Order a passport or get it in Spain?

[ratyoke]

I read that some people get their pilgrim's passport when they arrive in Spain, and I also see that it can be ordered and sent to your home before you leave. Are they both the exact same passport? Is there any reason to do it one way rather than the other? I'll be starting my camino in Sevilla if that makes any difference.

 

[SYates]

My next Camino also starts in Sevilla and I have decided to get my credencial there. If you have enough time in Sevilla, I stay there for two full days before starting to walk, you can get a credencial either at Albergue Backpacker Triana, Hotel Simon or the cathedral. Unlikely all of them run out of credenciales at the same time ;-) And that are only the places I know of, but I guess there are more like for example the tourist office, that might have them. The VdLP credencial is an official one with a slightly different design (maps) as the one mainly used on the CF.
On the other hand, if you are short of time, don't fancy walking around to 'hunt' down a credencial or simply want to remove one stress factor from your Camino start, by all means order it from @ivar here at the forum store.
Or you can do both, order one and take it with you and see if you can find easily a VdlP credencial in Sevilla, depending where you walk to and how fast you are, you might need anyway two. Buen Camino, SY

 

[ratyoke]

Thank you. I will have time in Sevilla, so I think I will get it there.
Do you know how many stamps a credencial can hold?

 

[SYates]

Not of the top of my head and I am not at home just now to check, but I think it is around 40? If you run out on the way you can always pick up one in one of the bigger places I guess, at least that is how it works on the CF. Buen Camino, SY

 

[karry]

I was wondering this very thing. I plan on starting around the 20th of March in Roncesvalles but I saw that if I ordered it online now, the passport is only vaild from April 1st, 2016 (?)

 

[SYates]

The passport you will get in Roncesvalles is perfectly valid all year long and the one you can order from the forum shop here the same. No need to panic, Buen Camino, SY