Camino Pilgrim Passport: Where to Get It and Why You Need It

Your pilgrim credential holds the stamps from your Camino. Get an official version or one recognised by the Cathedral before setting off: it identifies you at many albergues and records your journey when you apply for the Compostela.

For the Compostela, collect two stamps daily over the qualifying minimum distance: 100 km on foot or horseback and 200 km by bicycle. An accommodation stamp does not replace the stamp at the start of the stage.

What is the pilgrim credential?

Also known as a pilgrim passport, it is a fold-out, accordion-style document. Its spaces are filled with stamps from the places you pass through as you travel on foot, by bicycle or on horseback.

These stamps provide a record of your journey. Their main purpose is to verify the stages you have completed, while the credential stays with you throughout your pilgrimage.

What is the credential used for?

The credential has two practical uses during your journey and another when you arrive. It is worth carrying from your first day, even if you are only completing part of the Camino.

• Accommodation: most public albergues ask to see it before admitting pilgrims. You can plan your overnight stays by checking the public albergue network in Galicia.
• Compostela: the stamps prove that you have covered the required distance for the certificate. For the full process, read what the Compostela is and how to get it.
• Services: some restaurants and pilgrim-oriented businesses offer discounts when you show it.

The credential and the Compostela are not the same thing. You carry and stamp the credential along the route; the Compostela is the certificate in Latin that you may receive in Santiago if you meet the requirements.

Where can you get a credential before you start?

Ask an association, parish or albergue authorised by the Cathedral to distribute credentials. Check the price or donation with that distributor; do not assume there is a single standard charge.

If you order by post, check delivery times and allow a margin before your trip. Not every distributor offers this service.

Getting yours in advance means you can begin the first stage with the document ready. This is particularly useful if your starting point has limited services.

Can you get one when you start the Camino?

You can collect it when you start, but first confirm which authorised distributor issues it, their opening hours and availability. Do not assume every tourist office or accommodation sells it.

Alternatively, visit the tourist office at your starting point or ask at a church or parish along the route. If you are starting in Sarria, check the stage from Sarria to Portomarín and plan where to sleep and collect stamps from day one.

If you have not chosen your itinerary yet, the French Way page lets you explore its stages and albergues before you leave. Choosing your starting point in advance also helps you find an office, parish or accommodation where you can pick up a credential.

Where and how do you get the credential stamped?

Collect stamps each day and check the date before putting your credential away. To document the minimum distance, obtain a stamp at the start and end of each stage, including when you restart where you finished the previous day.

• Albergues: they have stamps for pilgrims.
• Churches and parishes: another common option along the route.
• Bars and restaurants: many businesses on the Camino can stamp your credential.
• Tourist offices: their stamps confirm that you passed through the town or village.
• Monuments and museums: some also have stamps.

Use the albergue and services directory to find accommodation and other facilities along each stage. This lets you plan several options instead of relying on a single place for a stamp.

How many stamps do you need to receive the Compostela?

For the Compostela, collect two stamps daily over the qualifying minimum distance: 100 km on foot or horseback and 200 km by bicycle. An accommodation stamp does not replace the stamp at the start of the stage.

On foot or horseback, you need 100 continuous km towards Santiago along one recognised route, including the final stage before the Cathedral. If you start outside Spain, at least 70 continuous km must be in Spain. Cycling requires 200 km under the same route conditions.

Where do you present your credential in Santiago?

Present your credential in person at the Pilgrim’s Office, Rúa Carretas, 33. The Compostela also requires a religious or spiritual motivation; covering the distance alone does not guarantee it.

Check opening hours and the registration process before going; queues are possible and same-day collection is not guaranteed. Plan your visit afterwards with our guide to what to do in Santiago.

A simple routine to keep your journey clear

Before the first stage, check that your details are complete and your credential is recognised. Note your starting point and allow a few minutes for the first stamp: asking after you have walked may leave the start undocumented. On the Portuguese Way from Tui or Valença, distinguish where you collect the credential from where you actually begin walking.

Keep it in a rainproof sleeve with a pen, in an accessible pocket. Avoid folding it while wet or putting it beside a leaking bottle. Whenever someone hands it back, check that the stamp and date are readable and match that day; fixing an omission there is usually easier than noticing it several stages later.

Short stages, rest days and changes of plan

A day does not need to be long to be properly documented. If you plan short stages, keep the same start-and-finish routine. On a break, preserve the order of dates; when you resume, get another stamp where you stopped. Do not fill in missing stamps yourself or try to claim afterwards for kilometres covered by transport.

A motorboat excursion does not guarantee compliance with Compostela requirements. Before adding the Traslatio from Vilanova to Padrón, ask the Pilgrim’s Office how your full itinerary fits the rules; sailing pilgrimages have their own conditions.

If it gets wet, goes missing or fills up

Take readable photos of your details and stamped pages, and keep a copy available offline. This helps you recall your route or explain a problem, but is not a guaranteed replacement for the original. If you lose it or run out of spaces, ask an authorised distributor and check how to document the continuation without discarding earlier stamps. Protect both parts and bring the original to Santiago.

Frequently asked questions

Can you start the Camino without a credential?

You can collect it when you start, but first confirm which authorised distributor issues it, their opening hours and availability. Do not assume every tourist office or accommodation sells it.

How much does a pilgrim credential cost?

Ask an association, parish or albergue authorised by the Cathedral to distribute credentials. Check the price or donation with that distributor; do not assume there is a single standard charge.

Do you have to get a stamp every day?

Collect stamps each day and check the date before putting your credential away. To document the minimum distance, obtain a stamp at the start and end of each stage, including when you restart where you finished the previous day. For the Compostela, collect two stamps daily over the qualifying minimum distance: 100 km on foot or horseback and 200 km by bicycle. An accommodation stamp does not replace the stamp at the start of the stage.

Do stamps from bars and restaurants count?

Yes. You can get your credential stamped at bars and restaurants along the Camino, as well as at albergues, churches, parishes, tourist offices and some monuments and museums.

Does the credential guarantee that you will receive the Compostela?

No. It must demonstrate the distance, continuity along one recognised route and dated stamps. Religious or spiritual motivation is also required. For an unusual itinerary, consult the Pilgrim’s Office beforehand.

Before you leave, get your credential or find out where to pick one up during your first stage. Then plan each day with somewhere to sleep and more than one place to collect a stamp, especially along the final section.

Cover photo: subherwal · CC BY 2.0 · WebP.