent/buy etc

Law Enforcement ("How bad are the cops?")

• please add details, especially around safety for trans people

Censorship & Digital Privacy

• please add details

Ease of Travel to Other Countries

• What about neighboring countries, visas for those, airports to travel etc.

Animal Policies

• Is Thailand is pet-friendly or not
• What do you need to do to bring a pet?
• Consider adding a section on the Traveling with pets page