Lately, a lot of friends on the forum have been asking about getting residency in Spain by buying property, especially regarding the €500,000 “Golden Visa”. The biggest question on everyone’s mind is: what benefits do you actually get with this card? Are they the same as what Spanish locals receive? I’ve done a lot of research and talked to many people who have gone through the process, so today I’m sharing my understanding. This is purely my personal view, and I welcome everyone to join the discussion.
First, let’s talk about the topics everyone is most concerned about: children’s education and healthcare. After obtaining the investment residency card, your children can indeed access Spain’s public education system, which is free from primary to high school, just like for local children. This is a solid, tangible benefit. For healthcare, you are required to purchase private health insurance, which is a prerequisite for the residency application. Once you have this insurance, accessing medical care is very convenient and the coverage is quite comprehensive. However, this is different from the public healthcare system that locals enjoy after paying into social security.
A major misconception is that many people think the Golden Visa allows them to work freely. In reality, that’s not the case. The initial investment residency does not include a work permit. You need to start your own business or be hired by a company and then convert your residency to a work permit. Therefore, planning to come to Spain to work as an employee with just this visa is the wrong approach. This also means you cannot contribute to social security like locals do, and consequently, you won’t be eligible for social security benefits like unemployment or pensions. It’s crucial to be clear about this point!
Golden Visa vs. Local Resident: A Benefit Comparison
To make it clearer, I’ve created a simple comparison table that shows everything at a glance:
| Benefit | Golden Visa Holder | Spanish Resident/Worker |
|---|
| Public Education | ✅ Free access | ✅ Free access |
| Public Healthcare | ❌ Requires private insurance | ✅ Access through social security contributions |
| Right to Work | ❌ Not initially included | ✅ Full rights |
| Social Security | ❌ Cannot contribute | ✅ Mandatory contribution and access |
| Pension | ❌ Not eligible | ✅ Eligible after meeting conditions |
Spain’s Golden Visa is more like a long-term pass, allowing you and your family to legally reside here with a residency status from buying property in Spain, enjoy the beautiful environment, and access basic educational benefits. But it’s not, however, an all-access benefits card. It’s better suited for financially independent individuals who do not rely on local employment. For those who want to work and build a long-term career here, other pathways might be more appropriate. What does everyone think? Have any of you already gone through the process and can share your real-life experiences?
