The Compostela is issued to all pilgrims who walk a Jacobean route sequentially, stage by stage, for religious reasons and for a minimum of 100 km if walking or 200 km if cycling. It is also possible to walk the route discontinuously in time, this means that pilgrims can walk part of the route and then resume it at a later date. However, it is not permitted to skip a section of the route.
The Compostela is issued by the Pilgrim's Office, located near the Cathedral in Santiago. As proof of one's pilgrimage, the stamps placed on the credential, where the date and place of passage are recorded, are authentic. Those who have made the Pilgrim's Way for other reasons (recreational, sporting, etc.) can request another certificate, known as the Pilgrim's Certificate, on arrival in Santiago.
The stamps are issued by bars, hotels, guesthouses, shops, churches and historical places, which are encountered along the way. A minimum of one stamp per day is required, two on the Galician section of the Camino (the last 100 km on foot, 200 if cycling).
It is also possible to obtain the Compostela if you walk the route starting from Finisterre, passing through Muxia (or vice versa) and arriving in Santiago. It is compulsory to walk the coastal stretch that joins them via Lires (the stamp is proof of this) and then go to Santiago in order to cover the necessary 100 km.
In order to obtain the Compostela, pilgrims walking the route must at least start from the following places:
