DIY credencial?

[SeñorJacques]

Apologies in advance if this has been discussed and answered before - I did the obligatory search for previous threads but nothing came up.

Does anyone know whether one can make one's own "credencial" booklet for collecting sellos instead of using one of the preprinted ones from the Cathedral or national Camino organizations?

I have a small blank notebook that measures 5 x 3.75 in (ca. 12.5 x 9.5 cm), with a heavy paper cover. It's a little too small for me to use as a journal but the size seems ideal for collecting sellos, as it's slightly smaller than any of the credencials I've seen and used in the past and fits perfectly into the pocket of my hiking pants. (The more durable cover is a plus as well.) Each page would fit between four and six sellos, and since there are 16 pages total the notebook seems like it would be big enough to fit just about all the ones I'd collect on my next Camino (Norte + Primitivo, fwiw.)

I'd think that as long as each sello is accompanied by a written date, it would be acceptable at the SdC pilgrim office for compostela purposes - unless there's a requirement that sellos need to be collected in an official accordion-style credencial.

 

[alexwalker]

No. See this previous thread:

Thread 'An "unofficial" Pilgrim Passport?'

Nov 25, 2021

Hello everyone,

My friend asked me a question and I'm not sure about the answer. Therefore, I hope someone here can help.

Quesion: My friend would like to walk the camino while using his favorite small notebook for daily stamping. Someone told him he can use any kind of paper / notebook / A4 paper to replace the "official pilgrim passport". Is that true? Is the unofficial pilgrim passport acceptable in the Santiago pilgrim office?

Hope someone could answer this because I am curious about this as well.

Thank you

• smallove
• credencial/sellos/compostela
• Replies: 23
• Camino de Santiago Forum: Life on the Camino - Miscellaneous Topics

• 

But it is easy to get a credential: you can order one or more here on the Forum shop:

Official Camino Passport (Credential)

The photo above is of a passport with stamps. This passport comes with no stamps, you collect them when you walk. Also have a look at the Pilgrim Passport Sleeve to protect your passport. The credential has place for 54 stamps. This is the Official Pilgrim Credencial (Pilgrims Passport) issued...

www.santiagodecompostela.me

Edit: BTW: The Pilgrim Office pays no attention to your stamps before the last 100 kms. The requirement for receiving a Compostela is that you have walked (at least) the last 100 kms into Santiago on an officially recognized Camino (CF, VdlP, CP, etc) and have obtained min. 2 different stamps/day for that distance, and that you have walked for religious/spiritual reasons. (200 kms for bicyclists).

Anyone can get spiritual after a few weeks on the Camino...

 

[SeñorJacques]

No. See this previous thread:

Thread 'An "unofficial" Pilgrim Passport?'

Nov 25, 2021

Hello everyone,

My friend asked me a question and I'm not sure about the answer. Therefore, I hope someone here can help.

Quesion: My friend would like to walk the camino while using his favorite small notebook for daily stamping. Someone told him he can use any kind of paper / notebook / A4 paper to replace the "official pilgrim passport". Is that true? Is the unofficial pilgrim passport acceptable in the Santiago pilgrim office?

Hope someone could answer this because I am curious about this as well.

Thank you

• smallove
• credencial/sellos/compostela
• Replies: 23
• Camino de Santiago Forum: Life on the Camino - Miscellaneous Topics

• 

But it is easy to get a credential: you can order one or more here on the Forum shop:

Official Camino Passport (Credential)

The photo above is of a passport with stamps. This passport comes with no stamps, you collect them when you walk. Also have a look at the Pilgrim Passport Sleeve to protect your passport. The credential has place for 54 stamps. This is the Official Pilgrim Credencial (Pilgrims Passport) issued...

www.santiagodecompostela.me

That was exactly my question, and that is exactly the answer I was looking for. Thanks!

(Incidentally, I wasn't worried about finding an official credential - I actually have a collection of spares I somehow accumulated over the past couple of years that I can use for my next walk. It was more a matter of convenience and aesthetics. Maybe I'll work on making a sort of custom cover or pouch for my official credencial instead!)

 

[Flog]

You could always carry the two, an official one and the homemade one, and get them both stamped along the way.. The pilgrims office will 'close' them both for you and you can collect your compostela with the official one.

 

[henrythedog]

That was exactly my question, and that is exactly the answer I was looking for. Thanks!

(Incidentally, I wasn't worried about finding an official credential - I actually have a collection of spares I somehow accumulated over the past couple of years that I can use for my next walk. It was more a matter of convenience and aesthetics. Maybe I'll work on making a sort of custom cover or pouch for my official credencial instead!)

I do both. Although I’ve given up collecting compostelas, I do still stamp a credential when I’m on a recognised Camino route so that I can access municipales or association-run albergues if I want to.

I also keep a day-to-day journal and collect ephemera, tickets, photos, leaflets and so on - as well as many sellos.

 

[David]

I truly think it really sad that one has to use only the "official" credential now. A pilgrim passport is merely a document that one has sellos stamped on it that prove one is a pilgrim ... surely a stamped toilet roll would provide the same proof ... very sad and, to me, another decision made by people sitting around an office table making things up to justify their salaries.

Not only that, one cannot even copy the official one and print it oneself, it is much too long for any normal printer.

Some of you may know that I have an Ebay store, selling pilgrim items - all the profits go to financing my first aid and pastoral care mission to pilgrims, started in 2006 (The command from Yeshua at the end of the story of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:37 - "Then go, Ye, and do likewise").

I get messages asking if I can provide a credential - and would be happy to do so at cost plus postage but cannot as I cannot provide credentials in my store that I make myself - and at least two dozen emails to the Cathedral office over the last five years asking to buy them have received not one reply, not one ... sad.

 

[Liica]

Apologies in advance if this has been discussed and answered before - I did the obligatory search for previous threads but nothing came up.

Does anyone know whether one can make one's own "credencial" booklet for collecting sellos instead of using one of the preprinted ones from the Cathedral or national Camino organizations?

I have a small blank notebook that measures 5 x 3.75 in (ca. 12.5 x 9.5 cm), with a heavy paper cover. It's a little too small for me to use as a journal but the size seems ideal for collecting sellos, as it's slightly smaller than any of the credencials I've seen and used in the past and fits perfectly into the pocket of my hiking pants. (The more durable cover is a plus as well.) Each page would fit between four and six sellos, and since there are 16 pages total the notebook seems like it would be big enough to fit just about all the ones I'd collect on my next Camino (Norte + Primitivo, fwiw.)

I'd think that as long as each sello is accompanied by a written date, it would be acceptable at the SdC pilgrim office for compostela purposes - unless there's a requirement that sellos need to be collected in an official accordion-style credencial.

Once upon the time, not knowing that only official credentials were valid, I’ve bought (twice) a credential available at Etsy (made by a German guy). I loved it. I used it. I’ve got a Compostela. Nobody said nothing about the Credential.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

@Liica this reminds me of the rule that to qualify for a Compostela, two sellos per day are required the last 100 km to Santiago.
Or another rule that hiking poles are not allowed inside the cabin of certain carriers when flying.

 

[Flog]

...surely a stamped toilet roll would provide the same proof ... very sad and, to me, another decision made by people sitting around an office table making things up to justify their salaries.

Right

Some tour companies of late, have been providing self promoting, Mickey Mouse credencials for their clients that are deemed inappropriate.. they read more like poorly printed advertisement blurbs. These in particular are frowned upon.

But all is not lost..
If a pilgrim presents one of these, or a homemade one, or a stamped toilet roll or whatever. If they can show they've made progress with the required stamps, they can, at the discretion of the staff, be asked to buy a credencial on the spot, fill in their details on it and have it duly stamped closed along with their unofficial one, to receive their compostela.

Edit: but don't count on it. Get an official credencial to start with, its a simple requirement.. and you might find better use for your toilet roll.

 

[Kathor1]

Once upon the time, not knowing that only official credentials were valid, I’ve bought (twice) a credential available at Etsy (made by a German guy). I loved it. I used it. I’ve got a Compostela. Nobody said nothing about the Credential.

I think that I know what you refer to. It was discussed in an earlier thread. I am sometimes getting impatient or irked by endless talking in threads and no action so I decided to email him. He replied that he had never gotten a complaint.

The point is: You did not know that the use of official credentials is requested by the Cathedral of Santiago. @SeñorJacques started this thread to make sure that he knew.

That’s different from knowing and railing against the current arrangements. It is easy to obtain an official credencial. Certainly easier than arranging travelling to the start of where one wants to walk. We can get an official credencial from this forum’s store and from every Camino association worldwide and in every major Camino town in Spain. And albergues and other accommodations don’t make a fuss about what they stamp - they want to see that you are a walking or cycling pilgrim (if at all - private albergues, hotels etc don’t care). Pilgrims are asked to use an official credencial when they want to get a Compostela. Nobody is forced to get a Compostela.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

You could always carry the two, an official one and the homemade one, and get them both stamped along the way.. The pilgrims office will 'close' them both for you and you can collect your compostela with the official one.

I had people asking me to stamp their credencial and their national passport!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Right

Some tour companies of late, have been providing self promoting, Mickey Mouse credencials for their clients that are deemed inappropriate.. they read more like poorly printed advertisement blurbs. These in particular are frowned upon.

But all is not lost..
If a pilgrim presents one of these, or a homemade one, or a stamped toilet roll or whatever. If they can show they've made progress with the required stamps, they can, at the discretion of the staff, be asked to buy a credencial on the spot, fill in their details on it and have it duly stamped closed along with their unofficial one, to receive their compostela.

Edit: but don't count on it. Get an official credencial to start with, its a simple requirement.. and you might find better use for your toilet roll.

I certainly would NOT have been happy to issue on production of a "stamped toilet roll". An inserted sheet of paper when you run out of space is a different matter.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

"Edit: BTW: The Pilgrim Office pays no attention to your stamps before the last 100 kms."

Except, of course, if you are applying for a Distancia in which case the clerk will want to know where you started from and a credencial full of sellos is your only proof.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

BTW: The Pilgrim Office pays no attention to your stamps before the last 100 kms."

On my first Camino I was totally ignorant of needing two sellos per day on the last 100 km because unfortunately I had done no research ahead of time. The volunteer at the Pilgrim office then opened up my whole credential and looked at both sides and realized I had started from SJPdP. He was kind and issued me a Compostela.
That said, I do not advocate purposely cheating to bypass their rules.

 

[Keyser]

Circa 2010 my wife & I started in Ponferrado on our first Camino. We did not have official passports & did not know where to get them so I got some blank A4 pages folded to A5 size and got circa 6 stamps per page. When I brought these to the Pilgrima Office in SDC initially they were rejected, but after some consultation with senior staff we were given our Compostellos.

 

[naplesdon]

I certainly would NOT have been happy to issue on production of a "stamped toilet roll". An inserted sheet of paper when you run out of space is a different matter.

Jack Kerouac wrote his famous novel "On the Road" using a roll of paper that he spooled through his typewriter. I think it was Telex paper, not sure, but I saw it on display when I visited with David Amram on his a recent concert in Florida. David was good friends with Kerouac, Ginsberg, etc. and wrote the musical scores for movies like Pull My Daisy, Splendor in the Grass and The Manchurian Candidate. He just celebrate his 94th birthday.
The idea of keeping two records of the Camino is brilliant. Anyone who is considering doing multiple walks should tune into this idea. I have multiple stamped credentials, but the idea of a book full of every place one stayed over multiple years is genius.

 

[Flog]

I certainly would NOT have been happy to issue on production of a "stamped toilet roll". An inserted sheet of paper when you run out of space is a different matter.

Em, tongue in cheek with the jacks roll,
Jayzis

 

[Flog]

Jack Kerouac wrote his famous novel "On the Road" using a roll of paper that he spooled through his typewriter. I think it was Telex paper, not sure, but I saw it on display when I visited with David Amram

Wonderful book! Inspired many a traveller and pilgrim..

 

[Liica]

@Liica this reminds me of the rule that to qualify for a Compostela, two sellos per day are required the last 100 km to Santiago.
Or another rule that hiking poles are not allowed inside the cabin of certain carriers when flying.

Yeah. If I knew only the official credentials were accepted before, maybe I wouldn’t buy it on Etsy. I just bought it because it was last minute Caminos and had not enough time to get it from official website.
Well, it worked.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Jack Kerouac wrote his famous novel "On the Road" using a roll of paper that he spooled through his typewriter. I think it was Telex paper, not sure, but I saw it on display when I visited with David Amram on his a recent concert in Florida. David was good friends with Kerouac, Ginsberg, etc. and wrote the musical scores for movies like Pull My Daisy, Splendor in the Grass and The Manchurian Candidate. He just celebrate his 94th birthday.
The idea of keeping two records of the Camino is brilliant. Anyone who is considering doing multiple walks should tune into this idea. I have multiple stamped credentials, but the idea of a book full of every place one stayed over multiple years is genius.

I've use the Midori "Travellers Notebook" style of recording trips since 2016 and now have a shelf full of memories to browse whereas I seldom dip into the thousands of digital photos on my various Google Drives. One note of warning though, thermal printed bus tickets and receipts fade as badly as mental memories do! I now photocopy them before sticking them in the journals.

 

[Liica]

@Liica this reminds me of the rule that to qualify for a Compostela, two sellos per day are required the last 100 km to Santiago.
Or another rule that hiking poles are not allowed inside the cabin of certain carriers when flying.

Of course I would only suggest to use the official one (now that I know the rule).

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Of course I would only suggest to use the official one (now that I know the rule).

Interesting design. Issued by?

 

[Kathor1]

Interesting design. Issued by?

www.caminoestrella.com

As I said, I emailed the artist and he wrote back saying that he had been selling this model for over ten years and had not heard that there had been an issue with acceptance. It was €3.10 at the time.

Creative artists had not been the target group when the Cathedral published their instructions that only approved credentials (issued either by them or by recognised international Camino associations) will be accepted for obtaining a Compostela. It was tour operators and similar who had been hawking credentials for €10 or even €20. It had become a bad state of affairs and they wanted to put a stop to it.

I had a look at the website. Quite pretty articles of various kinds, all Camino related, including the credential which costs now €3.20:

 

[Kathor1]

when the Cathedral published their instructions that only approved credentials (issued either by them or by recognised international Camino associations) will be accepted for obtaining a Compostela. It was tour operators and similar who had been hawking credentials for €10 or even €20. It had become a bad state of affairs and they wanted to put a stop to it.

I don't remember when this happened. 2016 perhaps? Or 2014?

 

[Liica]

Interesting design. Issued

www.caminoestrella.com

As I said, I emailed the artist and he wrote back saying that he had been selling this model for over ten years and had not heard that there had been an issue with acceptance. It was €3.10 at the time.

Creative artists had not been the target group when the Cathedral published their instructions that only approved credentials (issued either by them or by recognised international Camino associations) will be accepted for obtaining a Compostela. It was tour operators and similar who had been hawking credentials for €10 or even €20. It had become a bad state of affairs and they wanted to put a stop to it.

I had a look at the website. Quite pretty articles of various kinds, all Camino related, including the credential which costs now €3.20:
View attachment 181233

He always sent mine on time and for a fair price. Very reliable and beautiful design

Now, living in Spain, I just go to a church near my house and buy it for 2 Euros.

Anyway, they ask for the pilgrim name and they fill it on the credential (probably to avoid this kind of absurd - people selling it for 10 euros).

 

[TrvlDad1]

In addition to my official credential, I carry a copy of my DeMolay certificate from my youth and ask for a stamp on it at Templar sites along the Camino(s) and elsewhere in Europe, in recognition of the Templars as an original pilgrim service organization and DeMolay as a modern service organization. Most of the Templar sites that still exist are owned by the Church, and I have never been refused a stamp even though the Templars were disbanded by the Church over 1,000 years ago. It’s just my way of recognizing an organization that meant so much to me in my youth.

 

[Paladina]

Wonderful book! Inspired many a traveller and pilgrim..

Wonderful when one is young -- I even renamed myself after one of his transient characters -- but my Kerouac phase likewise proved transient.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Yes and no.

If you are in the situation of being unable to obtain an authorised credencial from the start of your trip, then I'd say use an ad hoc one until you are able to obtain better. Even some cobbled-together bits of paper to demonstrate your progress along the Way can help against feelings of doubt until you can get an official document.

Having said that, twice when I used an ad hoc one, I made sure to obtain a letter of introduction on page 1 from the Parish church of my departure, for instance in 1994 from the archpriest of the Cathedral Parish of Notre Dame in Paris. On my 2000 to Rome, I think no such official credenziale existed for anyone. That may still be the case on some less travelled foot pilgrimage routes.

But as to obtaining a Compostela, you do need an officially recognised credencial, but that's very easily found along the Way and long before the 100K shut-out distance.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Edit: BTW: The Pilgrim Office pays no attention to your stamps before the last 100 kms.

Not my experience.