Spain ended its golden visa in April 2025, so it is no longer a live route. Monaco still grants residence to those who can show accommodation and sufficient means.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
These two are no longer comparable as live options. Spain repealed its golden visa, so the property linked residence route is gone. Monaco never ran a fixed price investment visa in the same sense, and it still grants residence to applicants who can show a home in the Principality and the means to live without local employment.
Spain abolished the golden visa with effect from 3 April 2025. Buying property in Spain is still legal, but it no longer brings a residence permit. Monaco remains open to residence applicants, with the process running through the Residents Section of the Public Security Department.
Spain has no current investor minimum to quote because the route is closed. When it operated it was linked to a property purchase, but that is no longer a path to residence. Do not rely on the old figure.
Monaco does not publish a fixed investment minimum in law. In practice banks commonly ask for a substantial deposit before issuing the reference letter the application needs, with figures around EUR 500,000 often cited as a market convention rather than a legal rule. You also need genuine accommodation in Monaco, owned or rented. Confirm current bank and accommodation expectations directly, since these are set by private banks and the authorities, not by a fixed tariff.
Spain offers no timeline for new investor applications because none can be filed.
Monaco reports a residence process of roughly two to four months once documents are ready. The authorities issue a one year card first, then a three year card after a period of residence, and a ten year card later. Confirm the current steps with the Residents Section.
Spain is a European Union member, so the residence it once offered could lead toward EU citizenship over many years. That path is now closed to new investors. Monaco is not a European Union member, and Monegasque citizenship is rarely granted and generally does not allow dual nationality, so most residents remain residents rather than citizens. Residence in Monaco is about living there and its tax and lifestyle profile, not about a fast passport.
Spain no longer suits an investor seeking residence, because the route has ended, though other Spanish visa categories exist outside investment. Monaco may suit someone with substantial means who genuinely wants to live in the Principality and can meet the accommodation and self sufficiency tests. Because both have changed or never fit the simple investment visa label, a vetted independent advisor can help you understand what each really requires before you commit.
| Item | Spain legacy golden visa | Monaco Residence |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Abolished from 3 April 2025 | Open, based on accommodation and means |
| Indicative minimum | Not applicable, route closed | No fixed legal minimum. Bank deposits around EUR 500,000 often cited as convention |
| Outcome | No new entry | Residence card, renewable |
| EU member | Yes | No |
| Official authority | Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Spain | Residents Section, Public Security Department, Monaco |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Residents Section, Public Security Department, Government of Monaco publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. Spain abolished the golden visa with effect from 3 April 2025. Applications filed before that date continue under the old rules, but no new investor residence application can be submitted. Buying property is still legal but no longer brings residence.
No. Monaco does not publish a fixed investment minimum in law. In practice private banks commonly expect a substantial deposit, with figures around EUR 500,000 cited as a market convention, and you must show genuine accommodation in the Principality. Confirm current expectations directly.
Rarely. Monegasque citizenship is granted in very limited circumstances and generally does not permit dual nationality. Most people remain long term residents rather than citizens.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The rules for this route changed recently. Confirm the current position with current guidance before you act.
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