### UPDATED JANUARY 2026 ###
There are new regulations regarding the requirements for obtaining a Compostela. You no longer need to walk the last 100 km to Santiago, but you still must arrive in Santiago.
100 km to Santiago
The previous rules required pilgrims walking the Camino to prove the last 100 km to Santiago by collecting stamps in their pilgrim passport in order to receive the Compostela at the Pilgrim’s Office.
This led to some sections being so overcrowded during peak times that it became impossible to find a bed, or pilgrims were herded through the forest in large groups rather than enjoying a peaceful walk.
For example, many Spaniards have their vacation in August, and since a Compostela enhances a résumé, thousands of young Spaniards hike from Sarria to Santiago on the Camino Francés. If you started your Camino 700 km earlier, this sudden influx of people can feel overwhelming.
The new rules were likely introduced to help spread out the flow of pilgrims and ease congestion.
The New Rules for the Camino de Santiago
From now on, you’ll still need to walk 100 kilometers to Santiago on foot, but they no longer have to be the last 100 kilometers directly before Santiago.
You can complete most of the required 100 kilometers on any section of a Camino route and prove it with stamps in your pilgrim passport. However, your final stage must still end in Santiago.
In addition to this, 70km of the Camino has be in Spain, which is a pretty unfair rule for the Camino Portugues.
Still, I welcome this new rule because it offers more flexibility. Pilgrims with limited time no longer have to start in specific locations like or Sarria on the Camino Francés, or stick to the short Camino Inglés.
But the Camino Portugues still has to start in Baiona/Vigo or Tui and you can´t start in Porto and skip later stages.
Are the new Camino rules official yet?
What do the new rules mean for planning your Camino de Santiago?
I greatly welcome the new rules, as they allow pilgrims with less time to walk the Camino de Santiago without being restricted to the last 100km.
This enables much more flexible planning without it being disadvantageous for anyone.
