Pilgrim Passport (Credencial)
The Credencial del Peregrino is the official pilgrim passport of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. It opens the doors of pilgrim hostels (albergues), collects the stamps of your journey and is the document you need to receive your Compostela in Santiago. Order yours before you set off: we ship it across Europe.
Order your pilgrim passport – €5.99
What is the pilgrim passport?
The credencial is a small folded booklet. On the first page you enter your personal details and where you start. The other pages collect the stamps (sellos) you get along the way – in albergues, churches, cafés and town halls. At the end it is the proof that you walked, rode or cycled the Camino, and a very personal souvenir.
It is valid on all routes to Santiago: the Camino Francés, Camino Portugués, Camino del Norte, Primitivo, Vía de la Plata and every other route, wherever in Europe you start.
Why you need it
- Albergues: most pilgrim hostels, and all public ones, only take in pilgrims who show a credencial.
- The Compostela: the Pilgrim Office in Santiago issues the Compostela only to pilgrims who show a stamped credencial.
- A memory for life: every stamp tells a story of the day and the place where you received it.
Our pilgrim passport
- The original, official Credencial del Peregrino of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
- Price €5.99 per passport – one passport per pilgrim
- Dispatched every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Konstanz, Germany
- Shipping: Germany €4.95 (free from €30) · EU €7 · rest of Europe €9
- Delivery after dispatch: Germany usually 1–2 days, EU 3–7 working days, rest of Europe 5–10 working days
Tip: order at least two to three weeks before your departure, so the passport arrives in time.
How to fill in your pilgrim passport
- Personal details: write your full name, your ID card or passport number and your home address on the first page. Use a ballpoint pen, not a gel pen or felt pen, so nothing smudges in the rain.
- Starting point and date: enter the place where you begin your pilgrimage and the date.
- Way of travelling: mark whether you travel on foot, by bicycle or on horseback.
- First stamp: collect your first stamp at your starting point, for example in the church, the tourist office or your first albergue.
- Every day: collect at least one stamp a day and write the date next to it. Leave empty fields free for the next stamps and do not skip pages.
- Last 100 km: from the last 100 km on foot or on horseback (the last 200 km by bicycle) you need at least two stamps a day. The last 100 km usually start in Sarria on the Camino Francés and in Tui on the Portuguese Way.
- Passport full? Simply start a second credencial and carry both with you. Keep all of them, the Pilgrim Office wants to see the whole journey.
Where do I get stamps?
Almost everywhere on the Camino: in albergues, hotels and guesthouses, in churches and parish offices, in cafés and bars, in town halls and tourist offices. Just ask for a “sello”. Many places have their own stamp, and some are little works of art.
In Santiago: your Compostela
Take your stamped credencial and your ID card or passport to the Pilgrim Office (Oficina del Peregrino) near the cathedral. If you walked or rode at least the last 100 km, or cycled at least the last 200 km, you receive the Compostela, the certificate of your pilgrimage. It is free of charge. Pilgrims with non-religious reasons receive a certificate of welcome instead.
Protect your passport
Rain, sweat and a full backpack are hard on paper. A protective sleeve keeps your credencial dry and flat for the whole way. Do not laminate the passport, otherwise you can no longer collect stamps.
See our passports and protective sleeves
Frequently asked questions
Does every pilgrim need their own passport?
Yes. Each pilgrim needs a personal credencial, also children and people walking together.
Can I start anywhere?
Yes. The credencial is valid from any starting point, from your own front door or from anywhere in Europe.
What if I lose my passport?
Start a new one straight away and collect stamps again from that day. Keep the rest of your journey documented, for example with dated photos, and tell the Pilgrim Office in Santiago.
Can I get the credencial on the way?
Often yes, but not everywhere and not always in your language. With your own passport from home you are ready from the first step.
Planning your stages? The Camino Ninja app helps you find albergues, distances and services on every route.