Belgium, France, Ireland, Netherlands and Portugal Issue Travel Advisory for Citizens Visiting USA

In the past few days Belgium, France, Ireland, Netherlands and Portugal updated their advice for citizens to raise cautions about travel to the USA.

Belgium as of 25 March 2025:

The foreign ministry and the Belgian embassy and consulates in the United States are closely monitoring the situation with regard to LGBTQI+ rights in the country.

The current travel advice already warns of the varying attitudes towards people from the LGBTQI+ community, which can differ greatly from state to state.

Belgian government said it is working to further update its advice about potential issues and risks of traveling to the USA.

Ireland as of 26 March 2025:

Government guidance was updated for travelers who are transgender. USA ESTA and visa application forms require a declaration of sex, which must be the same as the traveler’s biological sex at birth. Anyone whose passport shows an X for gender or shows a gender different from what was assigned at birth is advised to contact the USA Embassy in Dublin for further advice before traveling.

Netherlands as of 25 March 2025:

The [Dutch foreign] ministry advises that LGBTQI+ people should be aware that laws and customs in the US towards LGBTQI+ persons may differ from those in the Netherlands.

Norway as of 28 March 2025: 

Norway emphasizes that getting into the USA depends upon what immigration officials decide. Having a valid visa or Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is not enough.

The government’s advice includes:

The ESTA or visa does not guarantee entry. It is the immigration authorities on arrival who make the final decision. The Norwegian authorities cannot intervene in this decision.

Criminal offences in the United States, false declarations about the purpose of stay, or that you have previously stayed in the United States longer than allowed can lead to rejection at the border.

When applying for an ESTA or a visa to the United States, there are two gender designations to choose from: Male or female. The United States only recognizes the applicant’s gender at birth.

For travelers whose current gender identity is not the same as the gender on their birth certificate, the government advises contacting the USA Embassy before traveling to the USA.

Portugal as of 26 March 2025:

The government warns that “possession of an ESTA or a visa does not constitute an automatic right of entry to the USA.” Whether admission to the USA will be allowed is a decision made by a border agent.

The government also warned against going to Canada or Mexico if they will need to re-enter the USA for their departure from the continent. “T]heir re-entry may be questioned.”

Portugal advises its citizens who are non-binary to fill out forms with the gender they were assigned at birth because the USA now recognizes only two genders and insists upon travel documentation on which gender matches the gender assigned at birth.