If I already have the credential, do I still have to register in SJPD anyway?

[Gabe_Way]

As the title says. Do we need to go to the pilgrim office to register, regardless of having the official credential, which I have bought from this website? Or are we good to go?
Thanks!

 

[mspath]

You are good to go and there is no need to register.

However, the SJPdP Pilgrim Office located on the camino at 39 rue de La Citadelle
is open every day and in season from early in the morning until late at night ie after the arrival of the last bus/train. The helpful multi-lingual volunteers can provide you with a Credential and stamp if needed, as well as a list of major albergues and current weather/ trail conditions. They can also help locate a bed/bunk for the night. Most importantly the office is a great spot to meet/ greet other pilgrims. ...Do plan to stop and chat!

 

[Gabe_Way]

You are good to go and there is no need to register.

However, the SJPdP Pilgrim Office located on the camino at 39 rue de La Citadelle
is open every day and in season from early in the morning until late at night ie after the arrival of the last bus/train. The helpful multi-lingual volunteers can provide you with a Credential and stamp if needed, as well as a list of major albergues and current weather/ trail conditions. They can also help locate a bed/bunk for the night. Most importantly the office is a great spot to meet/ greet other pilgrims. ...Do plan to stop and chat!

Thank you! Yeah totally. I just wanted to avoid the line for the registration. But I'll go there to ask for the Napoleon route and to meet other fellow piligrims. Thanks again!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Yeah totally. I just wanted to avoid the line for the registration.

It is the fastest line in Europe!!

 

[Gabe_Way]

It is the fastest line in Europe!!

Oh, good to know. And what about in Santiago to get the Compostela? Smooth or slow? (I'll arrive in middle June.)

 

[Bradypus]

Likely to be VERY busy in June in Santiago at the pilgrim office. People often tell stories of waiting for a couple of hours then. Of course you do not have to register there either unless you really want a Compostela. For a number of reasons quite a lot of people do not request one.

 

[Miki Goldie]

Gidday,
I also go there to meet the "incredible", knowledgable volunteers in the office. They also have a wonderful stamp.
I start meeting pilgrims and giving out a little "walking card" so that I start to be known. I met hundreds of people and try to remember their names. Although, I only finished with 3 others that I had met from SJPdP to Finistere. Everyone does their own Camino so it's all down to serendipity.
In the Santiago line you reconnect with your buddies...for one or two hours...
Buen Camino
Love

 

[Robo]

I start meeting pilgrims and giving out a little "walking card" so that I start to be known.

Just curious, is there a purpose to that?

 

[David]

There is no registration, the pilgrimage isn't like that, so just go and enjoy.
Though - two reasons to go into the pilgrim's office in St Jean - knowledgeable and kind volunteers and, you get your first stamp on your passport - your first Sello ... and if you miss getting that you will be SO miffed later on when you have become a Sello addict .

and (ok, three reasons) - it is your first step .. your very first step, so go and say hello and get a 'Buen Camino' and a Sello.

 

[Miki Goldie]

Just curious, is there a purpose to that?

Safety'
I've walked the CF with three sisters in 2016 who had experienced time around Denise in 2015.
Safety
love

 

[Gabe_Way]

Likely to be VERY busy in June in Santiago at the pilgrim office. People often tell stories of waiting for a couple of hours then. Of course you do not have to register there either unless you really want a Compostela. For a number of reasons quite a lot of people do not request one.

I'm among the ones who really want the Compostela though (I'm not even Religious. In fact I'm agnostic. But after 800Km I'd like to have my official certificate. If only for the first one; on the next Caminos I'd probably skip that.) So I guess I'll have to patiently wait in line.

 

[John H.]

And what about in Santiago to get the Compostela? Smooth or slow? (I'll arrive in middle June.)

Ummm, well, errr, ahh . . . just enjoy the walk and try not to think about it.

 

[Gabe_Way]

Ummm, well, errr, ahh . . . just enjoy the walk and try not to think about it.

Ahaha, not that was just 'Pour Parler'. I don't care really if I'll have to wait two hours in Santiago.
Thanks John, I will!! I can't wait! Still, more than a month to go...

 

[Hound-of-Ulster]

I certainly would go to the Pilgrims Office in StJpdP, for all the reasons mentioned above, it’s your starting point, you get your stamp, but also you get a list of the majority of accommodations along the way with prices, facilities etc and I’m told it is usually the most up to date listing for this. So that alone is worth going for.

Buen Camino

 

[dfox]

You are good to go and there is no need to register.

However, the SJPdP Pilgrim Office located on the camino at 39 rue de La Citadelle
is open every day and in season from early in the morning until late at night ie after the arrival of the last bus/train. The helpful multi-lingual volunteers can provide you with a Credential and stamp if needed, as well as a list of major albergues and current weather/ trail conditions. They can also help locate a bed/bunk for the night. Most importantly the office is a great spot to meet/ greet other pilgrims. ...Do plan to stop and chat!

It is where you get the first stamp. I "think" the Pilgrim reception in SdC would consider your pilgrimage started from SJPdP" when issuing the certificate of distance, but, I can be wrong.

 

[trecile]

As @David said above, you don't have to "register" anywhere. You can get your first stamp at the Pilgrims Office, or at a hostel, hotel, restaurant or anywhere that has one in St Jean. You will want a stamp indicating your starting place on the Camino so that can be recorded on your Compestela, "welcome certificate" or distance certificate when you arrive in Santiago.
I would strongly encourage you to stop by the Pilgrim's office in St Jean for the information that they provide. Jean

Likely to be VERY busy in June in Santiago at the pilgrim office. People often tell stories of waiting for a couple of hours then.

But the question was about the Pilgrims Office in SJPDP, not Santiago.

 

[trecile]

I'm among the ones who really want the Compostela though (I'm not even Religious. In fact I'm agnostic. But after 800Km I'd like to have my official certificate. If only for the first one; on the next Caminos I'd probably skip that.) So I guess I'll have to patiently wait in line.

There is an alternate "certificate of welcome" for those who are walking for non religious or spiritual reasons. In addition you can purchase a distance certificate for 3€.

 

[Bradypus]

But the question was about the Pilgrims Office in SJPDP, not Santiago.

I was replying to a follow-up question later in the thread

Oh, good to know. And what about in Santiago to get the Compostela? Smooth or slow? (I'll arrive in middle June.)

 

[Deleted member 3000]

And what about in Santiago to get the Compostela?

Long. Take a lunch...

 

[Bala]

There was no one in line in SJPP when my husband and I stopped in, about 8 am on an October morning. I think everyone goes the afternoon/evening before, or at the crack of dawn. We had a nice, long chat with the wonderful volunteers.

It's the same throughout the Camino. If you want to avoid the crowds, simply adjust your timings. I've walked some of the most crowded parts of the Camino Francès at some of the busiest times of year and gone for hours seeing only a handful of pilgrims. If that.

In Santiago, though, yes there will be a line. But it's so much fun sharing stories that the time goes quickly. Everyone in that line shares a common bond. There's a wonderful sense of, Wow! We did this!

Enjoy!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Get beginning and end stamps in both SJPdP and SdC if just for souvenirs. In SJPdP, if you have the credential already, the stamp should just take minutes or less. In SdC the wait is for those wanting compostelas or certificates. Stamps can be quick.

 

[gloria lowe]

Ahaha, not that was just 'Pour Parler'. I don't care really if I'll have to wait two hours in Santiago.
Thanks John, I will!! I can't wait! Still, more than a month to go...

If you show up about 1/2 before they open no 2 hr wait in Santiago. There were only about 25 people in line when they opened and then your day is free.

 

[Gabe_Way]

If you show up about 1/2 before they open no 2 hr wait in Santiago. There were only about 25 people in line when they opened and then your day is free.

Thx for the tip. What time do they open?

 

[gloria lowe]

I think at 0800. If you’re one of the 1st 10 in line you get a free lunch at the Parador which was a nice surprise

 

[Gabe_Way]

I think at 0800. If you’re one of the 1st 10 in line you get a free lunch at the Parador which was a nice surprise

Oh.. you mean if I'm one of the first ten persons in the queue by 8.00 AM? They'll give you a free lunch? Wow, that's cool, I'll try then. Thanks for the info!

 

[c0484]

As the title says. Do we need to go to the pilgrim office to register, regardless of having the official credential, which I have bought from this website? Or are we good to go?
Thanks!

I always have both. It would be easy to fill three credentials while walking the Camino. I always need two.

 

[t2andreo]

I'm among the ones who really want the Compostela though (I'm not even Religious. In fact I'm agnostic. But after 800Km I'd like to have my official certificate. If only for the first one; on the next Caminos I'd probably skip that.) So I guess I'll have to patiently wait in line.

Come first thing in the morning. The office opens at 0800 in the summer months. Alternatively, there is a lull around 17:30 - 19:00 while most of the non-Spanish folks are eating dinner.

The worst times to show up to get a Compostela are:

Mid-to-late morning when the daily new arrivals off the Frances walk into town, and directly to the office around 10:00. They are seeking to get their Compostelas, then make the noon Pilgrim Mass (this year at the Church of San Francisco NOT the Cathedral, due to renovations.)

Immediately after the noon Pilgrim Mass, starting at about 13:00 - 13-15. Between the not yet gone morning surge and the after Mass surge, the line is typically two hours or more, especially during July and August.

The afternoon "pig in the python" is typically gone, or reduced to about a 45-minute wait by about 17:00.

Hope this helps.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Although you don't "have to register" it's a good idea to stop in.
You can pick up a list of albergues and find out what the weather conditions are.

 

[Gabe_Way]

Come first thing in the morning. The office opens at 0800 in the summer months. Alternatively, there is a lull around 17:30 - 19:00 while most of the non-Spanish folks are eating dinner.

The worst times to show up to get a Compostela are:

Mid-to-late morning when the daily new arrivals off the Frances walk into town, and directly to the office around 10:00. They are seeking to get their Compostelas, then make the noon Pilgrim Mass (this year at the Church of San Francisco NOT the Cathedral, due to renovations.)

Immediately after the noon Pilgrim Mass, starting at about 13:00 - 13-15. Between the not yet gone morning surge and the after Mass surge, the line is typically two hours or more, especially during July and August.

The afternoon "pig in the python" is typically gone, or reduced to about a 45-minute wait by about 17:00.

Hope this helps.

Thanks a lot for this! Yeah, it helps!

 

[patiras]

Hello! I did the Camino Frances 10 years ago and still have my credential, do I need a new one to do the Primitivo next year? Or can I use the same one? Many thanks.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hello! I did the Camino Frances 10 years ago and still have my credential, do I need a new one to do the Primitivo next year? Or can I use the same one? Many thanks.

If you received the final Sello/stamp at the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Office, which closes that Credencial, then yes, you will need a new one.

If you never received a Compostela or Sello, then you may still use it.