When embarking on the Camino de Santiago, one of the most symbolic and practical elements for pilgrims is the Pilgrim Credential. This document identifies the pilgrim, and besides the symbolic value and meaning each one gives it, it also has its practical utility.
What is the Credential? What is it for? How much does it cost? In this article, we will answer these and other questions about the Pilgrim Credential.
What is the Credential and what is it for?
The Pilgrim Credential is a small foldable cardboard document used to stamp seals along any of the Jacobean routes. And you might wonder… stamping the credential? What for?
The Credential functions as a passport for the pilgrim, and it serves to prove that the bearer is a traveler to Santiago. Additionally, it is necessary to obtain the Compostela and to use public hostels. In some cases, it is even useful for obtaining discounts at museums and other establishments.
What does the Credential look like?
It is a cardboard folded in an accordion-like manner with different faces. After the cover, there is a first face where the pilgrim will write their personal information, the starting point of the Camino, and the means of pilgrimage. Additionally, there is a space for the last seal which is affixed when obtaining the Compostela at the Pilgrim Office in Santiago.
A very important piece of advice: even though there is no designated space for it, put your mobile phone number on it! If you lose it and someone finds it, they can contact you. And if you include your country code, even better, in case the finder is a foreign pilgrim.
The following faces show the different spaces to stamp and put the date of the seal at each stage. The remaining faces show maps of the Routes and information about the Credential, and it is also possible to stamp on them.
For the Credential to be valid, it must be stamped at least twice a day
Where can I get the Credential and how much does it cost?
The Church issues the Credential through institutions such as Bishoprics, Parishes, Brotherhoods, etc… and others authorized by it. It can be obtained at the Pilgrim Office in Santiago and at churches, associations of Friends of the Way, hostels, tourist offices, and shops. It is very common to find it at some starting points of the Camino such as Roncesvalles, Sarria, Tui, Oporto, or Ferrol, among many others.
Today there is an official model of the Credential distributed by the Pilgrimage Office of the Diocese of Santiago. This is the most well-known Credential for all pilgrims and it costs 2€, although in the past it was lower, and even free.
We remind you that if you have already booked your organized Camino de Santiago with us, you won’t have to worry about getting it. We will send it directly to your home when you make your reservation, or you can pick it up at your first accommodation.
How many stamps do I need to obtain the Compostela upon arriving in Santiago de Compostela?
To obtain the Compostela, the official certificate that attests to having completed the Camino de Santiago, it is necessary to stamp the Pilgrim Credential during the journey. The regulations require obtaining at least two stamps per day: with a starting stamp and another one at the end of the stage is sufficient.
In addition to stamping correctly, one must walk the Camino with religious and spiritual motivations (if this is not your case, you will be given another model of Compostela). And, very importantly, you must also consider the means used:
- if done on foot or on horseback, you must travel the last 100 kilometers of any route, with arrival in Santiago;
- if done by bicycle, you must travel the last 200 kilometers of any route, with arrival in Santiago.
Where can I stamp the Credential?
It can be stamped at hostels, churches, town halls, and other places along the Way such as bars, restaurants, shops, and accommodations. The idea is to demonstrate your passage and commitment to the route.
Each stamp in the Credential must be accompanied by its corresponding date
What happens if I lose my credential?
Losing the Pilgrim Credential is a setback because, in addition to losing this precious document, you cannot prove your passage along the Way. It is very important to fill in the personal data including the telephone number: in this way, in case of loss, whoever finds it can contact you.
If you lose it before the 100 or 200 kilometers of the route (depending on whether you walk or bike), you can get another one and continue stamping. This way, you will have lost the previous stamps, but with the new Credential you can justify that you have covered the minimum distance required and obtain the Compostela.
If, on the other hand, you lose it in these last stretches, you could get a new credential and try to collect the previous stamps somehow.
You’re not the first pilgrim to lose it. We recommend always keeping it handy, in a fanny pack or pocket for easy access, but taking good care of it. It is very common to make a stop at a bar to rest and stamp, and then forget it on the table. Furthermore, it doesn’t hurt to carry two credentials and stamp them, keeping the spare one always in the backpack.
Can I continue using the same Credential if I do the Camino in different years or stages?
Yes, it is possible to use the same Pilgrim Credential if you decide to complete the Camino de Santiago in different years or stages. This allows pilgrims to keep a single document reflecting all their experience and the different moments when they undertook the journey.
If you do the Camino in stages, or even pilgrimage every weekend on the Camino de Santiago in separate stages, you can use the same Credential. The important thing is that the stamps have chronological and spatial sense, that is, there is an order in the route.
Even the same Credential can be valid for several Caminos. Of course, you have to manage the space well to be able to stamp twice a day. And if you can’t fit them all, you can continue on a second Credential.
Other Camino Credentials
In addition to the mentioned Credential, there are other different models authorized by the Church, issued by other institutions. Some Caminos have their own credentials and certificates, such as the Camino de Finisterre and Muxía. Furthermore, in countries like Portugal and Italy, their own credential is issued, valid for any Jacobean route. Did you know that even “perregrinos” have their own?
An example of a dog Credential
The best memory of your Camino
The Pilgrim Credential is one of the most important Jacobean elements and symbols, along with the scallop shell and the yellow arrows. It is a travel companion that collects experiences, encounters, and reflections along the Camino de Santiago.
With it, not only is access to services facilitated and the pilgrimage accredited, but also a tangible memory of your Camino is preserved. Many pilgrims, upon returning home, frame it next to their Compostela, thus becoming a very nice memory in the living room. It is, in short, the most valuable souvenir you can take from this unique experience that is the Camino de Santiago.
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