The Credential & Compostela (pilgrims pass) - 2025

2025-07-19

Are you planning to walk the Camino de Santiago? And do you want to receive the pilgrim’s certificate, la Compostela? Then it’s essential to understand the new rules for obtaining this official document, which confirms you have completed the pilgrimage to the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela. The rules changed in 2025, and several important details could affect how you plan your route.

 

What is la Compostela?

La Compostela is the document issued by the Pilgrims’ Office in Santiago to those who complete the Camino for religious, spiritual, or existential reasons. It is a historic certificate written in Latin and is regarded as the most significant proof that you have walked the pilgrimage route.

Originally, pilgrims’ journeys were acknowledged with a scallop shell, which could only be obtained in Santiago. However, widespread counterfeiting in the Middle Ages led the Church to introduce “cartas probatorias” in the 13th century—evidentiary letters that were the direct forerunners of today’s la Compostela.

Today, la Compostela is also associated with certain privileges. For example, the Hostal dos Reis Católicos, founded as a pilgrim hospital by the Catholic Monarchs in the 16th century, still offers a free meal to the first 10 pilgrims each day who present their la Compostela.

Your pilgrim passport, la Credencial, which you stamp along the route, entitles you to receive the certificate as long as the stamps meet certain criteria, which we’ll explain below.

The Camino can be walked or cycled for many personal reasons, and not all of them are religious or spiritual. For many pilgrims, collecting stamps in their passport is the ultimate personal souvenir, even if they don’t receive la Compostela in Santiago.

Other certificates if you are not walking for religious reasons

If you are walking the Camino without religious, spiritual, or existential motives, you can still obtain official documentation of your journey from the Pilgrims’ Office in Santiago. There are two alternatives to la Compostela:

Certificado de Bienvenida (Certificate of Welcome)

This certificate is issued to pilgrims who complete the Camino for cultural, touristic, health-related, or other personal reasons. It is written in Spanish and confirms that you have walked the route and met the requirements for distance and stamps, but without the religious dimension.

Certificado de Distancia (Certificate of Distance)

This document can be purchased by any pilgrim—regardless of motivation—and provides a detailed record of your Camino. It states how many kilometers you covered, your start and end points, and the dates of your journey. This certificate is especially popular among those who walk longer sections than the minimum required 100 kilometers. The fee is typically around €3.

What are the new rules in 2025?

In February 2025, the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela announced updated guidelines for issuing la Compostela. The changes aim to spread pilgrims more evenly across different routes and to strengthen documentation of the pilgrimage. The stretch from Sarria has become increasingly popular in recent years because it is both beautiful and the last starting point on the Camino Francés where you can qualify for la Compostela (100 km from Santiago). As a result, there was a need to make the certificate available to pilgrims who have completed 100 continuous kilometers elsewhere on the Camino.

Minimum distance

To obtain la Compostela, pilgrims must complete at least:

• 100 kilometers on foot or horseback

• 200 kilometers by bicycle

Previously, these kilometers had to be the final stretch before Santiago. That is no longer the case. You can now choose any continuous section of at least 100 kilometers on a recognized Camino route, as long as your pilgrimage ends in Santiago de Compostela.

For example, you could walk from San Sebastián to Bilbao (approx. 125 km) or from Logroño to Burgos (approx. 120 km) and then travel to Santiago to complete the final stage to the cathedral and the tomb of St. James. There is no requirement for where the final stage into Santiago must begin.

Your certificate can only be collected in person at the Pilgrims’ Office in Santiago, regardless of where you walked or cycled previously.

It is also possible to start your Camino outside Spain, provided it is on an internationally recognized route. If you begin outside Spain, you must walk at least 70 kilometers within Spain in addition to your route of at least 100 kilometers abroad.

 

Two stamps per day

One of the most significant changes is the documentation requirement. From 2025, pilgrims must collect at least two stamps per day in their pilgrim passport (la Credencial) for the kilometers that count toward la Compostela. These stamps should be collected as follows:

• One stamp early in the day, typically from your accommodation, a church, or a café

• One stamp later in the day from another town or official location, such as the place where you stay overnight

The next morning, you should also get a stamp from the same town or accommodation to show that you stayed overnight and are continuing your Camino.

This requirement applies only to the 100 kilometers (or 200 kilometers for cyclists) that qualify for la Compostela. There is no requirement to collect two stamps per day for other sections of your Camino.

The Camino must end in Santiago

Although you no longer need to complete the final 100 kilometers, your pilgrimage must still end in Santiago de Compostela. Your last stage must lead directly to the cathedral.

E-bikes are not eligible

It’s important to note that pilgrims using electric bicycles cannot receive la Compostela. Only traditional bicycles are accepted.

 

Can I complete the Camino in stages?

Yes, you can walk the Camino in stages, provided they are consecutive and follow geographical and chronological order. If you only walk the minimum distance (100 kilometers on foot or 200 kilometers by bicycle), you must have your pilgrim passport stamped at both the start and end of each stage. This proves that you resumed your Camino at the exact point where you previously stopped.

 

How do I get my la Compostela?

When you arrive in Santiago, go to the Pilgrims’ Reception Office (Oficina del Peregrino) to collect your la Compostela. The process is digitalized, and you register via a QR code. You’ll then receive a ticket with another QR code that shows your estimated waiting time in real-time.

Details about the process and registration links are included in the materials you receive before your trip from Spain is More. Your pilgrim passport is also always included in our Camino packages.

La Compostela is issued only to the person who completed the pilgrimage. It cannot be collected on behalf of someone else.

 

What about children?

Children who have received their First Communion or are mature enough to understand the spiritual meaning of the pilgrimage can also receive la Compostela. Younger children who are not yet mature enough will receive a special certificate, and infants’ names are added to their parent’s or guardian’s la Compostela.

See our suggestions for Camino trips with children

 

Why were the rules changed?

The previous rules caused a heavy concentration of pilgrims on the final 100 kilometers into Santiago, particularly on the route from Sarria. The new rules encourage pilgrims to explore less-traveled sections of the Camino, helping to reduce congestion and provide a more authentic experience.

 

What does this mean for you as a pilgrim?

This gives you more flexibility. You can choose a route that fits your interests and pace without being restricted to the last 100 kilometers. At the same time, it’s crucial to follow the stamp requirement carefully to ensure you don’t arrive in Santiago without the necessary documentation.

 

Let Spain is More help you with your Camino

At Spain is More, we help you plan your pilgrimage down to the smallest detail. We arrange accommodations, luggage transfers, pilgrim passports, and a detailed guide with recommendations on where to get your stamps. This way, you can focus on the experience while we handle the logistics.

Buen Camino!

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