The Pilgrim Credential: What It Is and Where to Get One

The pilgrim credential, also known as the pilgrim passport, is the fold-out document you have stamped along the Camino as proof of the route you have walked. You can get one from Friends of the Camino associations, parishes, many albergues at route starting points, or the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago; it usually costs 2-3 euros as a donation. You will need it to request the Compostela, and many public albergues will also ask to see it.

At a glance

• Get it before you leave or at the start of your route.
• Have it stamped at least once a day along the Camino.
• Collect two stamps a day over the final 100 km on foot or 200 km by bike.
• Present it when you arrive in Santiago if you want to receive the Compostela.

What is the pilgrim credential, and what is it for?

It is a fold-out, accordion-style document with spaces for stamps from each stage. Every stamp shows that you passed through a point along the route, so the credential also becomes a compact record of your journey.

Its main purpose is to verify your journey when you arrive in Santiago. If you present a credential with the required stamps, you can request the Compostela and learn about its requirements. Do not confuse the two documents: you carry and fill in the credential along the Camino, while the Compostela is the certificate you receive at the end.

It is more than a souvenir. The document is recognised by the Church and the Camino authorities, and you will need it to stay at many public albergues.

Where can you get a pilgrim credential?

You have several options: Friends of the Camino associations in your country, parishes along the route, many albergues at your starting point, and the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago. You can also order one online through the Spanish Federation of Friends of the Camino de Santiago Associations.

If you want everything ready before you set off, order it from an association ahead of your trip. If that is not possible, look for a parish or albergue at the start of your route. The albergue and services finder will help you locate options in the places you will pass through.

The Pilgrim's Office in Santiago also issues credentials, but you need to carry yours and collect stamps throughout your stages to verify your journey. The practical choice is therefore to get one before you start walking or as soon as you reach your starting point.

How much does the pilgrim credential cost?

The usual cost is 2-3 euros as a donation. It is readily available from the places listed above, so getting one does not add a complicated step to your trip preparations.

Keep it somewhere accessible in your backpack so you can take it out whenever you need a stamp, but protect it while walking. Its spaces need to last all the way to Santiago and display the stamps from your journey.

How should you get your credential stamped?

As a general rule, you should have it stamped at least once a day, preferably at the albergue where you spend the night. Stamps are available at albergues, churches, bars, tourist offices, and other businesses along the Camino that have their own.

The required frequency changes over the section that qualifies you for the Compostela: you need at least two stamps a day over the final 100 km if you are walking or over the final 200 km if you are cycling. Do not leave all your stamps until the end; make them part of your daily routine and check that you are filling the spaces in order.

An easy approach is to use stops you already plan to make. Ask for one stamp during the stage and another where you finish for the day. That way, you will not be relying on finding two places open late in the evening.

How should you plan the final 100 km on foot?

If you choose the final section from Sarria, plan from the outset to collect the required two stamps each day. Our guide to the final 100 km from Sarria will help you understand the route, and you can check the 22.20 km stage from Sarria to Portomarín to plan your first day.

This section is part of the French Way, which covers 772 km in 33 stages. Even if you start closer to Santiago, you use the credential in exactly the same way: collect stamps along the route and pay particular attention to the required frequency over the final distance.

Why do albergues ask for your credential?

Many public albergues require it before you can stay. As well as confirming that you are a pilgrim, the accommodation's stamp records where you finished that stage.

Have it ready when you arrive, together with anything else you need to check in. If you plan to use this type of accommodation, find out how the Galicia public albergue network works before you reach the final stages.

Frequently asked questions

Are the credential and the Compostela the same thing?

No. The credential is the document you carry and have stamped throughout your stages. The Compostela is the certificate you can request in Santiago when you present a credential bearing the required stamps.

How many stamps do I need each day?

You should collect at least one stamp a day along the route. To receive the Compostela, you need at least two stamps a day over the final 100 km on foot or the final 200 km by bike.

Where can I get a stamp?

You will find stamps at albergues, churches, bars, tourist offices, and other establishments along the Camino that have their own. The albergue where you stay overnight is a particularly convenient place to keep your credential up to date.

Can I get the credential online?

Yes. You can order one online through the Spanish Federation of Friends of the Camino de Santiago Associations. Credentials are also issued in person by associations, parishes, many albergues at route starting points, and the Pilgrim's Office.

Do I need a credential to stay in a public albergue?

It is a mandatory requirement at many public albergues. Keep it handy when you arrive and ask for the relevant stamp before putting it away again.

Prepare your credential before you set off

Get yours in advance or find an issuing point in the first town, and decide where you can collect a stamp each day. Then check the map of routes, stages, and albergues to plan your journey and reach Santiago with a complete credential.