Passport Bros

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Passport Bros is a slang term for American men, originally Black American men, who travel abroad in search of foreign women they view as more traditional than women back home. The idea traces back to 2000s reporting on Brazilian sex tourism, spread through YouTube travel vlogs around 2019, and broke out on TikTok in late 2022 with duet videos of men holding up their U.S. passports.

Overview

Passport Bros is a slang term for American men, originally Black American men, who travel abroad in search of foreign women they consider more traditional than U.S. women3. Commonly named destinations include Brazil, Thailand, and Colombia, and the framing draws from the broader manosphere alongside figures like Kevin Samuels, Dr. Umar Johnson, and Andrew Tate4.

Critics tie the framing back to Western sex tourism first covered in Brazil during the 2000s1. Supporters on Urban Dictionary describe themselves as men seeking family-oriented partners in places where hookup culture is less rampant6. Fox News quoted dating coach Eddie Hernandez saying many Passport Bros blame feminism and impossible U.S. dating standards for their move overseas2.

How It Spread

After DJP's 2019 start, the small YouTube scene grew with creators like BMT Travels (short for Black Man Travels), whose August 2019 upload 'Dominican women vs Brazilian women' and September 2019 comparison of 'Traveling brothers' to incels helped shape the early tone, with Twitter picking up the term by January 2020 and YouTuber Oshay Duke Jackson's August 2022 video contrasting Kevin Samuels' philosophy with the movement drawing over 100,000 views4.

On August 29, 2022, Urban Dictionary user Jayy5555 submitted a definition that pulled over 980 likes within six months6. The push to mass awareness came in November 2022 through a TikTok duet chain of men holding up their U.S. passports, capped by @anthonymcdonaldsr's video on November 77. From there, the term broke out of niche YouTube communities and crossed into mainstream media coverage3.

How to Use This Meme

Passport Bros content typically takes one of a few forms: a TikTok clip of a man holding up his U.S. passport (the format popularized by @anthonymcdonaldsr's November 2022 duet7), a talking-head YouTube travel vlog shot in Brazil, Thailand, or Colombia explaining why the creator left the U.S., or a comparison video ranking women from different countries. The label is also used critically by opponents who mock the framing.

Cultural Impact

Mainstream press picked up the story in 2023 and 2024. Fox News covered the movement, quoting dating coach Eddie Hernandez, who linked its growth to frustration with feminism and to work-from-home flexibility that made moving abroad easier2. HBO's 'The White Lotus' worked the Passport Bros archetype into its 2025 season set in Thailand, with Sam Rockwell's character Frank openly telling Rick that he moved to Thailand because he 'always had a thing for Asian girls'3. In the show, local Thai staff use the label 'losers back home' (LBH) as a spin on Passport Bros, applied to the older, bald, white male guests at the resort3.

Frequently Asked Questions