The compostela: what it is and how to earn it

Simply completing the Camino de Santiago is no guarantee that you will earn the compostela, a free certificate proving that you have completed the pilgrimage route and met all the requirements along the way. The certificate is issued by the Pilgrim’s Office of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, located in the historic heart of the city, just a few metres from the iconic Praza do Obradoiro square. To earn it, you will need to meet certain common requirements for any type of pilgrimage and then a more specific set of requirements for the chosen modality: on foot, by bicycle, in wheelchair, on horseback, or sailing. Without further ado, here’s what you need to do to earn the compostela.

Common requirements: credencial and stamps

There are a number of common requirements for anyone looking to complete the pilgrimage. First things first, you need to be issued the pilgrim’s credencial; a passport of sorts that you get stamped along the route. According to the rulebook, «You can request it in person at the Pilgrim’s Reception Office or from any of the other institutions authorised by the Cathedral of Santiago to distribute it.» The list of partnered establishments can be viewed on the institution’s website and includes parishes and associations of friends of the Way of St. James, hostels and even bookshops, both inside and outside Spain. Even if you are not interested in earning the compostela, you will need certainly the credencial if you are looking to stay in any public hostels in Galicia.

The passport must show the pilgrim’s personal details and the stamp, along with date of issue. Once you have it, all that’s left is to make sure you get it stamped throughout each stage: «at least two stamps per day showing the right date.» Notably, the passport does not expire, so those who prefer to do the pilgrimage by sections will have no problems, «as long as they are ordered chronologically and geographically.»

Another requirement for earning the compostela is that the pilgrimage must be done «with a Christian spirit, even if the pilgrim is only looking to explore their beliefs». In other words, when asked to provide the reason for the pilgrimage, you will need to indicate «religious or spiritual». Note that those who give a non-religious reason are given a different kind of document accrediting their completion of the pilgrimage.

You should also know that the compostela is only given to those pilgrims who have completed one of the official routes approved by the cathedral: Vía de la Plata, Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo, Camino Francés, Camino de Invierno, Camino Inglés, or Camino Portugués, including its variant along the coast. The Camino de Fisterra y Muxía does not feature on the list as it does not end at the tomb of Saint James. In any case, if you choose to do one of the unofficial routes, you can still earn the compostela by finishing the last stretch along one of the official routes. The minimum distance required for the accreditation depends on how you are travelling.

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