Thinking about moving to Portugal or Europe from the United States? For LGBTQ+ Americans concerned about civil rights, politics, healthcare, safety, and their long-term future in the U.S., Portugal has become one of the destinations getting serious attention.
In this episode of the Flee Your Red States Podcast, Bob McCranie and Leslie welcome back Josh in Lisbon, an American who has now lived in Portugal for three years, for an update on what relocating to Portugal actually looks like in 2026.
Josh says something important has changed. Many of the Americans contacting him aren’t simply looking for an overseas adventure anymore. They’re considering leaving the United States because they’re afraid of what may happen next.
We talk about the realities behind that decision: Portugal’s growing international community, LGBTQ+ life in Europe, immigration and residency changes, learning Portuguese, integrating into a different culture, healthcare, employment, bureaucracy, and the financial realities of building a life outside the United States.
Josh also explains some of the differences between buying real estate in Portugal and the United States and what Americans should understand before assuming that purchasing a home overseas works the same way it does back home.
The conversation goes beyond Portugal.
With the 2026 U.S. midterm elections approaching, we discuss what the results could mean for LGBTQ+ migration. Will a political shift convince people to stay? Could further restrictions accelerate the number of Americans considering Europe? And for people who have already decided that their long-term future may be elsewhere, does the election even change the decision?
We also discuss one of the most overlooked parts of international relocation: moving somewhere is very different from becoming part of somewhere.
Language matters. Culture matters. Employment matters. Healthcare matters. And the experience of visiting Portugal is very different from actually building a life there.
Josh shares what he has learned after three years in Lisbon—and what he wishes more Americans understood before packing their bags.
Topics include: moving to Portugal from the USA, LGBTQ+ migration to Europe, living in Lisbon, Portugal immigration and residency, Portuguese citizenship, LGBTQ+ rights and safety, healthcare in Europe, working in Portugal, cultural integration, buying property in Portugal, the 2026 midterm elections, and why Americans are considering leaving the United States.
For information about relocating to Portugal or Portuguese real estate, visit Josh in Lisbon and find Josh on social media at @joshinlisbon.
The Flee Your Red States Podcast explores relocation options for LGBTQ+ people and others concerned about whether their civil rights will continue to be protected where they live. Our goal isn’t to tell people that they should leave. It’s to help people understand what their options are if they decide they need them.
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