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

100km Milestone

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.

This means you can collect your kilometers on a Camino route closer to home — even in Germany — and only walk the final portion in Santiago. However, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. First, walking the Camino is about the experience, not just earning the Compostela. Second, on smaller Camino routes, it can be tricky to find two stamps per day, as required.

Still, I welcome this new rule because it offers more flexibility. Pilgrims with limited time no longer have to start in specific locations like Tui or Vigo on the Camino Portugués, or Sarria on the Camino Francés, or stick to the short Camino Inglés.

Now, you can for example begin your pilgrimage in Porto, enjoy the coastal scenery, then take a train from the Spanish border to Padrón and walk the last stage from there. This opens up new possibilities, allowing pilgrims to choose the most beautiful parts of any route without sacrificing the chance to earn the Compostela.

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Are the new Camino rules official yet?

It’s not entirely clear. The first information about this came from a YouTube interview with Victor Suarez Gondar, a canon of the Santiago Cathedral.

Additionally, it was confirmed by supposed employees of the Pilgrim Office in online forums—though there’s no way to verify if they were actual staff. My inquiry to the Pilgrim Office has not yet been answered.

Nevertheless, I assume these new rules are accurate and are now in effect.

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.