Compostela: the requirements for the pilgrim certificate

In short: At least 100 kilometres on foot or on horseback, or 200 kilometres by bicycle.

The Compostela is the certificate that the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago de Compostela issues to people who have walked the Way of St James. You don't have to get one, but for many pilgrims it is the moment they have been walking towards for weeks.

The minimum distance

You need at least 100 kilometres on foot or on horseback, or 200 kilometres by bicycle. Traditionally this distance lay directly before Santiago. That is why popular starting points are Sarria on the Camino Francés and Tui on the Portuguese Way.

Since 2025, according to several pilgrim websites, a slightly more open rule has applied: the distance may also lie elsewhere in the network of routes, but the last stage before Santiago must always be part of it. The details are still reported in different ways. If you are not walking all the way through to Santiago, ask the Pilgrim's Office beforehand.

Stamps in your pilgrim passport

Your pilgrim passport is your proof. On the last 100 kilometres you need two stamps a day, for example one from a bar or church and one from the albergue. Make sure every stamp has a date, or have it written in by hand. The stamps should be in an official passport, so it is worth ordering one before your trip.

Collecting it in Santiago

The Pilgrim's Office is a few minutes' walk from the cathedral. Register online, which saves you time on site, and then take a number. In high season you should still expect to wait. At the counter a staff member checks your stamps and issues the certificate. It is free. If you walked for non-religious reasons, you receive a certificate without religious wording instead.

For a small fee you can also get a certificate showing the exact distance and a tube to protect it. Pack the tube carefully, because the certificate should survive the flight home in one piece.