Start With The Official Portal
If you bought your licence online, log into the same portal where you purchased it and re-download the PDF or licence summary. That is usually the fastest recovery path.
If you bought a paper licence at a store, contact the provincial licensing authority (details below). Most can look you up by name and date of birth and reissue within 24 hours. Cost: $0–$8.57 depending on province.
When the licence was already bought, the practical job is recovering, replacing, re-downloading, reprinting, or carrying accepted proof. If the trip already happened without accepted proof, the no-licence fine guide is the better next step.
If you have not bought the licence yet and need the checkout order, account setup, or proof-saving step, check the online buying guide instead.
BC's WILD system: As of April 1, 2026, BC freshwater anglers use a Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) in WILD. For most basic freshwater products, FWID plus photo ID is the main proof, but conservation surcharge stamps and products with retention records can still require a paper or digital copy. See the BC section below.
If you bought a licence but cannot find it, did not get a copy, or need help recovering it, start with the official portal account where the purchase was made. That account is where licence summaries, reprints, and recovery steps live.
The critical thing to know: you are expected to carry accepted proof while fishing. A licence that is valid but sitting at home may still be treated as fishing without accepted proof. Deal with this before your next trip, not at the lake. If you already fished without accepted proof, use the fine for fishing without a licence guide to separate missing proof from no licence, expiry, and wrong-water problems.
Online Purchase — The 2-Minute Fix
If you purchased online (most licences sold after 2020 are electronic), this is the easiest scenario:
Step 1: Go to the website where you originally purchased. Each province has its own portal — see the province-by-province section for direct links.
Step 2: Log in with the same email/account you used to purchase.
Step 3: Navigate to "My Licences," "Transaction History," or "Licence Summary."
Step 4: Click "Reprint," "Download PDF," or "View Summary." Save to your phone AND email it to yourself as backup.
Cost: Free. You can reprint unlimited times from most provincial portals.
Important — digital format rules vary by province: Ontario officially accepts only the PDF format from the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service — a photo or screenshot is NOT officially accepted. Alberta requires the AlbertaRELM app as the sole method for electronic licence storage. In BC, FWID plus photo ID is the main proof for most basic freshwater products, while conservation surcharge stamps and retention records can still require a copy. Always carry the official format to avoid issues with conservation officers.
Already at the Lake? Emergency Action Plan
You just arrived at the lake and realized your licence is missing. Here's the exact protocol:
If you have cell service (2-5 minutes): Log into the provincial portal on your phone -> reprint/download the PDF -> save it. You now have a valid digital copy. In Alberta, use the AlbertaRELM app if you have it set up. In BC, confirm the product in WILD and keep the required copy if you hold a conservation surcharge stamp or retention-record product.
If you DON'T have cell service: Drive to where you have service and retrieve your licence digitally. If you cannot do that, stop fishing and return later.
If a CO approaches: Be honest. "I realized I don't have my licence on me and I've stopped fishing" is the right answer. If you can pull up the purchase confirmation email or bank statement on your phone showing you did buy a licence, show it as supporting evidence.
Store Purchase — What to Do When There's No Digital Copy
Paper licences bought at Canadian Tire, bait shops, or outfitters are trickier because the store typically doesn't keep a record of your specific licence:
Option 1 — Return to the same store: Some vendors can look up your purchase using your name and date of birth. This depends on the store's record-keeping system and varies widely — big-box stores (Canadian Tire, Bass Pro) are more likely to have records than small bait shops.
Option 2 — Contact the provincial licensing authority: They have centralized records of all licences issued, regardless of where you bought. You'll need your name, date of birth, and ideally your licence number (check old emails, credit card statements, or photos). Most can reissue within 24 hours, some immediately by phone. See province contacts below.
Option 3 — Return to the official portal: If your trip is tomorrow and the replacement process will take days, the fastest solution may be to check the official portal links and replace or repurchase through your province. Yes, it can cost money again, but it is usually cheaper than even the minimum fine ($100 in Alberta, $200 in Ontario, $345 in BC).
Critical: Do not fish while waiting for a replacement. A licence at home or a pending reprint may still leave you without accepted proof in the field. A conservation officer may require the accepted proof for your province, licence type, stamp, or retention record. If the trip already happened, use the no-licence fine guide before assuming the issue is only a replacement task.
Province-by-Province Replacement Guide — Direct Links & Phone Numbers
Ontario: Ontario announced FishHuntON on June 29, 2026, with rollout expected in early 2027. For now, log into the Fish & Wildlife Licensing Service → "My Licences" → reprint. Licence summaries can be downloaded as PDF. Lost Outdoors Card replacement: $8.57 + HST (not a separate $10 fee as commonly misquoted). Order online, by phone (1-800-288-1155), or at a ServiceOntario location. The physical replacement card takes up to 20 business days by mail — in the meantime, your Licence Summary serves as temporary proof. Digital format: Ontario officially accepts the PDF from the licensing service on your mobile device. Screenshots and photos are NOT officially accepted — always carry the actual PDF. You're responsible for ensuring your device has battery to display it.
British Columbia: For most basic freshwater products in the WILD system, your FWID number + personal photo ID is the main proof. You may still need a paper or digital copy for Conservation Surcharge Stamps (Salmon, Steelhead) and any product that needs a retention record. Log in from the official BC WILD login page to view or reprint available documents, or use FrontCounter BC, Service BC, or a participating vendor if the online path is not working. For tidal licences, use the DFO NRLS portal. Check the BC WILD System Guide for details.
Alberta: Log into My Wild Alberta → reprint. Free. If purchased at a vendor, call Alberta Fish and Wildlife: 1-877-944-0313. Digital format: The AlbertaRELM app is the sole official method for storing and displaying electronic licences in Alberta. Conservation officers will accept the AlbertaRELM app or a paper licence — but NOT a screenshot, photo, or generic PDF viewer. Download the app, link your WiN Card, and all your licences are always available.
Saskatchewan: Start from Saskatchewan's official angling licence page, then log into HAL to reprint. Electronic licences are stored permanently. For vendor-purchased licences, call 1-800-567-4224.
Quebec: Contact the Quebec licensing office or visit any authorized agent. Online purchases through the Mon dossier portal can be reprinted.
New Brunswick: NB requires a free NB Outdoors Card before any licence. Contact NB Natural Resources. Phone: 506-453-2440.
Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, PEI, Manitoba: Contact the provincial fish and wildlife office. They can look up your licence by name and date of birth and reissue within 24 hours. Phone numbers are linked from the official portal links.
Territories (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut): Contact the territorial Environment department. Yukon: 867-667-5652. NWT: 867-767-9237.
Digital Licence Rules — What Each Province Actually Accepts in 2026
This is one of the most commonly confused topics in Canadian fishing. Rules vary significantly:
Ontario: PDF from Fish & Wildlife Licensing Service on mobile device. Photo, screenshot, or scan is not the official format. Use the official PDF, keep the phone charged, and make the file accessible offline.
British Columbia (WILD system): FWID + photo ID is the main proof for most basic freshwater products. Carry the required paper or digital copy for Conservation Surcharge Stamps and products with retention records.
Alberta: AlbertaRELM app only for electronic storage. A PDF, photo, screenshot, or generic viewer is not the accepted electronic format.
Saskatchewan: Electronic copy from HAL system accepted. Print or display on device.
Federal (DFO Tidal): Electronic copies accepted. They can be linked to the FishingBC app for tidal waters.
Other provinces: Rules vary. When in doubt, carry a printed copy AND a digital copy. A $1 laminated printout in your tackle box eliminates all ambiguity. This is the safest approach for any province without clear digital acceptance rules.
Simple backup for all provinces: Email the PDF to yourself with a searchable subject line such as "2026 Fishing Licence." It is easier to find later and can help show the purchase date if there is ever a question.
Lost Outdoors Card (Ontario-Specific)
The Ontario Outdoors Card is a separate document from your fishing tag, and losing it creates a unique problem: without the Outdoors Card, your fishing tag is also invalid — even if the tag hasn't expired. This is the most common Ontario-specific trap.
Replacement cost: $8.57 + HST (same as a new card). This is a flat fee for buying, renewing, OR replacing.
How to replace: Online at huntandfishontario.com, by phone (1-800-288-1155), at a licence issuer, or at a participating ServiceOntario location.
What you need: Legal name, date of birth, mailing address, height, and eye colour. Payment: VISA, VISA Debit, MasterCard, or Debit MasterCard.
Timeline: The physical replacement card takes up to 20 business days by mail. While waiting, your Licence Summary (printable from the portal) serves as temporary proof of purchase and is legally accepted.
Important: If your Outdoors Card is expired (not just lost), you need to renew it — not just replace it. An expired card invalidates all associated fishing tags. Renewal window opens the first Tuesday of December annually. Check the Conservation vs Sport Licence guide for more on the Ontario system.
3-year Outdoors Card advantage: The Outdoors Card is valid for 3 calendar years ($8.57 total, not per year). A 3-year fishing licence paired with a 3-year Outdoors Card means only one renewal cycle every 3 years — fewer chances to lose documents and fewer chances to accidentally fish with expired credentials.
4 Habits That Make Recovery Easier
1. Start from the portal you used. Online licences are permanently stored in provincial systems and can be reprinted unlimited times.
2. Save to 3 places: (a) Phone files/downloads folder. (b) Email — send it to yourself with a searchable subject line. (c) Printed copy in your tackle box.
3. Keep proof in the official app or portal where available: Alberta's AlbertaRELM app stores your licences. BC's WILD system keeps freshwater products tied to your FWID. Ontario's Fish & Wildlife Licensing Service website stores your licence summary.