Fishing Licence Checklist

Why Requirements Differ Across Provinces

Canada's fishing licensing is managed independently by each province and territory, which means the documents, cards, and registrations you need can vary significantly depending on where you fish. Ontario's system, for example, requires anglers to first obtain an Outdoors Card — a separate identification card that serves as the foundation for all hunting and fishing licences in the province. Alberta uses a similar approach with its Wildlife Identification Number (WiN) Card. British Columbia's WILD system requires anglers to register for a free Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) before purchasing a freshwater licence. Old Angler Numbers retire after the previous licence year and are not treated as FWIDs. And as of the 2026-27 season, Saskatchewan now requires a mandatory Angling Habitat Certificate ($20 annual or $5 daily) in addition to a fishing licence.

Beyond the licence itself, many provinces have additional requirements that are easy to overlook. Some species require supplementary stamps or tags — salmon fishing in BC requires a Salmon Conservation Stamp, and certain classified waters require an additional surcharge. If you plan to fish in a national park such as Banff or Jasper, note that your provincial licence is not valid inside the park — you instead need a Parks Canada fishing permit ($15.00/day or $51.25/year), which is subject to its own set of rules (barbless hooks, no live bait, no lead tackle under 50g). Our checklist above includes all of these requirements so you don't miss any steps.

Common Requirements Across All Provinces