Camino Credential & Stamps — Where to Get Them and How Many You Need

The credencial (pilgrim credential) and its stamps — sellos — are the beating heart of the Camino de Santiago: they get you into pilgrim albergues, record your journey town by town, and prove you walked far enough to earn the Compostela. Here is everything pilgrims ask about credentials and stamps.

What is the pilgrim credential?

The credencial is your pilgrim passport: a folding accordion document with space for the stamps (sellos) you collect along the way. It is not an ID and has no legal status — but it is the most important piece of paper you carry. Pilgrim albergues require it to check you in, and the Pilgrim's Reception Office in Santiago checks it before issuing the Compostela.

Where to get a credential

• Before you leave home: pilgrim associations in your country often issue them by post or at send-off events.
• On the Camino: the first albergue, parish churches, cathedrals, and pilgrim offices in starting towns like Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Porto, Irún, Oviedo, or Sarria.
• Cost: about €2 (a donation). You do not need to buy one in advance from a reseller — every major starting town issues them.

Where to get stamps (sellos)

Almost everywhere a pilgrim passes:

• Albergues — the hospitalero stamps your credential at check-in.
• Churches and cathedrals — often the most beautiful stamps, with their own designs.
• Bars, cafés, and restaurants on the route — many keep a stamp on the counter; just ask ("¿Me pones un sello, por favor?").
• Town halls (ayuntamientos), tourist offices, museums, and most hotels and private albergues.
• In tiny hamlets, the bar or the church is often the only option — and the only "sight".

There is no central registry: each place has its own stamp, which is why a completed credencial becomes a unique souvenir of your route.

How many stamps do you need?

• For the Compostela: at least two stamps per day during the final 100 km (200 km by bike) — one where you start the day, one where you stop. Before the last 100 km, one stamp per day is plenty.
• For albergues: today's stamp is what gets you a pilgrim bed.
• There is no maximum — many pilgrims stamp everything and run out of pages; albergues issue continuation sheets.

Stamp tips from the trail

• Let the ink dry before folding — smudged sellos are the most common credential casualty.
• Carry your credencial in a zip-lock bag: rain ruins more passports than anything else.
• Stamp at the start of each stage, not just at the end — inside the last 100 km this is what proves you walked the distance.
• Take a photo of each day's stamps as a backup record.

What if you lose your credential?

Start again at the nearest albergue or church: they will issue a new credencial, but lost stamps are lost — which can cost you the Compostela if it happens inside the last 100 km. Guard it like cash.

Do I even need a credential?

If you want to sleep in pilgrim albergues or earn the Compostela — yes. If you only walk a few stages and stay in hotels, it is optional, but most pilgrims carry one anyway: a fully stamped credencial is the best Camino souvenir there is. See our full Compostela guide for how the stamps turn into the certificate.

FAQ

Where do I get my first stamp?

At the place that issued your credential — the albergue, church, or pilgrim office stamps it on day one.

Can I get a stamp at a hotel?

Most hotels and private albergues have their own stamp — just ask at reception.

Do stamps have dates?

Most sellos include the date (it is checked for the Compostela); a few show only the place, which is fine as long as your daily rhythm is clear.

Is there a digital credential?

Yes — official apps record digital stamps, but the paper credencial remains the accepted standard for albergues and the Compostela. Carry the paper one.

Plan your Camino

Plan where you will sleep and stamp, night by night: browse all Camino routes and build your itinerary.