This paper contributes to the debate on the impact of migrant remittances on public social protection. It examines empirically the determinants of public social protection focusing on migrant remittances using macro level panel data on a sample of 40 developed and developing countries. To address panel level heterskedasticity, autocorrelation, and endogeneity, FGLS, IV and two-step GMM estimation methodologies are adopted. The paper finds that remittances have a positive influence on social protection expenditures. The results highlight the importance of remittances to fiscal space and social protection.