When a pilgrim finishes the Camino de Santiago, one of the most meaningful rewards is the Compostela certificate. This official document, issued by the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, recognizes that the pilgrim has completed the Camino following the required rules.
In this guide you’ll learn:
What the Compostela is and why it matters
The requirements to obtain it
How many kilometers you need to walk or cycle
How to prove your pilgrimage with the Pilgrim Passport (Credencial del Peregrino)
Other Camino certificates such as the Fisterrana and the Muxiana
The origin of the Compostela certificate
The beginning of the Camino de Santiago as we know it, started in the 9th and 10th centuries.
At this time it was necessary to demonstrate that people were walking following their faith. With this, the pilgrims could obtain badges with the symbol of the scallop shell once they arrived to the city where the St James Apostle is.
Nevertheless, a lot of people started to create a business on this. Therefore, they decided to start selling this symbol at the entrance of Santiago, even if the Pope had forbidden this practice.
In the first years of the 13th century, the pilgrims started to receive the cartas probatorias (evidentiary letters), more difficult to counterfeit. This letter is the origin of the Compostela certificate. Nowadays, this official document can be obtained at the Oficina de Acogida del Peregrino (Pilgrim’s reception office) in Santiago.
Subscribe to our newsletter and receive our FREE Practical Guide to the Camino de Santiago. In this guide you will find all the information you need to start planning your Camino.
FAQ's
Yes, the Compostela is free. Only the Certificate of Distance has a small fee.
At the Pilgrim’s Reception Office, near the Cathedral of Santiago.
Officially, the Compostela is only given for spiritual or religious reasons. However, if your motivation is cultural or touristic, you may receive the Certificate of Distance instead.
Yes, especially for groups. Individual pilgrims must still present their pilgrim passport in person.
Yes, children can also receive the Compostela certificate, but there are some requirements:
Children must have received First Communion and meet the same requirements as adults (distance, stamps, and pilgrimage for religious reasons).
Children who understand the spiritual or religious nature of the Camino but haven’t had Communion can also obtain the Compostela.
If the child doesn’t meet these criteria, they receive a special certificate with their name.
Babies or very young children who cannot receive their own Compostela can have their names included in the adult’s Compostela they travel with.
To obtain the Compostela:
Walk or horseback: minimum 100 km
Cycle: minimum 200 km
Some popular starting points:
Sarria (French Way) → 115 km
Tui (Portuguese Way) → 115 km
Ferrol (English Way) → 120 km
Ourense (Via de la Plata) → 110 km
The main proof is the Pilgrim Passport (Credencial del Peregrino), also called Camino passport or camino paspoort.
Each pilgrim collects stamps (sellos) along the way in churches, albergues, cafés, and tourist offices.
You must get two stamps per day during the last 100 km (on foot or horseback) or 200 km (by bike).
Stamps must follow a chronological and geographical order.
Why is the Compostela so important?
The Hostal dos Reis Católicos, placed in the Praza do Obradoiro, was founded in the 16th century as the Foundation of the Royal Hospital by the Spanish king and queen.
By this time, the pilgrims that arrived to Santiago and presented the Compostela could be hosted there, for free, during three days. This condition allowed the Royal Hospital to become the most important of Galicia, as there were a lot of pilgrims. In 1954, this building was converted in a luxury hotel.
Currently, those pilgrims who arrive to the Hostel with the Compostela or a copy can have a meal for free.
Year by year, the tourism became more popular. The Church started to be afraid that the real motivation of the pilgrims to do the Camino de Santiago was not the faith. So, it decided to establish some rules for pilgrims in order to get the Compostela accreditation.
Requirements to get the Compostela certificate
Complete the Camino de Santiago for faith or spiritual reasons.
Walk the last 100 km on foot or horseback, or cycle 200 km by bike to reach Santiago de Compostela. (Except for people with disabilities, no other means are allowed if you want the Compostela certificate.)
Carry your Pilgrim Passport (Credencial del Peregrino) and collect Camino stamps along the route.
Stamp your Pilgrim Passport at least twice a day during the last 100 km (on foot or horseback) or 200 km (by bike).
If you complete the Camino in stages, stamps must follow a chronological and geographical order: place a stamp at the end of each stage and another at the start of the next, even if there is a time gap.
Ensure all stamps are official stamps from albergues, churches, tourist offices, or bars to validate your Camino de Santiago certificate.
Request your Compostela Certificate in advance if you are traveling as a group
If you are traveling in a group of 5 or more people, we recommend that you request your Compostela in advance. This way you can avoid waiting time and possible queues at the pilgrim’s office when you go to pick up your credential. You will be able to enjoy Santiago from the first minute you set foot on its streets.
How to apply in advance for the pilgrim’s Compostela for groups?
Requesting the Compostela before arriving in Santiago is very simple:
- Gather the data of each of the members of the group (Name, Surname, Sex, Age, Profession, Reason for the pilgrimage, Nationality, Start date, Means of transport, Route of the Camino, Start of the Camino).
- One or two days before arriving in Santiago de Compostela fill out this form on the Pilgrim’s Office website.
- Send the form
- Pick up your Compostela: Ready! When you arrive in Santiago you can pick up your Compostela at the Pilgrim’s Office.
Where should I start the Camino in order to receive the Compostela?
Each pilgrim chooses his or her own route and, in fact, there are a big number of places where it is possible to start this adventure.
Nevertheless, the most popular starting point to get the Compostela is Sarria. This route of the French Way is a bit longer than 100 km and the walkers usually do in five days. In case they choose to go by bike, they should start from Ponferrada so they would complete 200 kms.
Tui, where it is possible to visit a beautiful cathedral, is one of the stops of the Portuguese Way. The 115 km between Santiago and Tui make this, an attractive starting point and get the Compostela certificate. However, Póvoa do Varzim, in the north of Portugal, will be the beginning of the adventure for those who prefer riding the bike.
A lot of European pilgrims came to Galicia by boat following the English Way. Nowadays, it is possible to start walking from Ferrol and continue through historical places like Betanzos until Santiago, where to get the Compostela accreditation.
The Sanabrés Way or Via de la Plata goes though the inland of Galicia. In fact, Ourense is the starting point to those pilgrims who want to obtain the certificate after one week walking, while A Gudiña is where the bikers should initiate riding their bikes.
The Primitive Way , that starts in Lugo has a bit more than 100 km and can be done in five days, three of those go together with the French Way. Also in the province of Lugo, there is another camino (Northern Way) that allows pilgrims to get the Compostela accreditation, from Vilalba.
Other certificates
What is the Certificate of Distance?
This document, together with the Compostela certificate, is the only one given by the Cathedral and it proves the number of kilometres done without having into consideration the starting point. The Certificate of Distance contains the day and the place where the pilgrimage started, the kilometres, the route and the arrival day. For those pilgrims that did it, it is possible to ask the document via email.
The Fisterrana and the Muxiana
Ultreia! The greeting among pilgrims that encourages them to continue the way it is also good for those who don’t want to finish their path next to the tomb of Santiago Apostle. For that reason, many pilgrims continue walking or riding the bike to reach what the romans called “end of the world”: Fisterra. Once the 89 km of distance between Santiago and Fisterra are done, the pilgrims can receive the Fisterrana, a similar document to the Compostela certificate.
In addition, the pilgrims have another option in A Costa da Morte: Muxía. It is possible to go there directly from Santiago completing the 87 kilometres of distance or combine it with the way to Fisterra and do 118 km. The reward? Enjoy the landscape of this area and get the Muxiana, an accreditation that is possible to obtain at the Tourism Office (Oficina de Turismo) in Muxía.
The Pedronía and the Traslatio Xacobea
Another certificate similar to the Compostela is the Pedronía. This document can be obtained in Padrón, where the legend says that the Apostle Santiago’s body arrived. To get this accreditation, it is needed to complete the 18 kilometres from Santiago or any other point of Arousa estuary following the maritime-fluvial route to Padrón.
The Traslatio received its name from the route the body of Apóstol Santiago did until reaching the Galician coast. The Government of Padrón and the Fundación Xacobea give the certificate Traslatio Xacobea to those people that follow the maritime-fluvial way from the port of San Vicente do Mar or from Ribeira to Padrón.
If you are interested in one of these routes, please do not hesitate to contact us. At Galiwonders, we are happy to help you living the best experience along the Camino de Santiago!
Obtaining the Testimonium on the Via Francigena
To obtain the Testimonium (the equivalent of the Compostela on the Via Francigena in Italy), it is necessary to present the “Credenziale” with its stamps. Once in Rome, you must go to one of these offices:
The “Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi” office in St. Peter’s Square. Open Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
(testimonium via francigena galiwonders)The Sacristy of St. Peter’s Basilica (you can request direct entry from the Swiss Guards on the left side of the church courtyard, thus avoiding the line to enter the Basilica). Entrance through Petriano Gate at Piazza S. Uffizio. Open daily from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm (except Wednesdays and Sundays). Tel. +39 06 6988373
(where to get the testimonium galiwonders)Ad Limina Petri, at the San Lorenzo Center, Via Pfeiffer 24, at the pilgrims’ service reception. Open Monday to Friday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm during summer. Tel. +39 06 69885332.
(via francigena certificate galiwonders)
Please note: although we try to keep this information updated, since this service is provided by an entity external to our agency, schedules, addresses, and procedures may change. We recommend checking the official website of each office for the latest information.
La Compostela in memoriam
It is possible to obtain a Compostela “in memoriam” to honor a loved one who has passed away. This special certificate is issued when a pilgrim completes the Camino on behalf of someone who can no longer do it themselves. When requesting it at the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago de Compostela, a Latin dedication is included, indicating that the pilgrimage was carried out “for” that person.
In addition, the Pilgrim’s Office also offers a document called “In memoriam”, created for those pilgrims who died during the Camino or before being able to collect their Compostela. This certificate can be requested by family members as a meaningful remembrance.
Therefore, if you wish to pay tribute to a loved one, you have two options:
Request a Compostela “in memoriam”, completing the Camino in their name.
Request the “In memoriam” document, if the person passed away during the pilgrimage or before receiving their Compostela.
The Camino de Santiago is much more than kilometers: it is history, culture, and emotion. Receiving the Compostela, the Fisterrana, or the Muxiana reflects not only your effort and experiences but can also become a gesture of memory for those who are no longer with us.
Enjoy Galicia, its landscapes, and its traditions, and take home a memory that will always accompany your journey.
¡Buen Camino!
4 Responses
I’m just trying to get the book that needs stamped BEFORE we arrive in Ferrol.
Live in Colorado, USA, so not sure if there is time to have this sent before we fly
to Madrid on Oct. 10, 2024
Thank you for your time.
Irene Heikes
La Veta, CO USA
We’ll contact you as soon as possible to give you more info! 🙂
Can I walk from Valenca to Pontevedra in October 2026, then return in June 2027 to complete the pilgrimage to Santiago and qualify for the Compostela?
Yes! You can split your Camino into two trips, even in different years. To qualify for the Compostela, you must walk at least 100 km to Santiago on a recognised route. Keep your pilgrim credential and collect stamps along the way. We recommend confirming your itinerary with the Pilgrim Office to ensure you meet all the requirements.