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Try: Ontario salmon licence non-resident ice fishing

Fishing in the Canadian wilderness at sunset
Updated for 2026 Season

Fishing Licence Costs, Rules,
and Buying Options Across Canada

Compare prices, buy online, and see how licence rules change from one province or territory to the next.

Compare Prices by Province Open Official Portals
First Time Fishing? Choose the right licence path
Visiting from the US? Non-resident licence guide
Know Your Province? Jump to your province below
13 Provinces & Territories
4 Core Licence Pages
12 Interactive Tools
56 Guides
Official Portal Links
Updated for 2026 Season
10 Provinces + 3 Territories
Practical Trip Planning

Quick Answer

Every Canadian province and territory has its own recreational fishing licence rules. There is no single national licence, and costs and exemptions vary by jurisdiction.

  • 13 separate licence systems (10 provinces + 3 territories)
  • No national licence exists
  • Most buyers can start with the province where they plan to fish
  • Rules can also change by waterbody, species, and season
Choose Your Licence Path

Start with the part of the trip you already know

A fishing licence path changes by province, residency, water type, and trip length. Choose the closest starting point, then continue to the page that fits your situation.

I know the province Go to the province page for prices, portal links, season reminders, and local setup steps. I am visiting Canada Start with the non-resident path for US visitors, tourists, and cross-border trips. I need the cost first Compare prices before deciding whether a short-term or annual licence makes sense. I need seasons and rules Check dates, species windows, and waterbody restrictions before building the trip.
Freshwater, tidal, or park water? B.C. tidal water and national parks can use a separate permit path. One day or a longer stay? Trip length often decides whether a short-term licence or annual product is the cleaner choice. Keeping fish or catch-and-release? A licence can still be required even when you plan to release everything.
Continue From Here

Keep the decision moving after the first click

The best next page depends on whether you are choosing a province, checking a cost, planning a visitor trip, or trying to avoid the wrong portal.

Use the licence quiz Answer the key province, residency, water, species, and park questions in one flow. Open official portals Use this once you know the province or issuing body you need. Compare provinces Useful when the trip location is still flexible and cost or planning load matters. Check if the season is open Good before building a trip around one species, lake, river, or date window.
Priority Province Clusters

These province pages now lead the first wave of deeper coverage

Start here if your trip is already leaning toward Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Saskatchewan.

Manitoba

Useful for ice fishing, clear season-date planning, and practical visitor setup.

Ice Fishing Guide Season Dates
Open Manitoba

Nova Scotia

One of the best examples of a province where stocked trout, saltwater, and salmon planning overlap.

Stocked Lakes Saltwater Guide
Open Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

Important for guide-required waters, salmon access, and inland versus tidal rule splits.

Guide-Required Waters Salmon And Tidal Rules
Open New Brunswick

Saskatchewan

A priority page when habitat-certificate cost and northern-trip planning affect the province choice.

Habitat Certificate Province Comparison
Open Saskatchewan
Find Your Province

Fishing Licences by Province & Territory

Click on a province or territory to see pricing, regulations, and how to buy your licence online.

Click a province on the map

Provinces
ON Ontario From $26.57 BC British Columbia From $41.15 AB Alberta From $30 QC Quebec From $26.73 SK Saskatchewan From $42 MB Manitoba From $29.4 NB New Brunswick From $23 NS Nova Scotia From $27.41 NL Newfoundland and Labrador From $23 PE Prince Edward Island From $10
Territories
YT Yukon From $18.47 NT Northwest Territories From $12.31 NU Nunavut From $Check seller
Core Licence Pages

Start with the pages that carry the biggest share of planning

These are the main pages for cost, visitors, online buying, and the province-versus-federal split.

Cost by Province

Compare fishing licence prices across all provinces and territories.

Read Guide

Non-Resident Guide

Planning help for Americans, tourists, and other visitors.

Read Guide

Federal vs Provincial

Canada's unique dual licensing system explained.

Read Guide

Official Portal Links

Direct links to official provincial, territorial, tidal, and park portals.

Read Guide

Rules & Seasons

One place to start when dates, zones, and local rules are the real question.

Read Guide

Ready to Get Your Fishing Licence?

Find your province, compare prices, and open the right official portal once your licence path is clear.

Open Portal Directory Visiting Canada?
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a fishing licence in Canada?

Most adult anglers need a licence or a clear exemption before fishing recreationally in Canada. The answer changes by province or territory, residency, age, species, waterbody, and season.

How much does a fishing licence cost in Canada?

Fishing licence costs vary by province, residency, and licence type. Use the cost by province page to compare the current options.

Can Americans fish in Canada?

Yes. Americans can purchase a non-resident fishing licence from the province where they plan to fish. Most provinces offer online purchase so you can buy before crossing the border.

Is there a national fishing licence for all of Canada?

No. There is no national fishing licence. Each province and territory issues its own licence, and some trips use a separate path, such as B.C. tidal waters, national park waters, salmon, or other special fisheries.

Still have questions? Check our Licence Checklist, explore our Data Reports, or contact us directly.