The Compostela and other certificates: requirements and where to get them

What are the requirements?

There are four: distance, mode of travel, stamps, and motivation. Here is a summary of the official rules from the Pilgrim's Office (Oficina del Peregrino) at the Cathedral of Santiago.

1. Distance: On foot or horseback, you must cover at least 100 km continuously on the same route; by bicycle, at least 200 km. Your final stage must be the one that takes you into the Cathedral of Santiago.
2. Mode of travel: Except in cases involving pilgrims with disabilities, no other form of transport counts.
3. Stamps: Collect stamps along the route you walk. If you are only walking the minimum required distance, you must get a dated stamp at the start and end of every stage—which means at least two stamps per day.
4. Motivation: The Compostela is awarded to those making the pilgrimage for religious or spiritual reasons.

Where should you start to reach 100 km?

The three most popular starting points all sit just comfortably over the mark. These walking distances to Santiago come from CaminoGO's route data:

• Camino Francés from Sarria: about 115 km
• Portuguese Way from Tui: about 120 km
• English Way from Ferrol: about 112 km

If your chosen starting point is right on the 100 km borderline, consider starting a day or two further back. That way, if anything unexpected comes up along the way, you won't have to worry about falling short of the distance.

Can you still qualify if you walk less than 100 km in Spain?

Yes, there are two exceptions. According to the Spanish-language rules from the Oficina del Peregrino:

• Starting outside Spain: If you begin outside Spain on a route recognized by the International Pilgrim Welcome Center, you only need to walk at least 70 continuous kilometers within Spain, as long as your total walking distance still reaches 100 km. For example, you can walk and collect stamps on a recognized Camino route in the UK or Ireland first, then walk from A Coruña to Santiago.
• Sailboat pilgrimage: Sail 100 nautical miles, then walk from your port of landing to Santiago, collecting stamps in your credencial (pilgrim passport) on every walking stage.

How do you pick it up in Santiago?

Head to the Oficina del Peregrino and get a queue ticket first.

• Open daily from 9:00–19:00; closed on December 25 and January 1.
• Take a numbered ticket with a QR code and wait for your number to be called.
• Bring your stamped credencial.

What other certificates are there besides the Compostela?

There are several, though only the first two are issued by the Oficina del Peregrino in Santiago. The rest are local commemorative certificates issued by individual towns: we couldn't find official guidelines from the issuing offices, so the table below is compiled from Camino guidebooks and pilgrim reports (checked in October 2026)—always check locally for the latest details.

Key points

• Walk at least 100 continuous kilometers (or cycle 200 km), and walk the final stage into Santiago.
• Get at least two dated stamps a day over the last 100 km.
• Starting from Sarria, Tui, or Ferrol is enough; starting from A Coruña alone isn't, unless you first walk a recognized route outside Spain.
• You can also get a Certificate of Distance, as well as local commemorative certificates in Fisterra, Muxía, and Sahagún.

In CaminoGO

When you create a trip, your draft itinerary shows the total distance right away, so you can see at a glance whether it clears 100 km. For more on how stamping works, see Your credencial (pilgrim passport): where to get it and how stamps work.