12 September 2026 · 2 min read
Credential and Compostela: how the 100 km rule works
Where to get the credential, how many stamps you need and what happens if you start in Vigo.
The credential is the pilgrim passport: a small booklet stamped at albergues, churches, bars and town halls. You need it to sleep in public albergues and to request the Compostela, the certificate issued by the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago.
Where to get it
From Camino associations in your country, at the Pilgrim’s Office, and at many parishes and albergues at starting points (Saint-Jean, Sarria, Tui, Ferrol, Porto). It costs €2–3.
How many stamps
At least two a day in the last 100 km (on foot or horseback) or 200 km (by bike). Outside those sections one a day is enough. Stamps must be dated.
The 100 km
Counted to the cathedral. The usual valid starting points: Sarria (115 km), Tui (119 km), Ferrol (113 km), Baiona (Coastal), Lugo (Primitivo). Vigo does not qualify on the Coastal route: it is under 100 km.
At the Pilgrim’s Office
Fill in the online form before arriving and you get a QR code. The Compostela is free; the distance certificate costs €3. In summer there are queues: go first thing or late afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get the pilgrim credential?
From Camino associations, at the Pilgrim’s Office and at many parishes and albergues at the starting point; it costs €2–3.
How many stamps a day do I need?
Two a day in the last 100 km on foot (200 by bike); before that, one is enough.
Can I start in Vigo for the Compostela?
No: from Vigo it is under 100 km. Start in Baiona, Tui, Sarria or Ferrol.