Pilgrim credential for the Camino de Santiago: what it is and how to get it stamped

The pilgrim credential of the Camino de Santiago is your passport on the pilgrimage. It is what identifies you as a pilgrim, opens the doors of the albergues for you, and, in the end, gives you the right to the Compostela. So when you plan your journey, whether on the Central Route or on the coastal Portuguese Camino de Santiago, there is one document you cannot leave at home. In this guide we explain what it is, what it is for, where to get it and how to get it stamped properly.

It may look like a small detail, but the pilgrim credential is what turns a simple walk into an official pilgrimage. It is also a document that weighs almost nothing and costs very little, yet makes all the difference in the end. Here you will find out how many stamps you need, where to get them and which mistakes to avoid, so there are no surprises when you arrive in Santiago.

What the pilgrim credential is

The pilgrim credential is a small foldable cardboard document in which you collect stamps along the way. In practice it works like a passport: it proves that you covered the route on foot or by bike, and shows where you passed through. Every stage leaves its mark, and in the end you hold a one-of-a-kind keepsake of your journey. It also has room for dozens of stamps, one for each place where you stop. So it is both a practical document and a small personal work of art that takes shape day by day. That is why many pilgrims keep it forever as the most precious memento of the Camino. In practical terms it weighs almost nothing, yet its value is enormous, because it gives every kilometre you walk its official meaning.

Where the pilgrim credential comes from

The pilgrim credential is no modern invention. Quite the opposite: it is the descendant of the letters of recommendation that medieval pilgrims carried so they could be recognised and welcomed along the way. Back then, these documents guaranteed a bed in hospitals and monasteries and proved that the bearer was a genuine pilgrim and not an ordinary traveller. Over the centuries the tradition lived on and gave rise to the pilgrim credential we know today. So when you have it stamped at every stage, you are not just collecting a stamp: you are stepping into a tradition more than a thousand years old and repeating a gesture that millions of pilgrims made before you. Many people describe this daily ritual as one of the most special moments of the Camino, a pause to say thank you and to feel that you have come a little closer to Santiago.

What the pilgrim credential is for

The pilgrim credential has two main functions. First, it gives you access to the public pilgrim hostels, which only take in those who show it stamped. Private hostels usually don't require it, but they still welcome it. Second, it is essential for receiving the Compostela, the official certificate that the Cathedral of Santiago gives to everyone who completes the Camino. Without a stamped pilgrim credential, there is no Compostela. In addition, many cafés, restaurants and guesthouses offer the so-called “pilgrim menu” or small discounts to those who show it. In short, it is your key to a bed, your proof for the certificate and your travel keepsake, all in a single card. Don't confuse it with a ticket or a reservation, though: the pilgrim credential does not guarantee a bed, it only gives you the right to look for one in the network of public hostels. In high season, it is therefore worth arriving early at each stage.

Where to get your pilgrim credential

There are several ways to get your pilgrim credential, and fortunately they are all easy. As a rule, you can get it in these places:

• Online, before you set off. This is the most convenient option, because you start on the first day with everything sorted and no rush.

• At Jacobean associations and brotherhoods. They exist in several Portuguese cities and are a go-to meeting point for pilgrims.

• At parishes, churches and some hostels. Along the route, many welcome points also provide it.

• At the usual starting points. At Porto Cathedral or in other starting cities, you will easily find a place to pick one up.

Whichever way you choose, what matters is that you have the pilgrim credential with you before you collect your first stamp. Our advice is therefore simple: take care of it in good time and don't rely on luck on departure day. Ordering it online before you leave home is, by the way, the most relaxed way to begin, because you start out with the document already in your hand and one worry less.

How to get your pilgrim credential stamped along the way

Getting your pilgrim credential stamped is part of the pilgrim's daily ritual, and it is easier than it seems. Basically, during the day you ask for the stamp, known as the “Sello”, at the places you pass through, and you almost never have to pay for it. That way, every stop leaves its mark in your pilgrim credential, and in the end you hold complete proof of the whole route.

• Where to get stamps. At hostels, churches, cafés, restaurants, tourist offices and town halls.

• How many stamps. As a general rule, at least one per day. On the last 100 kilometres on foot, however, you need two stamps per day.

• Why two. This is the Cathedral's rule for proving that you really walked the last stretch on foot, a mandatory requirement for the Compostela.

• Practical tip. Keep your pilgrim credential within easy reach and in a waterproof bag, so it doesn't get wet or crumpled.

There is one more charming quirk that gets more appealing all the time: the mobile stamps. Along the Camino you will meet artists, travelling vendors and musicians who set up along the route and have their own unique stamp to mark your visit. That way, they too walk their own Camino and leave their mark on it. Some of these stamps are true works of art, often made by hand right in front of you, almost like small live craft workshops. It is therefore worth stopping, striking up a conversation and letting your pilgrim credential collect these extraordinary marks too.

This way you arrive in Santiago with a complete pilgrim credential and with no stress at all when it comes to requesting the Compostela.

How to request your Compostela in Santiago

When you arrive in Santiago, the last step is to take your stamped pilgrim credential to the Oficina de Acolhimento ao Peregrino (Pilgrim Reception Office). There, a volunteer checks your stamps and whether you meet the requirements, above all the last 100 kilometres on foot with two stamps per day. If everything is in order, you then receive the Compostela, the certificate in Latin with your name on it. It is a moving moment that crowns the journey. You can also request a certificate of distance, which states where you started and how many kilometres you walked. So look after your pilgrim credential until the very end, because it opens the door to this final step. In short: without a pilgrim credential, there is no Compostela, and that is exactly why it deserves your care along the whole Camino.

The pilgrim credential and the scallop shell

Two objects accompany the pilgrim from the very first day, and on their own they sum up the spirit of the Camino. They are inseparable: the pilgrim credential records the route, and the shell announces it to the world. It is therefore worth securing them before you set off and starting your journey with everything sorted:

Pilgrim credential

The official pilgrim credential, ready to be stamped at every stage, from hostels to churches and cafés. It is mandatory for anyone who wants to receive the Compostela in Santiago, and it is accepted along the entire Portuguese Camino de Santiago. In the end it also keeps the memory of the whole route, stamp by stamp, and becomes one of the loveliest keepsakes of your journey. It is the cheapest item in your backpack and yet one of the most important.

→ Go to the pilgrim credential

Scallop shell

The traditional scallop shell, with a cord, ready to hang on your backpack. It is the universal symbol of pilgrims and a sign, for you and for others, that you are travelling with a purpose. It is identity and keepsake in a single piece, accompanying you from Porto all the way to the Praza do Obradoiro. The shell also helps other pilgrims and locals recognise you, and creates that sense of connection so typical of the Camino.

→ Go to the scallop shell

Protective cover for the credential

Over several days, the pilgrim credential is exposed to rain, sweat and a lot of handling. A protective cover keeps it dry, clean and uncreased, from the first stamp to the last. It also keeps the credential always within reach for stamping, without exposing it to the elements. It is the simplest way to arrive in Santiago with a pristine pilgrim credential, ready to request the Compostela.

→ Go to the protective cover for the credential

Tip: Start getting your pilgrim credential stamped right at the starting point. That way you get the first “Sello” of your pilgrimage and build the habit from day one, when your excitement is at its highest.

Common mistakes with the pilgrim credential

Some slips with the pilgrim credential can be costly on arrival, especially after so many kilometres. So watch out for these common mistakes and avoid them from the start:

• Forgetting the two daily stamps on the last 100 km. Without them, you risk ending up with no Compostela even though you walked the route.

• Letting the pilgrim credential get wet or lost. Always carry it protected, and never in the outer pocket of your backpack.

• Putting off the pilgrim credential until departure day. Take care of it in good time, so you don't begin the Camino already stressed.

• Confusing the pilgrim credential with the Compostela. The pilgrim credential is the document you get stamped; the Compostela is the final certificate you receive in Santiago.

• Not getting stamps on rest days. Even when resting, a stamp at your accommodation keeps the record of your route unbroken and avoids doubts at the Pilgrim Office.

Frequently asked questions about the pilgrim credential

How much does the pilgrim credential cost?

It is very affordable, usually just a few euros. It is one of the cheapest and, at the same time, most important items on the Camino. So secure yours in good time and without worries.

Do I need a pilgrim credential to sleep in the hostels?

In the public pilgrim hostels, yes: they only take in those who show a stamped pilgrim credential. Private hostels usually make no distinction between those who have a credential and those who don't. Even so, it is always worth having one, because it opens the doors of the Camino's entire public network for you.

How many kilometres do I have to walk to get the Compostela?

At least the last 100 kilometres on foot, or 200 by bike. On this final stretch you also have to get your pilgrim credential stamped twice a day, to prove that you really walked it. That is why those with only a few days often start in Tui or Vigo, which already lie within this minimum distance.

Can I start the Camino at any point?

Yes. For the Compostela, however, only the distance covered on foot up to Santiago counts. That is why many pilgrims start at least 100 kilometres away, for example in Tui or Vigo.

Is the pilgrim credential a good keepsake?

Yes, and one of the loveliest. In the end you hold a document full of different stamps, each marking a place you passed through. It is history and memory on paper, which you will keep for a lifetime. Many pilgrims even frame their pilgrim credential or keep it alongside their travel photos.

If you are planning your trip, be sure to also take a look at the tips and guides on the Portuguese Camino de Santiago, with useful information on stages, the pilgrim credential and the Compostela.